Rita smiled her approval. "Pink and cranberry pearls with green baroque pearl leaves," she said. "The tiara is twelve hundred dollars and sure to become a family heirloom."

Josie examined the second tiara, an elegant band of pink pearls.

"Pretty and affordable," Rita said.

"It's difficult to choose," Josie said.

"Don't wait too long," Rita said. "These are one of a kind."

"Denise would make a fortune selling these online," Josie said.

Rita laughed. "That's what I tell her, but Denise can barely manage e-mail. She believes her designs should be sold personally. I don't want to pressure you, but your favorites won't last long."

"Maybe I need to come back with my friend Alyce," Josie said.

"That's how I made my major choices," Rita said. "With my best friend, Molly."

Josie noted that "made"-past tense. "Molly," she said. "Wasn't she the poor bride who was tricked by that awful doctor?" Forgive me, Ted, she thought.

"He's not a real doctor," Rita said, her eyes narrowing. "He's a vet. He treats animals because he's not fit for people. His horrible mother shot poor Molly. I saw her, you know."

"Molly?" Josie asked.

"The killer," Rita said. "It was before-" She stopped. "Before it happened. I was at the Blue Rose Tearoom with a bridal shower, and she was flaunting her gun, bold as bra.s.s. And then she-"

Crystal tears started in Rita's eyes.

Josie pulled a tissue from her purse. "It must be hard to lose a good friend," she said, her voice soft with sympathy. "I don't know what I'd do without Alyce."

Rita wept openly, the tiaras abandoned on the table. "You understand," she said. "Some people thought Molly and I were unlikely friends. Molly inherited money and didn't have to work. But I do."

"Just like Alyce," Josie said. "She's a rich lawyer's wife. I have an office job, but she's a full-time homemaker."

"That was Molly's dream," Rita said. "She planned to quit work after she married. She stayed at the shop because she loved helping other brides.

"I was thrilled when Molly said she was marrying Ted Scottsmeyer." She spat out Ted's name.

"It seemed perfect," Rita said. "I was engaged to Ben. He was a sales a.s.sociate for a department store. Molly and I adored planning our weddings. Then Ben dumped me. Molly was there for me. She understood my pain because she'd suffered, too. She'd been jilted by someone else."

Josie hesitated, then decided to chance the question. "There was another man before that vet?" she asked.

"George," Rita said. "She was madly in love."

Success, Josie thought, holding back a sigh of relief.

"Did you know George?"

"I met him once," Rita said. "He was okay. Sold Molly the blue broadloom for her home. That's how they met. George was kind of ordinary cute-turned-up nose, brown hair, and a beard. I didn't like the beard, but Molly thought it was manly. She'd bought her wedding dress when George ran off to Billings, Montana."

"How cruel," Josie said.

"It was," Rita said. "Molly saw George at the supermarket. Naturally, she went to talk to her fiance. He said he was leaving for Montana the next day. They were in the produce department. Molly held her head up until she got to her car, but her heart was broken.

"She was sick, physically sick. She sat in my living room and cried her heart out. I took her to lunch; we went to movies and the art museum-anything to help her get over George. Then she met that vet. Molly didn't deserve what those men did to her."

"Did you ever meet the vet?" Josie said.

"Once," Rita said. "I was at Molly's house when he came to check on Bella. He was definitely a hottie. Soon Molly was planning her wedding to Ted. She was happy again.

"We had such a wonderful time planning that wedding. I was more like her sister than Emily. She's Molly's half sister. They have the same father but different mothers. And totally different personalities.

"Emily is just plain greedy. Molly was generous. Too generous for her own good. You'd never guess Molly and Emily were related." Rita took a sip of coffee and blotted her eyes.

"Molly and Emily didn't look anything alike. Emily doesn't care how she dresses and Molly was so feminine. She liked animals and Emily doesn't. Molly and I love antiques and Emily's house is modern. I think modern furniture looks sterile, don't you?"

"I have nothing but old furniture," Josie said truthfully.

"I was at Emily's once. I felt like I was sitting in a doctor's waiting room."

Josie peeked at her wrist.w.a.tch. She had to get to Alyce's for their lunch with Emily.

"Doctor!" Josie said. "You just reminded me. I have an appointment at noon. I'll be back. You've been a big help."

More than you realize, Josie thought to herself.

Chapter 18.

Sat.u.r.day, October 27 Finally, Josie thought. Information I can use to find Molly's killer.

Rita gave me a name, city, and job. No last name, but how many carpet dealers can there be in Billings, Montana?

Do cowboys even use carpet?

Josie's car skimmed along the highway to Alyce's house, but she put the brakes on that last thought. She hated when Easterners treated St. Louisans like barefoot hicks. Lenore's digs at her city made Josie grit her teeth.

I'm no better, a.s.suming everyone in Montana is a cowboy. I don't know a thing about that state. I'll need to do some research.

She waved to the guard at the gate to the Estates at Wood Winds. The hilltop entrance gave the best view of the subdivision's richly bizarre architecture: a Norman castle, Victorian mansion, and a Tuscan villa.

Josie parked in the driveway of Alyce's Tudor mansion and knocked on the side door.

"I'm in the kitchen," Alyce called.

Alyce's kitchen was more than the heart of her house-it was the showcase for her creativity. She was a skilled, imaginative cook.

Josie always took a moment to marvel at the kitchen's golden linenfold oak paneling. No boxy fridge or pantry intruded on the view. They were hidden behind the warm wood.

Alyce, with her Renaissance curves, milk white skin, and corn silk hair, was filling soup bowls from a stockpot on her six-burner stove.

