A Fatal Slip Read Online Free

assigned to the Air Police detachment to conduct an investigation into art stolen by the Nazis during the war.” Arabella absentmindedly forked up a piece of pie. “Eventually he returned to Paris to start his own art business. That’s when we started to go out.” Arabella stared into her coffee cup. “He was quite keen on me.”
    “Were you keen on him?” Emma scraped the last bit of pie off her plate.
    “I guess you could say I was,” Arabella admitted. “He was very handsome and very worldly. His business took him all over Europe and Asia, buying and selling paintings and sculpture worth millions of dollars. It also made him very rich in his own right.” A dreamy look settled on Arabella’s face. “I was traveling around Europe at the time myself, thanks to a small trust fund from my grandfather Parker, and he would catch up with me whenever he could. I remember our being at Wimbledon when Billie Jean King and Rosemary Casals won the women’s doubles title. Hugh flew over on Pan Am’s Boeing 747 maiden flight from New York to Heathrow.”
    “What happened?” Emma asked. “Did you argue or did you eventually lose touch?”
    “Neither, really.” Arabella looked down at the barely touched piece of pie on her plate. “We continued to see each other for several years . . . in Paris, Rome, once even in India. He pledged his undying love to me in front of the Taj Mahal.” Arabella gave a bitter smile.
    “How romantic,” Emma breathed.
    “I certainly thought so,” Arabella quipped. She rolled her eyes. “I continued to travel, and he continued to follow me whenever he could. Finally, he convinced me to come back to Paris and marry him.”
    Emma gasped. “What happened?”
    “I didn’t decide right away. I saw Hugh off on the SS
France
in Le Havre on his way back to New York. On board he met someone named Elizabeth. By the time I’d made my decision and had flown home a couple of months later, Hugh was married, and they were expecting a baby. Back in those days, people
had
to get married. Not like today.”
    “How horrible for you.”
    Arabella gave a sad smile. “I put all my energy, time and money into Sweet Nothings. I’d lost my desire to travel—all my memories were too wrapped up with Hugh.”
    “What did he say when—”
    Arabella laughed. “Oh, he tried to put the blame on me. I’d taken too long to make up my mind. I’d made him chase me for years when all he wanted to do was settle down. I didn’t believe a word of it. Fortunately, until tonight, our paths rarely crossed. Although he still owns the family horse farm here in Tennessee, he spent most of his time in New York or traveling through Europe buying and selling art. He must have come back for some reason. Perhaps he’s tired and has decided it’s time to settle down.”
    Francis was looking thoughtful. “What is this fellow’s name again?”
    “Hugh. Hugh Granger.”
    “He invited us to a dinner dance at the Beau on Saturday night”—Emma glanced at Brian—“but Arabella turned him down.”
    “I don’t really mind if you go,” Arabella said, “although I’d rather you didn’t. But still, a big party at the Beau is bound to be spectacular.”
    “I’d like to go,” Francis said suddenly.
    “You’ve got to be kidding.” Arabella pulled away and looked at him sternly.
    He nodded. “Yes, if you think you can bear it. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been looking into Hugh Granger for years. There have been whispers about some of his dealings. We’d love the opportunity to get closer to his operation. This is a chance to at least enter his orbit, rarified though it is.”
    Arabella heaved a sigh. “If you really think it important.”
    Francis gave her his most winning smile.
    “Oh, all right. I’ll call him tomorrow and tell him we’ve changed our minds, and we’ll be attending his big, fancy party. Are you satisfied now?”

Chapter 3
     
    EMMA was on pins and needles until Saturday night