“Of course!” He pulled her into a hug. “In fact, you’re now in charge of this whole place. I’m going to make sure you have enough people to help you, though. That was the problem here. I put too much responsibility on your shoulders. Anyone would have been overwhelmed.”
Paulette beamed. “Thanks, Dad. You don’t know how happy that makes me.”
Maybe having her dad’s confidence would help occupy her thoughts. Staying busy, having a mission and focus … those things could renew a person.
We watched her father disappear to mingle with the other guests here. As soon as he was out of earshot, Paulette turned to me. “I guess this might be a good time to mention that Roberto and I are getting back together.”
My lips parted. “What?”
“It’s true. I kicked him out because he kept riding my case about the drinking. He was just worried about me, but I became really bitter. I’ve come to realize that he truly cares about me.”
“That’s … that’s great, Paulette. I’m glad you’re giving it another try. It sounds like you two can work through a lot of things together.”
She nodded. “Plus, I know what Phase Two of the Cultural Arts Center will be. I was going to announce it at the end of the play tonight, but I didn’t have the chance.”
“Please, don’t keep me in suspense!”
She grinned, her whole face lighting. “We’re going to use the track and gym for sports programs for students in the area. Roberto is going to head it up. This way, we can work together. I think it will be good for us.”
That was why Roberto’s Mercedes had been at the school. Everything was starting to make sense.
As if on cue, Roberto showed up and put his arm around Paulette’s waist. “Great job tonight, Pessoa Amada.”
“Thank you.”
He looked at me and nodded. “I told you I wasn’t behind any of this.”
“What about Arie? Someone saw you talking to her. What’s the connection?”
“I was begging Arie to look after Paulette. I was concerned. I needed someone here to keep an eye on her, and I ran into Arie. I promised we’d introduce her as a guest of honor at our next soccer game if she helped me out. She seemed to be willing to do anything for attention.”
I bought that part of his story, but … “You seemed so angry.”
He shrugged. “I’m Latino. What can I say? Full of passion.” He thumped his heart and practically growled.
As soon as they walked off to talk to more cast members, Riley and Garrett both approached at the same time. Riley glanced at Garrett. “You mind if I have a moment?”
“Not at all.” Garrett raised his glass of water in acquiescence.
Was there uncertainty in his eyes, though?
Riley put his hand on my elbow and led me away from listening ears. “You did fabulous. I knew you would.”
“Thanks so much for being here for me, Riley.”
His gaze turned serious. “I have to get back up to D.C.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
He lowered his voice, his blue eyes imploring me. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“I know.”
He squeezed my arm. “Is it okay if I stay in touch?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I miss talking to you. I really do.” He squeezed my arm again. “Take care of yourself.”
Sadness pressed on my heart as I watched him leave. I held my chin up, determined to let the challenges in my life make me a better person. I wouldn’t be defeated, and I was slowly learning that my confidence in life had to come from an inner strength.
I could, indeed, climb every steeple and scale every roof.
As Riley walked away, Garrett approached. “Everything okay?”
I put my hand on his chest. “Everything’s fine. Just saying goodbye to an old friend.”
Garrett’s eyes studied mine. “I see.”
“I thought you should know that I made a decision about Africa.”
“Did you? Do you have your bags packed?” Hope glimmered in his eyes.
A knot formed in my gut. “I can’t, Garrett.”
He said nothing for a minute before finally nodding. “Okay.”
“I want to, Garrett. I really do. But I’ve got to push ahead with my life. I’ve got to stop simply taking what life gives me. I need to chase after what I want. I can’t just bounce around doing odd jobs or taking international trips with my extremely handsome boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend? I like the sound of that.” His eyes sparkled.
I grabbed his hand. “I need to make some big decisions about future.”
“I understand, Gabby.” Something changed in his eyes as he stared down at me. “You still love him, don’t you?”
My smile slipped. “It’s hard, Garrett. I don’t know what I feel anymore.”
“You went through a lot. You went through a lot together. Why don’t we take some steps back and think about things while I’m gone? That will be a good determining factor as to how we should proceed.”
I nodded, even though my heart felt heavy and burdened. “That sounds good. Thanks so much, Garrett. I don’t know what I would have done without you these past few months. I mean that.”
He kissed my cheek. “The feeling is mutual. You take care of yourself while I’m in Africa, okay? We’ll talk when I get back.”
“I will,” I promised.
As he walked away, my heart panged. Yet despite my conflicted emotions, I knew deep inside that everything would be okay.
I glanced around at everyone else socializing and realized there was nothing else I could do here. It was time for me to go.
Because, as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz said, there really wasn’t any place like home.
###
Coming Winter 2014/2015: Broom and Gloom!
Gabby’s adventures take her to Oklahoma where she makes major life decisions and helps to solve a mystery involving country singer Trace Ryan.
Look for these other books in the Squeaky Clean series:
Hazardous Duty (Book 1)
On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire drops out of school and starts her own crime scene cleaning business. “Yeah, that’s me,” she says, “a crime scene cleaner. People waiting in line behind me who strike up conversations always regret it.”
