Odette had cut both lasagnas into many small squares, and for sides, she’d mixed a large salad and baked several loaves of garlic bread. There were cut, raw vegetables and Theo’s dill dip arranged neatly on a tray along with a fruit salad and an assortment of desserts that Vivienne had graciously baked and donated for the gathering. Odette had brought a large coffee urn from the banquet room at the farm, and there were three plastic pitchers filled with lemonade.

“I can’t thank you enough for doing all of this, Odie,” Theo told her, making sure the gate in front of the stairs was properly locked.

“There’s no need,” she told her. “Oh, Max reminded me of the coat racks we keep tucked away in the party room. You might remember them. They only get used during dances at the farm. He helped me with two of them. Jordan, I couldn’t get them out of the truck by myself.”

“I’m on it,” he said, holding his hand out for his mother’s keys. Ten minutes later, he had both six-foot-high racks situated near the stairs, and mourners had begun to arrive.

Theo walked around the room, offering condolences to those who had known and loved Mina Harper.

“She was such a beautiful girl …”

“It’s such a shame that she’s gone …”

“I just don’t know how Libby is going to go on without her …”

“I don’t understand what’s happening in this world … in our own town …”

“Sheriff Ames doesn’t seem to have any leads …”

She accepted the nice things some of the people said about her hospitality, then made sure all of them knew it was Odette Reilly who really deserved their kind words. Theo was sure she’d spoken to everyone who showed up, but she hadn’t seen Ashley since she’d accompanied Libby Harper to the graveside service.

“Hey, Theodora.”

She felt someone gently squeeze her arm. She turned to see Bex’s icy blue gaze and crooked smile.

“Oh, hey, Bex.”

“I hope it’s okay that I’m here. I kinda figured that Odette might need some help cleaning up.”

“That’s nice of you,” Theo told her. “I’ll take care of what’s left here in the office, but I’m sure she wouldn’t mind some assistance getting the things she brought from the farm back where they belong.”

She took a sip from the cup she held. “So, this is your place?”

Theo nodded. “The whole building, actually, but this right here is my office.”

“It’s fantastic,” Bex said, making a show of looking around. “I love all the plants. There are so many of them, and they are so healthy.”

“Well,” Theo laughed sarcastically, “I’ve got nothing to do with that. As a matter of fact, I’m so bad with plants that Ashley forbids me to go near any of them.”

“Really?”

“It’s for the best, truthfully. Plants thrive if I leave them alone. This is all Ashley.”

“I haven’t had a chance to meet her yet,” Bex said, thoughtfully. “She seems like a great person.”

Theo nodded. “She is. She’s got a hard exterior. She wears it like armor, but her insides are nothing but sweetness.”

“You’re obviously very close.”

“Sure,” she shrugged. “She’s basically built this firm with me. She’s brilliant. I’m lucky to have her here.”

Bex gave her another smile. “All good things.”

“Theo …”

At the sound of her name, Theo turned and saw Ashley coming in from the back. She looked windblown and her cheeks were rosy with cold.

“There you are. I was beginning to worry about you.”

“Look at this.”

The bright yellow case around Ashley’s cell phone was cold when she thrust it into Theo’s hands. When Theo looked down, she could see a text message on the screen. The sender was Mina Harper. Theo scanned the correspondence between the two women wondering why Ashley wanted her to read their text conversation. Then she realized what it was that Ashley wanted her to see.

“Poor Mina. Her last night on this earth was really one to remember. I can say that because I was there when she died, and I know I’ll never forget it. Careful, Ashley. I know the two of you always liked to do things together. I wonder, does that mean your last night on earth is coming soon? I certainly hope it’s as memorable as Mina’s was.”

It was the last message in a long, ongoing exchange, but Theo knew Mina hadn’t sent it.

“He has her phone.” Theo looked up at Ashley and saw that her blue eyes were filled with tears.

“He killed her, Theodora. And he wants to kill me, too.”

13. BACK TO THE MADELEINE

Theo stood on the front steps of the Madeleine, staring up at the hotel as flakes of snow fell around her. She hadn’t visited the hotel much since her sister’s accident nearly four months ago, and on the occasions she had found herself there, it was to make sure the management company she and Mamie had hired was running the place in the way they both saw fit. So far, they’d both been impressed with their work.

The Madeleine was a grand structure with Darby Lake sitting between it and the breathtaking Sangre de Cristo mountains. It looked like the perfect holiday postcard as Theo stood there, taking it all in. She forced her eyes away from the string of cabins that sat nestled against the shore of the lake. Instead, she focused on the white lights that had been perfectly strung over the building and around all the trees on the property, making it glimmer like icicles. Several wreaths that had been made at Fireweed Farm graced doorways, and the walkways and stairs had been shoveled, but the newly fallen snow sparkled as if diamonds had been scattered on the cement.

She’d thought about bowing out of the celebration when she’d seen the text Ashley had received. When she’d mentioned it to Jordan, he made her realize if she decided to do that, it wasn’t just Ashley’s death they’d have to worry about. Knowing there wasn’t anything she could do to protect her, Theo made Ashley promise she’d be careful and tried to prepare herself for Patty’s party.

“Miz Murphy?”

Theo blinked and turned her head. “I was just reminded how beautiful this place is,” she told the older man that stood beside her.

“It truly is a treasure,” he agreed. “I’ve been so pleased to be the one chosen to take care of it for your family.”

Damian Keller was in his mid-sixties. He was shorter than Theo’s five feet seven inches and was at least twice as round. His hair was white and stood on end, and Theo wondered what it might look like if he were to let it grow out. He had a full mustache and beard, and with a pair of glasses perched on his nose and a red velvet suit, he could impersonate Old Saint Nick without any trouble at all.

Keller Management Group had been one of three agencies Mamie and Theo had interviewed in September. It was impossible to know whether or not they’d picked the right one, but as the weeks and months passed, it had become increasingly clear that Damian and his crew had indeed been a good decision. Mamie, a seasoned tax accountant and financial planner, had taken over payroll and all of the other financial business, while Damian and his staff saw to everything else.

“It’s a very special day today,” Damian said, beaming. “You’ll find all of the original staff members in attendance, and the dining room has been decorated per your mother’s instructions. I know that Miz Murphy—” he stopped mid-sentence. He seemed flustered.

“There are three of us,” Theo told him. “Five if you include Glory and Indigo. It’s too confusing.” She gave him a smile. They’d gone over this before, but she liked the man, and she knew he was only trying to be respectful. “My mother is Mamie, my sister is Cleopatra,” she tipped her head, “or Patty if you’d like, and I’m Theo. It would be much easier if you’d get more comfortable using our first names.”

“Yes,” Damian said, shaking his white head. “You’re right, of course. What I was going to say is that I haven’t moved out of Cleopatra’s office. Mamie said it wasn’t necessary for me to do so. Is that still correct?”

Theo gave him another nod. “Patty’s still in casts, and she’s got more surgery coming. Things should stay the way they are for the time being.”