Murder Melts in Your Mouth Read Online Free PDF Page B

Normally, her chair was discreetly hidden behind her on-camera desk, so it was a jolt to see it in reality, although the whole city knew she used one. The story was she’d been injured as a child and couldn’t stand or walk, although she had partial feeling in her legs.
    But her disability was not Brandi’s most distinguishing trait. She had an unfortunate propensity for malapropisms. If unrehearsed, she often mispronounced the names of rivers and politicians. During a prison riot, she had unfortunately read a story about the state’s “penile” system off the teleprompter, which made for hilarious commentary in the newspapers for weeks afterward. After a series of verbal gaffes, she was rarely seen on programs with high ratings anymore. She appeared on the occasional weekend morning show when her frequent mistakes could be covered up by a smooth-talking cohost.
    Today Brandi looked nearly incapable of any speech whatsoever.
    I guessed she had maneuvered the chair into the service hallway to grab an illicit cigarette during the emergency. She blew a nervous stream of smoke at us from her chair.
    â€œOh, my God, Nora,” Brandi said. “Poor Hoyt!”
    Crewe murmured he’d be back as soon as possible. He ripped off his mustache and dropped his Colonel Sanders jacket on a chair. Then he disappeared down the hallway, leaving me alone with Brandi.
    â€œAre you all right?” I asked. I knew her from a few months ago when she’d acted as the honorary chairperson for a charity ball, and I’d interviewed her for my column.
    Holding her cigarette, Brandi’s right hand trembled, spilling ash onto the carpet. “It’s so awful!”
    From the hallway, I could see that the suite of offices was jammed with shaken employees and hysterical clients. Police officers were starting to organize the chaos, but it would be several minutes before order could be established in the confusion of the reception area.
    The darkly paneled domain of Lexie’s father and his staid partners had once smelled of stale cigars and musty paper. But when Lexie took over the firm, she refurbished the whole building to an architectural wonder full of light and color. Dazzling sunlight streamed through the skylights and cast a dappled light through the huge Calder mobile that swooped majestically overhead. The gloomy portraits of Lexie’s esteemed relatives had been replaced by an enormous Rauschenberg that graced the wall behind the main desk.
    But today, Lexie’s personal art collection went unnoticed by the noisy melee of people.
    â€œOkay, everybody,” shouted a police officer. “Step this way, please.”
    Brandi dropped her cigarette on the carpet and rolled her wheelchair over it in a practiced maneuver. Then she used the electronic switch to motor up the hallway. I followed until we reached the main reception area. There, Brandi suddenly swayed in her chair. She put one hand to her face.
    I sat down next to her on the edge of a glass-cube coffee table. Still shaken myself, I tried to focus on helping her. “You’re not well. Can I get you a glass of water? Shall I call someone for you?”
    She shook her head. “I can’t leave yet. They told me to wait here. I suppose they’ll want to question everyone. Do you think we’ll be segued?”
    â€œSequestered? I doubt it. But the police will certainly question everyone.”
    â€œWell, that’s the least I can do for—for dear Hoyt.” Her eyes overflowed with tears.
    â€œI’m so sorry, Brandi.” I handed over my handkerchief.
    She used it to mop her eyes. “Did you see him? Down there? Was he on the street?”
    â€œI didn’t see much. But he is—he’s definitely gone.”
    â€œDead?”
    â€œYes. I’m very sorry.”
    She slumped in her wheelchair and burst into tears. “I can’t believe it!”
    I tried to suppress my own emotions