When a routine cleaning job uncovers a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong person is in jail. But the owner of the weapon is a powerful foe … and willing to do anything to keep Gabby quiet.
With the help of her new neighbor, Riley Thomas, a man whose life and faith fascinate her, Gabby plays the detective to make sure the right person is put behind bars. Can Riley help her before another murder occurs?
Suspicious Minds (Book 2)
In this smart and suspenseful sequel to Hazardous Duty, crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire finds herself stuck doing mold remediation to pay the bills. But her first day on the job, she uncovers a surprise in the crawlspace of a dilapidated home: Elvis, dead as a doornail and still wearing his blue suede shoes. How could she possibly keep her nose out of a case like this?
It Came Upon a Midnight Crime (Book 2.5, a Novella)
Someone is intent on destroying the true meaning of Christmas—at least, destroying anything that hints of it. All around crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire’s hometown, anything pointing to Jesus as the “reason for the season” is being sabotaged. The crimes become more twisted as dismembered body parts are found at the vandalisms. Who would go to such great lengths to dampen the joy and hope of Christ’s birthday? Someone’s determined to destroy Christmas … but Gabby St. Claire is just as determined to find the Grinch and let peace on earth and goodwill to men prevail.
Organized Grime (Book 3)
Gabby St. Claire knows her best friend, Sierra, isn’t guilty of killing three people in what appears to be an eco-terrorist attack. But Sierra has disappeared, her only contact a frantic
phone call to Gabby proclaiming that she’s being hunted. Gabby is determined to prove her friend is innocent and to keep her alive. While trying to track down the real perpetrator, Gabby notices a disturbing trend at the crime scenes she’s cleaning, one that ties random crimes together—and points to Sierra as the guilty party. Just what has her friend gotten herself into?
Dirty Deeds (Book 4)
“Promise me one thing. No snooping. Just for one week.”
Gabby St. Claire knows that her fiancé’s request is a simple one that she should be able to honor. After all, Riley’s law school reunion and attorneys’ conference at a hoity-toity resort is a chance for them to get away from the mysteries Gabby often finds herself involved in as a crime scene cleaner. The weeklong trip is a chance for them to be “normal,” a word that leaves a bad taste in Gabby’s mouth.
But Gabby finds herself alone for endless hours while Riley is busy with legal workshops. Then one of Riley’s old friends goes missing, and Gabby suspects one of Riley’s buddies might be behind the disappearance. When the missing woman’s mom asks Gabby for help, how can she say no?
Secrets abound. Frankly, Gabby even has some of her own. When the dirty truth comes out, the revelations put everything in jeopardy—relationships, trusts, and even lives.
The Scum of All Fears (Book 5)
“I’ll get out, and I’ll get even.”
Gabby St. Claire is back to crime-scene cleaning, at least temporarily. With her business partner on his honeymoon, she needs help after a weekend killing spree fills up her work docket. She quickly realizes she has bigger problems than finding temporary help.
A serial killer her fiancé, a former prosecutor, put behind bars has escaped. His last words to Riley were: I’ll get out, and I’ll get even. Pictures of Gabby are found in the man’s prison cell, and Riley fears the sadistic madman has Gabby in his sights.
Gabby tells herself there’s no way the Scum River Killer will make it across the country from California to Virginia without being caught. But then messages are left for Gabby at crime scenes, and someone keeps slipping in and out of her apartment.
When Gabby’s temporary assistant disappears, Gabby must figure out who’s behind these crimes. The search for answers becomes darker when Gabby realizes she’s dealing with a criminal who’s more than evil. He’s truly the scum of the earth, and he’ll do anything to make Gabby and Riley’s lives a living nightmare.
To Love, Honor, and Perish (Book 6)
How could God let this happen?
Crime scene cleaner Gabby St. Claire can’t stop asking the question. Just when her life is on the right track, the unthinkable happens. Gabby’s fiancé, Riley Thomas, is shot and remains in life-threatening condition only a week before their wedding.
Gabby is determined to figure out who pulled the trigger, even if investigating puts her own life at risk. But as she digs deeper into the facts surrounding the case, she discovers secrets better left alone. Doubts arise in her mind and the one man with answers is on death’s doorstep.
An old foe from the past returns and tests everything Gabby is made of—physically, mentally, and spiritually. Will her soul survive the challenges ahead? Or will everything she’s worked for be destroyed?
Mucky Streak (Book 7)
After her last encounter with a serial killer, Gabby St. Claire feels her life is smeared with the stain of tragedy. Between the exhaustion of trying to get her fiancé back on his feet, routine night terrors, and potential changes looming on the horizon, she needs a respite from the mire of life.
At the encouragement of her friends, she takes on a short-term gig as a private investigator: a cold case that’s eluded investigators for ten years. The mass murder of a wealthy family seems impossible to solve but quickly gets interesting as Gabby brings more clues to light. Add to the mix a flirtatious client, travels to an exciting new city, and some quirky—albeit temporary—new sidekicks, and things get really complicated.
