The Lanvin Murders (Vintage Clothing Mysteries) (16 page)

“Call me Marlene.” Someone caught Andrew's attention, and he strode across the patio, leaving her alone with Marlene. She wore a crisp beige dress, probably Narciso Rodriguez, and demure gold hoops. She was preternaturally tanned.

“It's nice to meet you,” Joanna said.

“Yes.” Marlene’s eyes wandered towards the guests behind Joanna.

“You have a lovely house. Such a wonderful view,” she tried again.

“It's a Pietro Belluschi. We love it.” She looked at Joanna with an eyebrow raised. “My, what a fun dress.”
 

Joanna tipped the last of her champagne down her mouth. Maybe coming to the dinner was a mistake. She could have just mailed the key to Remmick with a note. “It's crazy isn't it? The dress came from the Honey Black estate.”

The mention of Honey Black got Marlene's attention. Honey Black had inherited a fortune in timber money, and the millions she gave away through her foundation barely made a dent in it. Joanna had found a folded blank check in the pocket of one of her coats. The rumor was Black always kept a blank check with her in case she met someone without much money but whose roof needed replacing or daughter a tonsillectomy. “Really? I guess you are about her size.”

“She had wonderful taste. I feel lucky to wear her dress.”
 

“Marlene.” Eve swept up behind Marlene and looped an arm around her waist.
 

Marlene’s expression warmed immediately, and she returned the hug. “Eve, darling. You look spectacular.”

She did, Joanna noted sourly. Her honeyed hair was thick and shiny, pulled back behind her ears to reveal shoulder-dusting earrings. She seemed perfectly at ease.

When she saw Joanna, Eve looked momentarily surprised, then her lips widened into a smile. “Why, I didn’t know you’d be here.” She pointed at the seam of Joanna’s dress, just below her bust. “The seam’s loosening a little there. You might want to get that fixed before it gets worse.” Eve looked over Joanna’s shoulder at an arriving guest. “Got to go say hi.”

Joanna turned to see the red soles of Eve’s Louboutins crossing the patio as Eve left to pour her charm on a suited executive. She chided herself for not taking the time to get a manicure. Kevin knew a good place on Broadway. And maybe a touch of concealer around her eyes wouldn’t have hurt. Women like Eve seemed to have a gift for perfectly smooth legs and magazine-worthy eye shadow.
 

When Joanna turned again to face Marlene, she was gone. Colette took Joanna's empty glass and handed her another full one. She held out a tray of hors d'oeuvres.
 

“Try the sliders. They're pretty good.”

Joanna took one and a small linen napkin.

“Don’t let Marlene get you down. For all her airs, remember she's just a real estate agent. In the platinum club, sure, but still a real estate agent. And that other one—” They both watched Eve mesmerize the executive and a woman who had joined them. The man’s hand dropped suspiciously low on Eve’s back. Thankfully his wife didn’t seem to notice. “Well, I’m not sure what to say,” Colette finished. “Good luck.”

The patio’s flagstones radiated heat. Besides Eve, Marlene, and a man who must be Marlene’s husband—he looked like he'd rather be in his office reading timber sales estimates—Joanna saw six other couples. Some of the women smiled and nodded at her, but after looking her over decided that she wasn't worth the trouble of crossing the patio. Snippets of conversation floated toward Joanna, mostly about a new golf resort under construction near the coast. Remmick and his wife still hadn’t arrived. Not that she knew how she would get the congressman alone once he did show up.

At last a black towncar pulled up to the house. This one wouldn't require the valet and would remain in the place of honor at the head of the driveway. Marlene trotted to the living room while the rest of the guests watched expectantly.

Remmick and his wife appeared on the patio, each holding a champagne flute. Laura wore the black cocktail dress with the chiffon overlay she'd bought at Tallulah's Closet the day before.

“Hello, Joe. Hello, Diane. Marty, how are you?” Remmick shook hands with the people assembled on the patio.
 

Andrew drew Joanna forward. “Chick, I'd like you to meet Joanna Hayworth.”

The congressman took her hand in both of his and looked straight in her eyes. His hands were strong and warm. “Joanna, I'm pleased to meet you.”

Despite herself, she felt drawn by the politician's charisma, felt everyone watching them. A vague trail of expensive cologne rose from him. “Congressman Remmick, it's nice to meet you. Your speech downtown today was so moving.”
 

