Lust and Lies 04 - Pretty Maids in a Row

mentioned the similarities between Cheryl's plight and her own. He must have assumed she'd be pleased that Tim Ziegler had received a sort of retribution.
    Timothy Ziegler had been a loathsome slug, but even in her deepest depression, Holly hadn't wished him dead.
    But someone had. Was it a robber? A person who held a personal or political grudge against him?
    The first face that appeared in her mind was Cheryl Wallace's, followed by Bobbi Renquist's. Though April had also been used by Tim, she didn't seem nearly as hostile as the others, but since she was the one who had formed the group and held it together all these years, perhaps beneath her cool exterior seethed the most hatred of all.
    Erica Donner and Rachel Greenley hadn't been on Tim's dance card, but they both radiated a chilling contempt for men in general. Rachel had actually spoken of violence and Erica seemed fully capable of committing murder—as Bobbi had implied—without so much as an increase in her pulse rate, if she had one at all. On top of that, the murder had occurred in Erica's hotel.
    Then again, they all had sound reasons for their unusual personalities... as sound as the reasons for her own eccentricities. She had at least as strong a motive as any of them for hating Tim Ziegler, but she would never have killed him, so why should she suspect the other women?
    Considering what she knew about Ziegler, it was unlikely that he was as clean-cut as the press made him out to be. Surely he'd made enemies in the past, other than the Little Sister Society, and one of them had simply caught up to him.
    Or it was a robbery gone bad, as she first guessed.
    The news report Holly watched before she left her apartment revealed only that the senator had been killed in his hotel room prior to his celebration party and that there was no sign of forced entry. It seemed very curious that the method of murder had been withheld.
    The media had been unable to reach Mrs. Ziegler for a statement.
    Although Holly may have despised Ziegler, she couldn't help but care about his wife and children. Because of his public position and recent television exposure, they would not be granted the privacy normally afforded to the grieving.
    When she returned to her apartment after her hair appointment and a stop at Evelyn's favorite clothing store, Holly received the second bewildering call of the day.
    "Please come to room four-thirteen at your earliest convenience. Ah suggest y'all take the stairs to avoid bein' noticed."
    Holly heard the phone disconnect before she fully comprehended the politely phrased order. The accent identified the caller as Erica Donner. Thus, it would be logical that the room referred to was in the Kessler Hotel, but that wasn't the number of the penthouse. Why the mystery? Or the urgency? The answer had to have something to do with Tim Ziegler's murder. Holly's curiosity was sufficiently aroused for her to drive into town.
    As soon as she entered the hotel, she understood Erica's suggestion about the stairs. The lobby was packed with people—police, reporters, photographers and onlookers. She couldn't have reached the bank of elevators without elbowing her way through the crowd.
    She climbed the four flights of stairs so quickly, she had to pause to catch her breath upon exiting the stairwell. Because of the secretive way Erica had called her, Holly found herself making sure there were no other guests in the hallway before knocking on the door of Room 413. Erica admitted her immediately.
    Sitting on the edge of the bed was a woman dressed in a tailored red suit and a red hat with a veil that partially hid her eyes and nose. As Holly waited for an introduction, the woman's bright red lips curved sensually and she crossed her legs.
    "I see you're not wearing black either," the woman said in a husky voice.
    Holly looked down at her own purple silk blouse and white skirt, but was thinking about where she'd heard that voice before.
    "Pay Bobbi no mind," Erica said, sitting down in one chair and motioning for Holly to take the other.
    "Bobbi?" Holly's surprise was evident. "I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you."
    "It's Roberta actually, and that's quite all right. Nothing could bring me down today. In fact, this just might be the most up day I've had in twenty years. Don't you think my wearing red is symbolic Holly?"
    Holly had no idea what to think but Erica spared her from saying as much.
    "It was good of you to join us on such short notice. Y'all