With every new development, Gabby prays that what she’s calling her “mucky streak” will end and the future will become clear. But every answer she uncovers leads her closer to danger—both for her life and for her heart.
Coming Soon:
Broom and Gloom (Book 9)
The Sierra Files
Pounced (Book 1)
Sierra is used to fighting for the lives of innocent creatures. But when a killer puts the lives of her own cats on the line, her crusade becomes personal.
Animal rights activist Sierra Nakamura never expected to stumble upon the dead body of a coworker while out filming a project. She definitely never expected to get involved in the investigation. But when someone threatens to kill her cats unless she hands over the “information,” she becomes more bristly than an angry feline.
Making matters worse is the fact that her cats—and the investigation—are driving a wedge between her and her boyfriend Chad. With every answer she uncovers, old hurts rise to the surface and test her beliefs.
Saving her cats just might mean ruining everything else in her life. In the fight for survival, one thing is certain: It’s either pounce or be pounced.
Coming Soon: Hunted (Book 2)
The Gabby St. Claire Diaries (a Tween Mystery series)
(This series follows the life of a young Gabby St. Claire and is perfect for readers ages 10 and up)
The Curtain Call Caper (Book 1)
Is a ghost haunting the Oceanside Middle School auditorium? What else could explain the disasters surrounding the school play—everything from missing scripts to a falling spotlight and damaged props?
All seventh grader Gabby St. Claire has dreamed about is being a part of her school’s musical. But a series of unfortunate events threatens to shut down the whole production. While trying to track down the culprit and save her fifteen minutes of fame, she also has to manage impossible teachers, cliques, her dysfunctional family, and a secret she can’t even tell her best friend.
Will Gabby figure out who or what is sabotaging the show … or will it be curtains for her and the rest of the cast?
The Disappearing Dog Dilemma (Book 2)
Why are dogs from all over town disappearing? Who could be taking them from their loving families?
When two friends ask seventh grader Gabby St. Claire for her help in finding their missing canines, Gabby decides to unleash her sleuthing skills to sniff out whoever’s behind the act. But time management and relationships get tricky as worrisome weather, a part-time job, and a new crush interfere with Gabby’s investigation.
Will her determination crack the case? Or will shadowy villains, a penchant for overcommitting, and even her own heart put her in the doghouse?
The Bundled Bike Burglaries (Book 3)
Stolen bikes and a long-forgotten time capsule leave one amateur sleuth baffled and busy.
Seventh grader Gabby St. Claire is determined to bring a bike burglar to justice—and not just because mean girl Donabell Bullock is strong-arming her into it. But each new clue brings its own set of trouble. As if that’s not enough to handle, Gabby finds evidence of a decades-old murder within the contents of the time capsule, but no one seems to take her seriously.
As her investigation heats up, will Gabby’s knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong people crack the case? Or will it prove hazardous to her health?
Other Books by Christy Barritt:
The Good Girl
Tara Lancaster can sing Amazing Grace in three harmonies, two languages, and interpret it for the hearing impaired. She can list the Bible canon backward, forward, and alphabetized. And the only time she ever missed church was at seventeen because she had pneumonia and her mom made her stay home. But when her life shatters around her and her reputation is left in ruins, Tara decides escape is the only option. She flees halfway across the country to dog-sit, but the quiet anonymity she needs isn’t waiting in her sister’s house. Instead she finds a knife with a threatening message, a fame-hungry friend, a too-
hunky neighbor, and evidence of…a ghost? Following all the rules has gotten her nowhere. And nothing she learned in Sunday School can tell her where to go from there.
Death of the Couch Potato’s Wife (Suburban Sleuth Mysteries)
You haven’t seen desperate until you’ve met Laura Berry, a career-oriented city slicker turned suburbanite housewife. Well-trained in the big city commandment, “mind your own business,” Laura is persuaded by her spunky 70-year-old neighbor Babe to check on another neighbor who hasn’t been seen in days. She finds her neighbor, Candace Flynn, wife of the infamous “Couch King,” dead, and at last has a reason to get up in the morning in suburbia: murder. Someone’s determined to stop her from digging deeper into the death of her neighbor, but Laura is just as determined to figure out who’s behind the death-by-poisoned-pork-rinds.
The Trouble with Perfect
Since the death of her fiancé two years ago, novelist Morgan Blake’s life has been in a holding pattern. She has a major case of writer’s block, and a book signing in the small mountain town of Perfect sounds like just the solution to help her clear her head. Her trip takes a wrong turn when, on her way there, she’s involved in a hit and run—she’s hit a man, and he’s run from the scene. Before fleeing, he mouthed the word “help.” She plans to give him that help, but first she must find him. In Perfect, she finds a town that offers everything she’s ever wanted. But is something sinister going on behind the town’s cheery exterior? Was she invited as a guest of honor simply to do a book signing? Or was she lured to town for another purpose—a deadly purpose?
Christy Barritt - Squeaky Clean 08 - Foul Play Page 25