Josie inhaled the delicious steamy perfume. "Yum," she said. "French onion soup?"

"With sherry and a touch of thyme," Alyce said. "The bread slices are toasting in the broiler. As soon as Emily arrives, I'll float the toast in these bowls, add the cheese, and pop them under the broiler until the tops are brown and bubbly."

"What can I do?" Josie asked.

"Serve the salad on those plates and carry them to the table." Three plates, painted with an ornate design of leaves and flowers, were stacked next to a wooden salad bowl on the kitchen island.

"Pretty china," Josie said. "Looks antique."

"The plates belonged to my grandmother," Alyce said. "It's a Rosenthal pattern called Bavarian Autumn."

She filled the first plate using the salad tongs, and started on the next. "Are those cranberries in the salad?" Josie asked.

"Pomegranate," Alyce said, "along with avocado and mache. And before you ask, mache is a sweet-tasting green also known as lamb's lettuce. You'll like it."

"I like all your food," Josie said, filling the last plate.

"That apple crumb pie there is for dessert," Alyce said. "I thought Emily would appreciate comfort food, so I made my mother's recipe."

Josie carefully carried the plates to the table in the breakfast room. "I've made some progress in the search for Molly's killer," she said. "I talked with her coworker at the bridal shop. Molly had a fiance before Ted. He ran off to Billings, Montana. I'm getting hints that Molly may have stalked him, too. Do you think her sister knew that Molly had a stalking problem?"

"You can ask her yourself," Alyce said. "I hear a car in the drive. Must be Emily's."

"Didn't she walk?" Josie asked. "It's a nice day."

"Walk!" Alyce said in mock horror. "No one walks in Wood Winds. Not without a baby stroller, a dog, or exercise weights. Walking upsets the natural order of subdivision life. We must burn fossil fuel to the G.o.ds of suburbia."

Josie opened the side door for Emily. She didn't look like a typical Wood Winds wife. She wore jeans, a black flannel shirt, and no makeup.

Lumberjack mourning, Josie thought, then regretted her unkind thought.

Alyce gathered Emily into a hug and asked, "How are you?"

"Okay," Emily said with a shrug that said she wasn't. "People have been very kind."

Alyce handed her a gla.s.s of wine, then said, "Have a seat in the breakfast room and start your salads. I'll bring in your soup shortly."

Josie noticed that Alyce didn't introduce her again. She hoped she could get through this lunch without Emily discovering she was engaged to Dr. Ted.

"How's your aunt Martha?" Alyce asked as she carried in two soup bowls.

"Molly's murder was a terrible shock," Emily said. "Poor Aunt Martha had to be sedated after the burial. I can't believe that horrible woman would shoot my poor little sister."

"Do you think she did it?" Josie asked.

"Not a doubt in my mind," Emily said firmly. "She's a nutcase. Did you see her on TV with that gun? I hope they lock her up and throw away the key."

"Did you ever meet the groom's family?" Alyce asked.

"He was supposed to meet our family at an engagement dinner at my house," Emily said. "I'd planned it for weeks. Twelve people, including Aunt Martha and Molly's friend Rita from work. Had a lovely crown roast of beef because Molly said he was a meat eater. An hour before dinner, Molly said he called her and canceled. Said he had emergency surgery on some dog. We ate dinner without him."

"Molly must have been upset," Alyce said.

"I was more upset than she was," Emily said. "She said that's what it was like being a doctor's wife. Aunt Martha said it was a sign he was ambitious. She approved.

"He's a vet, and I don't think he's all that successful. He didn't contribute a penny to the wedding. Molly paid for everything. She wouldn't use anything she'd bought for her other engagement, not even the wedding dress."

"What other engagement?" Alyce said.

Josie forked another bit of salad, alert for the crucial answer.

"Molly was engaged to another man before the vet," Emily said. "A carpet salesman. Aunt Martha thought she could have done better, but Molly said she was in love. My sister was obsessed with weddings ever since she was a little girl. Our cousin got married at Disney World in Orlando, and Molly was the flower girl. She never got over that. When she played with her dolls, it was always a wedding. Then she started being a bridesmaid for her friends, but she really wanted to be a bride. I think she accepted George because he asked her."

"George is the carpet salesman?" Alyce asked.

Come on, Josie thought. Give us his last name.

"Right," Emily said.

Josie decided to risk jumping into the conversation. "That isn't George"-she searched her mind for a last name and saw her empty salad plate-"Rosenthal at Bavarian Carpets, is it?"

"No, George Winstid with Brenhoff Carpet and Flooring," Emily said. "It's a national chain."

Thank you, Josie thought.

"Molly spent a fortune on that wedding and then George backed out. Said he was moving to Montana. Molly was devastated. Then she met this Dr. Ted and they got engaged in a hurry and she was planning a whole different wedding. I thought she could use the dress she'd bought for George, but Molly insisted on a fresh start.

"This wedding was even more extravagant. It's a good thing she inherited money from our parents. Brad is just starting his business and we couldn't contribute money, but I gave her my time. I said she could have her wedding presents delivered to our house since Molly worked and wasn't home to get deliveries.

"She got some gorgeous presents. I think people felt sorry for her after George dumped her."

Josie shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She hoped it was grief that made Emily talk that way about her sister.

"Molly always did have all the luck," Emily said.

Luck? She's dead, Josie thought.

"Now I'm stuck with her dog, Bella. Yappy little thing pees everywhere. I have to keep her in the bas.e.m.e.nt or she'll ruin my carpet."

"Maybe one of Molly's friends will take Bella," Josie said.