thrown a punch yet.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Imagine I’m Henry, okay?”
She could do that. Henry was calm. Cool. Steady. Toni took a deep breath and tried to imagine Henry was holding her arm. “Do you see him?”
“I think so? Oh. Don’t look up. He’s at three o’clock and he’s by the buffet table. We’re going over to get a drink.”
“How do you know it’s him?” Bald with a white beard and dressed like a dad could be any number of Frank’s friends.
“He’s staring straight at you.”
“Pretend you don’t see him.”
“I’m gonna wave.”
“Don’t wave!”
“Waving.” Megan’s voice went a little higher. “Okay, look up. Act interested.”
“I cannot do this.”
“You are a supernatural feelings wizard, Toni Dusi. You telling me you can’t bullshit a man for a half an hour to get some answers?” She squeezed Toni’s arm. “Look up and smile.”
Her head shot up, and she plastered a smile onto her face. “I am not used to this.”
“I realize that, but it won’t kill you.”
“No, but I might kill someone else.”
“Have I told you that you look fantastic today? You do. The ripped concert-tee thing with the long vest is kick-ass, and those boots make your legs amazing.”
“Yeah, well, I thought I was being cute for Henry.” Oh, she’d spotted him now. Dammit. She knew who he was. He owned a recent-model BMW 4-Series that he drove like crap. Everett had already had to rebuild his clutch.
“I like Henry so much,” Megan chirped. “I want you two to get married and have, like, three more babies.”
Toni nearly ran for her car. “Are you kidding me?” she asked under her breath. “Have you forgotten that I’m going to be forty-two when this one pops out?” They walked through the crowd, and Toni kept the plastic smile glued to her face. “One is already more than I planned for.”
“Pfft.” Megan waved and laughed at nothing in particular. “Age is just a number.”
“Biologically speaking, it really isn’t. Hi!”
“Hi.” They’d arrived at the accountant. “What was that?”
Megan stuck her hand out. “I was saying that age is just a number.”
“Agreed!” Ron Withers’s face was flushed a bright red, and his head looked a little sunburned. “I’m Ron.” He turned his smile on Toni. “And you’re Toni. Jackie said you’d be here. I don’t know if you remember me, but—”
“Grey BMW,” she blurted out. “Four series. Needed transmission work.” She nodded quickly.
The man appeared flattered. “You have a good memory.”
“For cars.”
Megan’s elbow dug into her side.
“And people,” she added. “People too. I remember them. And cars.”
“Nice to meet you outside the garage.” Ron held up his glass of wine. “Can I get you a drink?”
“Just water for me.” She touched her throat. “I’m parched.”
“Water for me too,” Megan said. “But sparkling. Maybe with a slice or two of lime?” She laughed. “Am I being a pest?”
“Not at all.” Ron Withers’s attention was split as if he couldn’t believe his luck. Two women were waiting for his attention. “Give me a minute.”
He walked away, and Toni carefully kept the smile pasted on her face. “He looks like he’s about to spontaneously combust in the sun.”
“That is a pale, pale man,” Megan murmured. “Maybe let’s move to the shade.” She sidled over to a quieter corner of the yard under a canvas shade cover and away from the grill.
Toni immediately felt calmer. The press of people and emotions in the middle of the party was just too intense. Now that she had a little distance, she could think more clearly.
“Do you see him?” Toni asked.
“Yep.” Megan lifted her hand and waved. “On his way back.”
“Goodie.” She glanced at her watch. It had already been fifteen minutes just finding the man and exchanging small talk. How was she supposed to interrogate him with so little time? “I think I’m going to have to resort to the woo-woo feelings-wizard-stuff.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea in a crowd?” Megan was looking around the backyard. “Are you actually related to all these people?”
“Most of them, yes.”
Ron returned with three drinks balanced in his hands. Toni felt slightly guilty. The man was laboring under the delusion that she might be interested in him romantically, and he’d been very polite.
He was also the accountant for a very sneaky murder victim, and she needed to clear her cousin’s name.
“Thanks.” She quickly took the drinks and set them down on the small picnic table. “Care to sit? This sun is pretty intense, right?”
Ron wiped his forehead. “Yes. I’m from San Francisco originally, so this