LITMIR.BIZ

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about money, Miz Silk.”

      “I’m glad to hear it.”

      “I’ll try the Roi du dollar first. You can settle up later. Maybe we can get some product placement deals.”

      I would have said something sensible, but of course, the door had already banged behind her.

      “I do think it’s great news,” I said to Liz. I wasn’t sure how much work I could get done on this ridiculous project if people kept dropping by in the middle of the day. Not that Liz would care what I thought. She watched me from the beanbag chair and wiggled her toes. I added, “But good news or not, we’re not having Courvoisier.”

      She pouted, because pouts still look good on her. We’ll see how that goes in another ten years.

      She said, “Is that because you’re jealous that I have something to celebrate for once?”

      “No, it’s because it’s the middle of the day.”

      “Maybe you’re pissed off.”

      “Well, I am pretty ticked off, actually. I know this is a huge thing for you, and you’re really happy to purchase a property. But how come you didn’t think to mention it to your best friend of forty-one years, which would be me, until the day you’re taking possession?”

      “Actually, it’s the day I’m moving in. I knew you’d disapprove. For someone so passive as a rule, you have to admit you are pretty tight-assed about development in the village.”

      There was so much to react to in that sentence. I took a deep breath before I responded. “It’s your money, and quite a chunk of it too. If you want to sink it into one of Jean-Claude’s condos on the waterfront, what business is it of mine?”

      “That’s what I mean about tight-assed.”

      “I’m trying to be a supportive friend,” I said. “I can understand you were tired of renting.”

      “I know what you’re thinking. Environmental factors, damage to the waterfront, changing the character of the community, lining Jean-Claude’s pockets. Yada yada yada. Did I leave anything out?”

      “How about going into debt to accomplish those other things you said?”

      “I can manage the mortgage and condo fees easily. I do have a medical practice.” She glanced at her watch and frowned.

      “But you just told me that you were dead broke because of all the expenses. Did I hallucinate that?”

      “Cash flow, that’s all. Down payment, land transfer, that kind of thing, otherwise I would have helped you out with your own taxes and hydro until Old Cheapskate comes through. Plus I had to order some new furniture.”

      “Absolutely.”

      “I needed to put a serious deposit down on that stuff. You think I could borrow this chair?” Liz patted the beanbag fondly. “I always like sitting here. I have a great view of the Gatineau now from my balcony.”

      “Hey, why not? Take all three chairs until you’re settled.”

      Liz leapt on the idea.

      “Great,” she said.

      “I was joking. You can’t take all my furniture.”

      “Don’t start whining. You’d still have the sofa, and if I came by for a visit, you could sit on one of the pine chairs from the kitchen. It’s only for a couple of weeks.”

      Right. The lumpy sofa. Lucky me.

      “I can get the beanbag and the Queen Anne chair in my car now. Maybe we can get Josey’s uncle to bring the wingback chair over in his truck. Assuming he’s sober enough. Hmm. I wonder if I should just send my movers.”

      “Whatever. On another matter, do you know anything about a guy named Danny Dupree?”

      She frowned. “Wheeler-dealer.”

      “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

      “Slippery customer.”

      “That was my impression too.”

      “Trust him as far as you could throw that wingback.”

      “He’s the guy who was killed in the crash of the Escalade on Highway 5. The one I saw yesterday.”

      “Live fast, love hard, die young,” she said with her usual dose of doctorly sympathy.

      “He was involved with Philip somehow. A partner in some business deals.”

      “Ouch,” Liz said. “You want to watch out for that.”

      “Phil is really upset.”

      “Maybe so, but don’t let him use this guy to snow you.”

      “Do you think it would be possible for someone to die in a crash like that and for the investigators not to find the body?”

      “That’s a bizarre question even for you, Fiona.”

      “I saw a woman in that car. I saw her clearly. Sgt. Sarrazin thinks I might have just been upset. But I know she was there. However, they only found one body.”

      “It couldn’t happen, Fiona. Sarrazin’s right: you imagined it. Or she got out somewhere along the way.”

      “That’s what I think. But where could she have gotten out? They were on the highway.”

      “What difference does it make?”

      “I’m bothered by it.”

      “You said he was a jackass.”

      “Even so. It was a horrible way to die, and...”

      Liz shrugged. “Forget about it. Obviously, this woman wasn’t in the car, and she didn’t die. You don’t have to worry about her. Or him for that matter. He was a sleaze. No use crying over spilled milk. That reminds me: the movers dropped my china box.”

      “What?”

      “Maybe the price was a little bit too good. They were a disaster. They have to pay up, but in the meantime, I need to borrow dishes and something to drink out of. When I arrange for the wingback, can I just take what I need?”

      “Not the Fiestaware,” I said, standing up for myself for once. “You could have some of the Spode for a while, I guess. But don’t let those movers do it. It would be really hard to replace. Even if you could. This stuff—”

      “Belonged to Kit. Yeah, yeah. Do you think I don’t remember that, Fiona? I’ll pack them myself.”

      Beggars may not be choosers, but they can sure be snippy.

      Josey found me staring around my empty living room just after Liz departed. “Don’t let Dr. Prentiss get you down, Miz Silk.”

      For some reason, I felt like I was living in a turnstile. “She doesn’t get me down. I’m used to her.”

      “But she’s so mean. And taking your chairs from right under your nose. It’s just not right.”

      “A couple of points. First, I said she could take the chairs. I know you two don’t always get along, but please remember, she’s my friend, and she isn’t always mean.”

      “Anyway, whatever, I have this proposition for you.”

      “I can’t pay you, Josey.”

      “You can pay me wh—”

      “I owe thousands of dollars. I need kitchen stuff that I don’t even know the name of and—”

      “But Miz Silk, you’ll get paid for your book that you don’t want to talk about in front of me, and you’ll get your settlement at some point and then you can reimburse me. I don’t even need the money until September. Anyway, I didn’t even tell you what

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