“Please, call me Chick.” He moved on to greet the woman next to her.

“Hello, Joanna, what a nice surprise to see you again,” Laura said and touched her bodice. “What do you think of the dress?”

“I can't imagine it looking better on anyone else.” How strange to be in the public eye, Joanna thought. Wherever the Remmicks go, people watch them, and they know it. What happens to a man who is surrounded by people always ready to tell him that he's right? His popularity is their popularity, and his influence is theirs, too. It would be hard to stay down to earth. You'd start to believe being right and powerful was your destiny. Maybe even enough so to think that you're above the law. That breaking into a store or threatening an old lover was fine. Just as long as certain information never reached the public.

“Laura, so nice to see you.” Eve hugged Laura, each shooting air kisses past the other. “I didn’t know you wore vintage or I would have sent you some truly special dresses.” She smiled. “Not that this dress isn’t wonderfully flattering on you, of course.”

Marlene called the guests in to the dining room for dinner. Darkness was just starting to settle. The taper candles running down the middle of the polished wood table cast warm pools of light that reflected in the tall windows.
 

“Please, everyone, take a seat. Congressman, Laura, I've put you here,” Marlene said, her hands on the backs of two chairs at the head of the table. Joanna pulled out the teak chair nearest her. Andrew sat closer to the head of the table, near Remmick. The table ran parallel to the windows, and Joanna's seat faced the inside of the house. A frisée salad was already set at her place.
 

“The salad greens are from Sauvie Island and the lardons are from a farmer in the Hood River valley,” Marlene said. “Laura and Eve, your salads are vegetarian, as you like them.”
 

Servers began pouring a Willamette Valley Pinot Gris, and a discussion of the merits of various single vineyard Pinot Noirs started up at one end of the table. Joanna nervously sipped her wine then pushed the glass away. She needed to keep her wits about her if she was going to talk to Remmick about the key.

The woman to Joanna's right looked up the table to Laura. “I just have to tell you how marvelous you look tonight, Mrs. Remmick.” Laura's hair was pulled into a sleek chignon. A glittering diamond bracelet punctuated one bare arm.

“You like my dress? I bought it yesterday at a charming vintage clothing boutique on the east side. It's Joanna's store.” She nodded at Joanna. Six bejeweled heads swiveled to look at her.
 

“Thank you. You'd make anything look wonderful,” Joanna said. “But that dress truly was made for you.”
 

“Really?” A woman with mathematically-placed highlights in her hair said. “Vintage? How interesting. When I was in high school I used to wear vintage clothes.”

Another woman with deep pink lipstick said, “When I think of all the things my mother had, and we just gave them to Goodwill after she died.”

Like I haven't heard that before, Joanna thought.

“You look so chic,” one of the younger women said to Laura. “You, too.” She turned to Joanna, as if seeing her for the first time. “Do you have any suits like Jackie O used to wear? You know, the kind with the jewel neck and jacket that stops here?” She placed a hand high on her waist.

“Lots of them. We have an ivory brocade suit in now that would look terrific on you.” She hoped that she'd have enough business cards to pass out after dinner. She made a mental note to vacuum the store in the morning.

Eve’s voice rose from a few seats down the table. “Isn’t Joanna clever? Such fun dresses she stocks, too. I do love to stop by her store when I need a little something informal.”

Playing dirty, Joanna thought. She’s going to say something nasty, but not nasty enough that anyone could call her on it. She tensed in anticipation.

Eve continued. “If you like vintage, especially the higher-end dresses, come by my studio for a private showing. I have a few, special things I don’t post in my online store, Eve’s Temptation. Or you can come by my new boutique. I’m hoping to have it open by the end of the year.” Her laugh was truly musical, soft and clear. “That was gauche, wasn’t it? I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt your discussion, Joanna.”

Joanna stabbed her fork into a lardon. Already getting in her digs.
   

Laura set down her wine glass and smiled. “Joanna really does have some lovely dresses.” Joanna looked at her gratefully. “I bought a Pucci, too.”
 

The clutch of men surrounding the congressman's seat were in deep discussion. Andrew put a few bites in his mouth when he wasn't talking. He didn't seem to taste the food at all. Of course, he was working tonight, but even when they were dating he seemed only vaguely aware of the time and thought she'd put into their dinners.

