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deeds will begin.”
    Why was the writer addressing Esme as Black Widow? Was this a clue Esme might recognize? Nancy picked up the phone and dialed the Barrington. Seconds later Esme’s familiar husky voice came through the line.
    â€œThis is Esme Moore,” she said.
    Nancy quickly asked her about the reference to Black Widow. “Does it have some kind of special meaning?” she asked.
    â€œMy goodness,” Esme said, “it certainly does. I’m surprised no one noticed that before. Even Janine knows that used to be my nickname.”
    â€œYour nickname?” Nancy echoed.
    Esme gave a short bark of a laugh. “Back in my salad days I never wore anything but black. And I guess I tended to break men’s hearts. So my closest friends all called me Black Widow.”
    â€œHow many people in your immediate circle would know this nickname?” Nancy asked.
    â€œLet me think.” Esme paused. “There’s Janine,” she said, “and Kim. Giancarlo, of course. Todd. Nancy, you don’t think it’s someone I know— personally?”
    â€œThis note seems to indicate it is,” Nancy said, but after hanging up with Esme, Nancy stared atthe note for a long time, thinking to herself, “Someone who has a serious grudge, too.”
    â€¢Â â€¢Â â€¢
    The next morning Nancy picked Bess up early. Esme was holding a press conference at the Barrington since the event the day before had officially been a book signing.
    At the coat check in the hotel, Bess barely had her coat off before she was scolding her friend. “Nancy, you haven’t said a word about my outfit.”
    Bess was wearing flowing red pants and a matching shirt that were remarkably similar to the outfit Esme had worn the day before. “I ran out and bought it last night before the mall closed. What do you think?”
    â€œI like it,” Nancy said. “Red is a good color for you.”
    â€œThanks!” Bess beamed. “Esme says women shouldn’t shy away from red. It shows they have confidence and aren’t afraid of their power.”
    â€œIt sounds like Esme is full of good advice,” Nancy said. “What does she say about jeans?” Nancy added, pointing out her own denim shirt and matching pants.
    â€œThat they make you look like a cowhand,” Bess said with a laugh. “Come on, let’s go.”
    The press conference was being held in a small room between the lobby and the sun-room. Bess led the way. “Hurry,” she urged. “I don’t want to miss a thing.”
    â€œBess, we’re early,” Nancy insisted, checkingher watch. “The press conference isn’t supposed to start until ten, and it’s only nine-fifteen.”
    As soon as Nancy and Bess arrived at the room, they both realized that something was dreadfully wrong. Esme stood guard at the half-open door, frantic, while inside Nancy spotted Janine and Kim furiously scrambling around the room, tearing down posters that had decorated the walls.
    â€œWhat happened?” Nancy asked.
    â€œThis.” Esme said. Her green eyes brimming with tears, Esme threw open the door for them to see.
    Inside, wherever there was a picture or poster of Esme, someone had scrawled the word Liar or Fraud across it in huge, red letters. Even worse was the banner that hung above the podium on which the phrase Coming Soon: Esme Moore Tells All had been changed to read Tells Lies!
    â€œFind the person who did this,” Esme said to Nancy, her voice high and thin with frustration and anger. “Find whoever is trying to ruin me—before he or she succeeds!”

Chapter

Four
    W HILE J ANINE AND K IM continued to clear the room of all the ruined press materials, Nancy surveyed the damage. Along with all the photographs and the banner, press kits and releases had to be thrown away, too. Until now this had been a case involving harassment, but with this act sabotage