Dearly Departed Read Online Free PDF Page B

employers around the world. Amy had been wary about the funeral turning into some sort of circus, but it hadn’t.
    Archer was in attendance, back in her prim, pulled-together disguise, along with two other women. Amy assumed they were fellow maids, then immediately wondered why she had made such an assumption. Perhaps it was the fact that they were chatting so tightly in their little bunch—and instinctively cleaning the buffet table, disposing of the used corks and stacking the plates to one side.
    A fourth woman joined them at the buffet. After a few moments, Amy realized that she wasn’t subtly cleaning like the others, but subtly herding a row of mushroom tartlets into a plastic bag inside her large black purse. Her hair was ash blond; at least that’s what the bottle probably said. Despite her heels, she remained petite, with features that would remain pinched even when she wasn’t sneaking food. In her twenties, a little younger than Amy, the woman wore a stylish black dress, one approximately the same age as Amy’s. When the woman eased an unopened bottle of Pouilly-Fuissé into the purse, Amy wasn’t outraged or annoyed. She was fascinated.
    â€œAre you Nicole Marconi?” Amy gave her a moment to recover before sidling up and introducing herself. “I’m Amy Abel. We’ve spoken and e-mailed a few times.”
    â€œYes, Miss Abel. Nice to finally meet you.”
    Amy was taken aback by the formal tone, the kind used to address service providers. Of course, Amy was technically a service provider. But then Nicole Marconi was technically a food thief. “I’m sorry we have to meet under such circumstances.” Amy mentally berated herself for sounding like an undertaker.
    â€œNo one knew she was sick,” said Nicole, warming ever so slightly. “I have fond memories of Paisley. Of course, my parents adored her. More than they adored me.”
    Amy nodded. “I think every girl feels that way about somebody. Not that we ever had a maid.”
    â€œOh, it wasn’t Paisley’s fault, but it still hurt.”
    Amy didn’t know what to say. “Well, I’m glad you’ll be able to join us in celebrating her life. It’s an unusual bequest.”
    â€œTo be honest, I was expecting something like this. Paisley would never let us off so easily.” Nicole’s pinched features grew even tighter. “You know of course that it’s my money that’s paying for this.”
    â€œYour money?”
    â€œMy inheritance. Or what would have been my inheritance. But that’s not your concern. Your concern is to spend as much as you can, fulfilling the demented last wish of a dying maid.”
    â€œOh. It was your parents’ money. . . .” Amy knew that MacGregor’s inheritance had come from one of the families, but she’d never considered the implications. Did Peter know about Nicole’s situation? If so, why hadn’t he warned Amy? A little information would have gone a long way.
    â€œYes. They left most of it to the maid. You can imagine having to deal with your parents’ deaths. And, on top of that, when the lawyers told me . . .”
    â€œMust have been horrible.” Amy herself had an eccentric mother, but this would have been too much, even for Fanny.
    â€œBy the way, when is the will being read? Six years ago, when this travesty happened, MacGregor assured me that the money, what’s left of it, would be returned to the Marconi family. Of course, a lot of things are said in the heat of embarrassment. And there was plenty of embarrassment.”
    â€œUm . . . there’s a reading of the will set up for the last stop. Part of the grand finale.”
    â€œNot until then? Well, I guess I’ve starved for this long. . . .” And, as if to illustrate her point, Nicole took a final tartlet from the tray and popped it into her pinched little mouth.
    After that, Amy shied away from