Back Drop Dead Gorgeous
Chapters (63)
  1. Also by Lauren Landish
  2. Chapter 1
  3. Zoey
  4. Chapter 2
  5. Blake
  6. Chapter 3
  7. Blake
  8. Chapter 4
  9. Zoey
  10. Chapter 5
  11. Blake
  12. Chapter 6
  13. Zoey
  14. Chapter 7
  15. Blake
  16. Chapter 8
  17. Zoey
  18. Chapter 9
  19. Blake
  20. Chapter 10
  21. Zoey
  22. Chapter 11
  23. Blake
  24. Chapter 12
  25. Zoey
  26. Chapter 13
  27. Blake
  28. Chapter 14
  29. Zoey
  30. Chapter 15
  31. Zoey
  32. Chapter 16
  33. Blake
  34. Chapter 17
  35. Zoey
  36. Chapter 18
  37. Blake
  38. Chapter 19
  39. Zoey
  40. Chapter 20
  41. Blake
  42. Chapter 21
  43. Zoey
  44. Chapter 22
  45. Blake
  46. Chapter 23
  47. Zoey
  48. Chapter 24
  49. Blake
  50. Chapter 25
  51. Zoey
  52. Chapter 26
  53. Blake
  54. Chapter 27
  55. Zoey
  56. Chapter 28
  57. Blake
  58. Epilogue
  59. Zoey
  60. Excerpt: My Big Fat Fake Wedding
  61. Violet—Five Months Ago
  62. Violet
  63. About the Author

Like the puzzle of the invoice, pieces start to move in my mind, rearranging themselves into a new image. I thought I knew how the puzzle ended up . . . with Yvette Horne as the murderous poisoner of her husband.

But what if I’m wrong?

What if we’re all wrong?

My eyes narrow as the new image comes into focus. One that doesn’t have Yvette as a black widow—ugh, the hated nickname stings even as I use it for someone else.

Nor does the picture have Yvette and Sebastian in cahoots, two lovers removing a roadblock to their relationship. No, this latest picture has only one person on the puzzle box.

Sebastian.

“Yvette, you’ve been drinking the smoothies too?” I clarify before I get too far down this new path of thinking.

She sniffles. “Yeah, they’re gross and give me headaches, but they’re better than eating three pounds of broccoli a day.”

She says that as though someone said it to her and she’s quoting them. Perhaps Sebastian?

“Headaches?”

Sebastian gives me a piercing look, and though it physically hurts me to do so, I force my feet to move closer to Yvette and Sebastian. “May I?”

I hold out my hand to Yvette, and though she looks to Sebastian for permission first, she slips her hand into mine. I press on her fingers, feeling the coolness there. “Do you have any numbness or tingling?”

“I guess.” She shrugs. “But I’m no spring chicken either. That’s what happens when you get older—your joints are always sore, your back argues when you try to hop out of bed, and your belly is a little sensitive.”

Headaches? Sore joints? Upset stomach? Numbness and tingling? All signs of heavy metal poisoning.

“Yvette, you’re not old by any means. And even if you were, those are not normal signs of aging.” I’m baby stepping here, because I think I’m in worse danger than I thought. But so is Yvette, and she has no idea. I need to try a different angle to get more information and to get Yvette to see reason. “I’m sure Sebastian doesn’t think you’re old. Look at the way he looks at you,” I tease like we’re girlfriends who’ve escaped to the bathroom to discuss our cute dates.

Yvette looks up at Sebastian, and he cups her cheek gently, love and affection filling his eyes in an instant. “You don’t think I’m old, do you?”

“Of course not, Vettie. I can barely keep up with you, but I’m looking forward to trying my hardest.”

It sounds right—sweet and complimentary, reassuring Yvette that their age gap isn’t a problem. But when she looks back to me with a crushing school girl’s smile, Sebastian’s face goes blank, all adoration simply turning off like a switch.