Read Homicide in High Heels for Free Online Page B

*
     
    Kendra Blanco was as beautiful in person as
she was on the show. Tall, blonde, and slim, with skin that had
been exfoliated, waxed, and Botoxed within an inch of its life. She
was dressed in a white, linen pant suit that on anyone else would
have shown off every teeny ripple of cellulite. Of course,
cellulite didn't dare deposit itself on Kendra's thighs, so she
didn't have to worry. She'd paired the suit with a hot pink cami
and a pair of pink, pointy-toed, leather pumps that somehow
screamed kick-ass and total girly-girl all at the same time.
    She was seated at a table on the patio of
Bando Café on Sunset, a pitcher of the promised mimosas already in
front of her. To her right sat a shorter, more curly-haired version
of her blonde fabulousness, and to the left a brunette with her
hair sleeked back into a tight ponytail. I easily recognized both
from the TV show. Elizabeth Ratski and Elizabeth DeCicco—the two
"E"s.
    "Dana!" Kendra called, hailing us from her
table as we approached. I noticed that her manicure matched her
heels in a beyond put-together look. I was suddenly glad I'd opted
to change into a slim, a-line skirt and loose blouse before
dropping the kids at my mom's again. I prayed both items of
clothing were still baby food free.
    "Kendra, it's so good to see you again,"
Dana said, doing an air-kiss greeting before introducing me. "This
is my good friend, Maddie Springer, the shoe designer."
    Kendra nodded my way and introduced the two
E's.
    "Beth Ratski," the curly-haired blonde said,
sticking her hand out. "My husband plays first base."
    I shook her hand, glossing over the fact
that I knew very well who her husband was and how he'd gotten a
black eye yesterday afternoon, quickly moving on to the brunette
who did a repeat of the hand shake.
    "Liz," she told me. "Right field."
    "I know," I admitted this time. "I watch the
show."
    Turns out I could not have come in with a
better intro as all three beamed at me as if the cameras were on
them right then.
    "Oh, I'm so embarrassed," Kendra said. "They
completely take things out of context in the editing room, don't
they?" she asked the two E's.
    Both women nodded in vigorous agreement.
"Completely," they said in unison.
    "I mean, they make it look as if we're 24/7
drama queens," Kendra went on.
    "Speaking of drama," Dana said, lowering her
voice. "I couldn't believe it when I heard about Bucky's
girlfriend."
    An instant pall came over the wives, their
expressions shifting to appropriately morose. "A terrible tragedy,"
Kendra agreed, sipping her drink.
    The E's did a repeat of their nodding
routine. "Terrible," they said in freaky unison again.
    "Did you ladies know her well?" I asked.
    Liz snorted, then quickly tried to cover it
in a cough.
    "We knew her," Kendra said, carefully. "But
she was not one of us."
    "Meaning?" Dana asked.
    "She wasn't on the show," Beth said. She
paused. "At least not yet."
    Kendra shot Beth a look that clearly said to
keep her commentary to nods.
    "Yet? Was she joining the show?" I
asked.
    "With Bucky's batting average so high, the
producers were talking about including her next season," Kendra
conceded. "But I doubt it would have actually happened."
    "Why is that?" Dana asked, pouring a mimosa
for each of us.
    "Well, for one thing, she wasn't a baseball wife now was she?" Kendra said, smirking at the exclusivity
of her club.
    "Plus, she didn't fit in," Liz offered.
    "How so?" I asked.
    Liz cleared her throat, then shot a glance
Kendra's way as if asking for permission to continue. "Well, Lacey
worked for me. At my clothing boutique, Bellissima?" she said, her
voice going up in a question at the end.
    I nodded my encouragement. "I've heard of
it." And I had. While it wasn't rivaling Kitson, thanks to the TV
show, it had gained some popularity among the celebrity shopping
set.
    "Anyway, that's how Bucky met her. He and my
husband came in the boutique to take me to lunch one day, Lacey was
there, and, well…trust me, I never thought