As the servers cleared salad plates and prepared to bring in the main course, the host stood. “I'd like to thank everyone for coming tonight, especially Chick and Laura. In the timber industry, we've supported the congressman for many years. Some people might be surprised at this, might think, 'How can a bunch of lumber fellers get behind an environmentalist?' But in the end, we all want the same thing—an economically strong region with healthy, productive natural resources. After all, without trees, we wouldn't be in business, would we?”

Shouts of “hear, hear” went around the table.

The host took a sip of his wine. “And yet with stricter environmental laws, we've had to cut back on harvest in some areas. But there are other ways to use the beautiful land Bowman owns. You've probably all read about it in the paper, but tonight I'd like to formally announce our plans for the Willapa Greens Golf Resort. Darling, would you bring those over to me?”
 

“Joanna.” Eve’s whisper floated to her. “Did you get the Lanvin coat back yet?”

Joanna kept her gaze fastened on the host but shook her head.

Marlene handed her husband a stack of glossy brochures, and he passed them around the table. Its cover showed a view of the ocean with a golf club and raven drawn in the corner. The brochure opened to a map of the Long Beach peninsula. A black border delineated the resort.
 

“Congressman Remmick,” the host gestured to his right, “Grew up nearby. We'd like to name the course Remmick Greens in his honor.”

The guests clapped.

“Marty, I can’t tell you how pleased I am,” the congressman said. “Is this what the resort will look like?” He pointed toward the architect's drawing of a structure made to look rustic, but undeniably expensive.

“I know you hear me,” Eve hissed below the presentation. “Do you have the coat or not?”

Joanna continued to focus on the host. “…Modeling the lodge after a traditional Native American longhouse as a mark of respect for, well, for the same tribe you helped when you were first getting started as a lawyer.”

Something small and wet hit her back. A blackberry garnish from dinner. She peeled its pulp off the fabric near her shoulder. Unbelievable. Eve actually threw a blackberry at her. “We can talk later,” Joanna said through gritted teeth.

She wiped her hands on the linen napkin and pointedly turned her back to Eve. Damn her. That blackberry would probably stain. It had to be her Ceil Chapman dress, too. The congressman seemed contrite about something, but in the melee with Eve she’d missed it.
 

A few heads around the table tilted. Marlene said, “Chick, you’ve been a big supporter of the tribes as long as you’ve been in office.”

“I did my best. But when it came down to it, they just weren't able to meet the burden of proof for continued governance.”

“What’s continued governance?” a man across the table asked.

“A little jargon, I'm afraid. I keep forgetting I'm not in Washington. The tribe had to prove that they stuck together, with some sort of self-government, continuously.”

After a dazzling smile from Eve, the man sitting next to Joanna switched places with her. She leaned her head toward Joanna. “It’s just a yes or no. Yes or no.”
 

For God’s sake. They were supposed to be paying attention.

“—That means no government money and no reservation,” the congressman finished.

“Well?” Eve was relentless.

That was it. Joanna swiped her wine glass with her right hand, sending Pinot Gris across the linen tablecloth and down Eve’s lap. Eve bolted to her feet. “Oh!” Joanna said in mock surprise. “I’m sorry. Your comments were so fascinating, congressman, I must have forgotten my glass was there.” One of the servers rushed up with a napkin to mop Eve’s lap. Marlene took Eve’s shoulder, probably leading her toward the bathroom. Too bad it wasn’t the Pinot Noir. Red wine is the devil to get out of silk charmeuse.

“Did you know the contractor who died a few weeks ago? The paper said he was Native American and grew up in Oysterville,” the man across from Joanna asked Remmick.

“I did know him, although I hadn't seen him in years. We went to grade school together. His family fished for the cannery that my father worked at. His accident was a real tragedy.”

The woman to Joanna's left whispered to her husband, seated on her other side, “He fell off a wall at the new condo complex they're building in northwest. Into a dumpster, impaled by scrap metal. Horrible.”

Joanna looked up in surprise. She realized they must be talking about Franklin, Marnie's lover when she first moved to Portland, and Ray's brother. Ray had been so calm about his death. He’d never hinted at anything so grisly.