The Lanvin Murders (Vintage Clothing Mysteries) Read Online Free

sachets. She’d shut off the stereo. No music suited her mood. June Christie was too sad, Sarah Vaughn too yearning, Tom Jones too Tom Jones.  
    The bell jangled as a tall blond man in a business suit entered the store. Her ex. “Hey Jo, I brought you a poster for Chick's rally. Think you could put it in the window?” He set his umbrella near the door. His words rattled the emotion-laden silence. He glanced at the workman. “Am I interrupting something?”  
    With her foot Joanna clicked off the steamer at its base. “Hi Andrew. No, I just—” She thought about telling him about Marnie, but she didn’t want to get into it. Not with him. “—I’m getting a new lock.”
    Despite the rain, Andrew looked cool and unruffled, more like a tennis pro on his day off than a congressional aide in the heat of a contentious campaign.  
    “It's stuffy in here,” Andrew said. “You should get air conditioning.”
    “You know how I feel about that. No thanks. Stand by the fan.” People were slaves to climate control these days. Why architects began making office buildings with windows that couldn’t open was beyond her.  
    Andrew ignored her advice and stared at the man at the door. Responding to Andrew’s attention, the workman stepped forward. “Hi, I'm Paul.” He wiped his palm on his jeans and shook Andrew’s hand. “A little bit of a mess.” He nodded at the pieces of brass at his feet and then glanced at Joanna.  
    “Is he going to be here long?” Andrew sized up the workman.
    What was his deal? He had no reason—or right—to be jealous. He was married now.
    Paul unflinchingly returned his gaze. She took a second look at the workman. Not movie star handsome, but there was something about him.  
    “I don’t know. As long as it takes, I guess,” Joanna said. She noted Andrew’s expression and changed the subject. “Why are you delivering posters, anyway? Don't you have volunteers to do that?”
    “Sure, but I was in the area and thought I'd drop by. Chick asked, actually. He said this is an up-and-coming neighborhood.” He set the poster on the bench at the center of the store and sat down. “I left you a message the other day, but you never called back.”
    “It's been busy.” She clicked the steamer on again. If Andrew was going to stick around, she might as well get some work done. “How's the campaign going?”  
    He grimaced. “The polls are close. Mayer is arguing that Chick’s too old, that he's too much of an insider, all the standard bull. In the Senate, though, he'll be far from the oldest. And he’s definitely the best candidate, policy-wise.”
    “You don’t have to convince me.”
    “He’s a little freaked out, actually. We’ve stepped up the campaigning. It's been a lot of running around. I think last night was the only night we’ve had off for weeks.” He picked a piece of lint from his pants. “You're coming to the rally on Tuesday, aren't you?”
    “I don’t know. Apple has the day off and I’d have to close the store.”
    “Only for a few hours. You have to come. Tell Apple and Gavin to come, too. It’s a big deal.” His cell phone buzzed, and he glanced at its screen. “Got to go. But I’ll see you at the rally.” He rose from the bench and gave Joanna a quick peck on the cheek as if the matter were settled. “Arpège, right? Smells nice.”
    “Thanks.” She’d chosen the Lanvin perfume in honor of the coat. Now she didn’t think she’d ever wear it again.
    He picked up his umbrella by the door. He turned and smiled again, but his smile dropped off when he caught sight of the workman. Andrew had so many good qualities. He could be so engaging, so charming. If only he weren’t so self-absorbed. She had spent three years thinking “if only” before deciding to pull the plug.  
    The workman put down his screwdriver as Andrew left. “The lock works now, but I need to get longer bolts to replace the ones I put in today. I'll be back tomorrow, if