Ornaments of Death Read Online Free

face of it, there was nothing to be concerned about. Still, with a room full of people, some of whom I’d met for the first time tonight, the risk of robbery, while small, was heightened. I slipped out through a side door by the restrooms and was hit by a blast of teeth-rattling cold.
    â€œYikes!” I exclaimed. White plumes of icy air encircled me when I spoke. “It’s cold enough for ice cream.”
    My mom, the original I’ll-make-lemonade-from-lemons gal, always used to say that when I’d complain about a particularly bitter cold snap. We tested her theory once and made ice cream outside, using a six-foot-high snowbank outside the kitchen door as our freezer. I smiled a little, remembering more than the yummy ice cream we’d succeeded in producing. Tonight, it was a wind-charged thirty, not incapacitating by New Hampshire standards, but about twenty degrees south of no-coat weather. I dashed around the corner, my heels click-clacking on the frozen pavement. No one was in sight. I ran to the middle of the parking lot, stopped, and listened for footsteps or a motor revving, for any sound of life. All I heard was winter quiet.
    Pole-mounted lights lit up the entire lot. I did a slow survey but spotted no unexpected shadows or dark spots. I could see the small red dots indicating that the security cameras affixed to the light fixtures were on. Two men stepped outside, laughing. One thumbed on a lighter while the other leaned in so his cigarette could catch the flame. I took one last look around and headed back inside, calling a cheery hello to the men as I jogged past.
    Inside, the shock of warmth was as paralyzing as the blast of cold had been, but in a good way. I smiled at the young woman working the reception table, a temp hired for the evening. She was setting out the goodie bags, aligning them in an attractive diagonal pattern.
    Lia saw me and dashed over to give me a congratulatory hug, drawing me into the room, before flitting off toward the bar.
    Gretchen came up. “I’m really, really excited the TV show’s been renewed,” she whispered.
    â€œDon’t tell anyone,” I whispered back, “but me, too.”
    She giggled. “It’ll be our secret.”
    â€œHere’s another one. I want to organize a celebration luncheon for us all, just the key staff—me, you, Sasha, Fred, Eric, and Cara. Here in the dolled-up auction venue. Catered by the Blue Dolphin. Pick a day that’s good for everyone. Get a temp in to cover the phones. Book Academy Brass. Don’t tell a soul.”
    Her eyes lit up like stars. “Oh, Josie!”
    â€œThere she is!” Zoë called, talking to Ty, pointing at me. She waggled her fingers like a policeman directing traffic, telling me to come toward her.
    I hugged Gretchen and zigzagged my way to reach Zoë and Ty, and just like that, I was swept back into the festivities.

 
    CHAPTER THREE
    Midway through the party, Zoë said, “Ty and I want to know if you were as surprised your show was renewed as you looked.”
    â€œMore.”
    â€œIt’s kismet,” Zoë said.
    â€œI thought it was hard work.”
    â€œAren’t they the same thing?”
    â€œNow that you mention it…”
    Ty brought me a drink, and we made our way to the stage where the band was playing “Blue Christmas.” When they finished, we wove our way across the room, mingling, laughing, chatting, moving on.
    Everywhere I looked, people seemed to be having a good time. Zoë rejoined me as Ty disappeared into the crowd, and we stood in companionable silence, our shoulders touching. Across the room, I noticed Ian and Lia, their eyes locked. Ian said something, and Lia threw back her head, laughing, her Titian hair falling in soft waves to her shoulders. I smiled with vicarious pleasure. Ian touched Lia’s shoulder and nodded at something she said.
    â€œLook,” I whispered to Zoë, jerking