How to Murder a Millionaire by Nancy Martin Page A

bad?"
    "For godsake," Bloom said, "the old guy won't mind now."
    The two of them sounded like bickering teenagers. "I'm sure it doesn't matter," I said, suddenly snappish, too. "I helped you. Surely you can share this small bit of information? Maybe I can give Peach some comfort if I know what happened."
    Wilson turned away.
    Bloom took a deep breath. "They were Viagra tablets, Miss Blackbird."
    I heard a cop laugh in the bedroom.
    "I see."
    "It's obvious what he planned to do," said Wilson.
    "Only he had a fight with the Treese lady instead, so she turned around and—"
    Bloom cut him off. "I think we'd better let Miss Blackbird go home now."
    "You don't really think Peach could have hurt Rory?" I asked. "Is that what you're trying to do? Convince yourselves she did it, so you can all go home?"
    "Miss Blackbird—"
    "It's impossible. And you're wasting valuable time."
    "We're following procedure," Bloom began.
    "She's a kind and caring person. You don't know her. She loves Rory." I felt tears start. "We're very good friends."
    The short silence that greeted my last declaration made me realize I had just discounted all my defense of Peach. Naturally I would protect her if we were friends.
    I wasn't helping at all. I tried to rub the headache out of my temples. The impact of the night suddenly hit me like a baseball bat to the skull. "I'd like to go home now. Could we find my driver, please, Detective Bloom?"
    "Sure thing," he said.
    He took me downstairs past the thinning crowd of guests. Even Peach had disappeared. I walked unsteadily beside the detective to the portico entrance, silent and distressed. I tried to formulate another speech to defend Peach's honor, but the police weren't going to listen. They were looking for proof of guilt. Guilt, not innocence.
    "Why don't you sit down?" Bloom suggested when we reached the side foyer. "You've had a long night. I'll go look for your driver."
    I felt like a senior citizen, but I accepted his offer. "Thank you."
    Bloom turned to leave me and stopped short.
    Michael Abruzzo took a step out of the shadowy doorway and into the lighted foyer. He wore a brown leather jacket, a black T-shirt and jeans. Over my head, his gaze clashed with Bloom's, and the two of them positively bristled like a couple of dogs defending their territory.
    "Abruzzo," said Bloom in a tone quite different from the one he'd used with me all evening. "How long have you been here?
    "If it isn't Detective Gloom," said Abruzzo. "I've been around for a couple of hours. I'm here to take Miss Blackbird home."
    "Oh," I said, turning pink for no reason I could imagine. "But Reed's waiting for me."
    "I sent him home. It's late."
    "What time is . . . ? Good heavens. I had no idea. I forgot all about Reed until just a minute ago."
    The two men faced each other and didn't notice me. Abruzzo was bigger and more watchful. Bloom was younger and leaner, but angrier. Somehow they looked evenly matched.
    "You know this man, Miss Blackbird?"
    "Why, yes. This is—"
    "I know who he is," said Bloom. "I'm surprised you do."
    Abruzzo laughed.
    Bloom said, "Maybe we'd better find an officer to drive you home."
    "Don't be silly. Mr. Abruzzo's services have been bought and paid for." I swallowed hard as I absorbed the situation. "By Rory, as a matter of fact."
    Bloom raised an eyebrow at Abruzzo. "No kidding? You had a business arrangement with Pendergast?"
    "Occasionally I do business with upstanding citizens, yes," said Abruzzo.
    "He's dead," said Bloom.
    "I heard," Abruzzo replied calmly.
    "We'll want to talk to you."
    Abruzzo shrugged. "You know how to reach me."
    "Is the car ready?" I asked. Any minute the situation was going to become a full-blown pissing contest, and I didn't intend to get caught in the middle. "Can we go now?"
    Abruzzo made a sweep with one hand. "Right this way, Cinderella."
    I turned to Bloom. "You've been kind tonight, Detective." I put out my hand to shake his. "I only wish I could convince you that you're