Powdered Murder

Bebe and I looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

"Sounds great," I answered. I stood up and waited for Bebe to do the same. Clutching Lila's bridal shower gift in my hand, I glanced at the nearest exit. The door opened before I could lead us all out of the room. Franco came sputtering back in.

"I'm so sorry," he said while panting. "I can't find Do

"Maybe she's out shopping?" I suggested.

"Yes, that must be it," Lila agreed.

Bebe smiled widely as she headed for the door. I followed her and glanced behind me to make sure that Lila followed us to the spa. If anyone needed a good massage right now it was her. Franco patted Lila on the back and helped her with her bag. He quickly handed her a small pill bottle that Lila slipped casually into her purse.

"Enjoy your time at the spa," he said to her. "Don't worry, I will take care of everything."

"Okay." Lila nodded and looked at me. The two of us stepped out into the hallway just as Bebe grabbed the next available elevator. Lila took her time instead of rushing to join her, glancing at every painting on the wall. The elevator doors closed slowly and Bebe looked relieved to finally have a moment to herself.

I stood next to Lila and waited for the next one.

"Oh." I reached into my bag and pulled out the gift box that Joy had given me. "This is for you."

"How sweet. You didn't have to do that." Lila accepted the package. She examined the wrapping and neatly tied bow. "Honesty, I'm just glad you turned up this morning. It's nice to meet an old friend of Patrick's. He doesn't talk much about his childhood."

"Hmm." I raised my eyebrows and anxiously watched the button above the elevator, hoping it would turn red soon. "I guess there's nothing worth mentioning."

"Personally, I don't know how he survived so long in a town like this. No offense."

"Right," I muttered.

"It's so small here. Everyone knows too much about everyone else's business. That would drive me crazy."

"Unless you are the person who knows it all."

"That's true," she responded. "But I have a hard time as it is with the people who don't know me."

The elevator door dinged and the two of us stepped inside.

"Small towns aren't so bad," I commented. "You just have to know how to act around the locals. For example, don't take phone calls when you're picking up groceries at the corner market because Stella Binsby is a horrible eavesdropper. And don't mention any of your past relationships to a man named Booney at the Grizzly. He works at the BC Gazette. He likes to dig."

"You must think I'm some kind of spoiled socialite." Lila shook her head and took a deep breath. When it was only the two of us in a confined space, she didn't seem as intimidating. She even slumped her shoulders for a brief three seconds like a normal person. "I promise, I'm not usually this uptight."

"You don't have to explain," I replied. "I imagine your life is very stressful. I get it."

"You don't know the half of it." She glanced down at her heels. "I started modeling when I was fourteen years old. Ever since then, I don't think I’ve taken a real break."

"Wow."

"My parents didn't have much," she went on. "After I lost them both in a car accident and fell into modeling, I guess I felt like my work was all I had. But all the pressure has taken its toll on me." She readjusted the grip on the handle of her purse. I looked down and caught a peek at her pinky nail. The portion that wasn't hidden beneath a Band-Aid had chipped polish. "I can't even get a decent night's sleep without a pill to help me relax. I saw you looking." She held up her purse.

"Oh, I . . . sorry, it's none of my business," I replied.

"It's okay. The pills are from my therapist. They help me sleep."

"Good sleep is hard to come by," I said. "Even for me."

"You know you're not at all how I imagined you would be." Lila waited as the elevator dinged and the doors slid open. "Most people I meet tend to start off name-dropping. Then comes the bragging. And then after that they start fishing for invitations to things. Patrick was right about you."

My chest felt like it was frozen when she mentioned the name of her fiancé. My mind burst with questions. I had trouble moving my legs fast enough to keep pace with Lila as we walked towards the spa doors. I was surprised Patrick had discussed me with his future bride.

"Patrick mentioned me?" I asked as casually as I could. "What did he say exactly?"

"Just that you used to be neighbors and that you're not like the rest of the townies. He told me I could trust you."

"He said all that?"

"He thinks very highly of you, you know." Lila lifted her chin and studied my expression. I wiped the smile from my face. I didn't want her to suspect that I had even the slightest crush on her man, even if it was all in the past. If she was the jealous type she might try to bring it up in front of Patrick to embarrass me. A lame attempt, but it would definitely work on me.

"There you two are," Bebe shouted from the spa entrance. "Come on. I'm itching for a facial."

A spa attendant named Misty greeted us. I'd seen her before but never talked to her. She was a quiet sort of girl who usually wore her hair pulled back. Today it hung past her shoulders in messy curls and she kept a wide smile on her face. Misty led us to a changing room where we would be changing into robes. She handed us each a list of spa treatments to choose from. We had the option of either relaxing around the heated pool with a cocktail or lining up various treatments for the evening. Or both.

I'd never used the pool in the spa before. I preferred the lap pool at the Bison Creek rec center. The spa pool was filled with healing mineral waters from nearby hot springs. It was supposed to hydrate your skin and cleanse your body of toxins. The spa was half the reason tourists stayed at the resort besides the skiing. So far I hadn't heard any complaints about it.

"Mind if I test the water before I change into a swimming suit?" Bebe asked. "I'm not sure if I want to get in right now. Maybe I'll just have a massage and a cocktail." She tugged at a layer of her hair and glanced at Lila.

"Of course." Misty gestured towards the door leading to the pool area. Bebe smiled and Lila and I followed her to see what the healing pool looked like before we chose our treatments.

I walked through the doors, immediately feeling the humidity from the room seep into my skin like warm mist. I took a step forward but ended up stepping onto the back of Bebe's heels. Lila slammed into my back. She cleared her throat before she took a deep breath.

"Bebe, what is wrong with you?" Lila asked. Her temper was back.

"I think I found Do

"Is this some kind of joke because it isn't fu