Page 118 of The Fine Art of Faking It
“Yeah, and I’d still have my kitchen,” Davis pointed out.
“I’m sure whoever is responsible for that unfortunate accident feels terrible,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Hypothetically speaking, whoever is specifically responsible may have run off the rails without the knowledge or permission of his—or her—fellow committee members… I mean friends,” Eva added. “I’d hate for you to think that all of his or her friends would have ever in a million years even entertained—”
“Such an asinine idea,” Ellery finished for her. “One that I’m sure whoever is broadly responsible is working tirelessly to correct.
Davis sighed and stopped fiddling with the tassels. “I apologize. I didn’t come here to rub anyone’s noses in their flammable mistakes. Whether you’re responsible or not.”
Ellery nodded. “Understood. And I’m sureno onemeant to cause such extensive damage given the fact that all any smart matchmaking person needed to do was get you and Eden near each other and nature would take its course.”
“That was the whole plan?” Davis asked.
Ellery and Eva nodded. “Not every plan is super complex. You guys have a whole history of sparks—forgive the pun. We knew if we could get you around each other temporarily those feelings would explode.”
“You’re truly diabolical people,” Davis sighed.
Ellery beamed as if he’d given her a compliment. “We have a lot of experience in matters of the heart. Now, let’s get back to business.”
Eva nodded. “Okay. So, you have to promise not to make any copies or distribute this information that we give you to anyone under penalty of serious punishment,” Eva added.
He was more than curious what kind of serious punishment the Beautification Committee could dole out. But after the stink bombing, he wasn’t willing to find out.
“Uh. Agreed.”
“You also have to promise that you won’t ever hint at who might be responsible for that thing that I’m not mentioning in order not to incriminate any of my acquaintances,” Ellery said, her eyes wide.
“Getting half the town arrested for arson does not serve me,” Davis told them.
Ellery jerked her chin toward Eva’s bag. “Give him the book.”
Eva handed over a neatly bound notebook and interlaced her fingers in her lap. “Now that that’s over. Let’s talk strategy.”
“If you’ll turn to page five in our Eden Moody dossier, you’ll find a list of her motivating factors,” Ellery began.
“Wow.” Davis was impressed and concerned. “Do you have one of these on me?”
“It’s probably better if we just focus on Eden for now,” Eva suggested.
“Is all of this going to cause a problem with you and your husband?” Davis asked her.
She flushed and placed a hand over her stomach. “This isn’t a literal get out of jail free card, but I think with your idea and this little bundle of joy, we’ll all be good.”
“And the Beautification Committee will never commit another arson again,” Davis prompted.
“We’ll certainly try our hardest,” Ellery promised brightly. “Now, let’s look at Eden’s rebellious tendencies. I feel like this could be the key.”
Eden Moody, you are cordially invited to an emergency meeting of the Beautification Committee at 7 p.m. tonight. Emergency attendance is mandatory.
47
“What are you doing here?” Eden asked, spotting Davis on the library steps.And why did he have to be so good-looking?He was still dressed in what she’d come to think of as his winery “uniform”—slacks with a crisp button down, and today he’d added a vest. Lord, that vest.
Wordlessly, he held up a notecard like the one she’d received that morning.
“Do you have any idea what this is about?” she asked. With the exception of the handful of HeHa organizational meetings they’d hosted and a very strained paint night, Davis had avoided her like she was a sticky toddler in need of a nap since “the talk.”
He shrugged. “Not really.”
