by Tonya Kappes
Flora separated the bills.
“You are worried about eight dollars?” Flora held the money up. “It’s eight dollars. Who cares?”
Damn! Eight dollars?
“I know, but I still feel bad. I need you to put it under your mattress. Far away from me.” I shielded my eyes. I had to be dramatic so she’d believe me and leave the room so I could do some searching.
“Eight dollars?” She questioned me with a curious look.
I nodded, and frowned.
“Okay.” She walked back to her bedroom.
Quickly I searched her purse sitting on the table, the kitchen, the family room, and actually looked under her couch.
When I heard her footsteps, I laid my head on the floor.
“I did it.” She stopped standing over top me. “What are you doing?”
“I was feeling faint from my crime.” I laid my hand over my head. “I think I need to lie down.”
“You are lying down.” She confirmed.
“No, I mean on your bed.” I jumped up and walked to her room.
“Fine.” She turned the bedroom light on. “Can I get you something? Water? A psychiatrist?”
“Water. Water is good.” I ignored the bit about the shrink. How was I going to stop all the gossip? Flora would be on the phone as soon as I left, telling all the Divas how crazy I was acting.
I jumped out of her bed and quickly looked around her room and bathroom. Luckily her phone rang and she answered it, so I knew it’d buy me some more time.
I found everything from a drawer full of old cell phones to another one full of batteries. But there was no pouch. No yellow gem.
I strolled out of the bedroom when I heard her coming back down the hall.
“Here’s your water. What are you doing?” Flora asked with hesitation in her voice.
“I’m feeling much better.” I said. “By the way, did you see anyone in the shop office when you took the Divas projects to the storage room?”
“I saw Bernadine in there and the new girl.” Flora tapped her temples.
“Marlene?” I asked.
“No, the new girl. Not cougar.” Flora laughed.
“Cheri?” I asked.
“Yep, her!” Flora snapped her fingers. “Here’s your water.”
She held the glass out to me.
“Oh, thanks for listening. I don’t need it now.” I headed to the door. I turned around. Flora’s mouth as wide open. “Oh, keep the eight bucks. Consider it your fee for listening to me ramble.”
I darted out the door before she could say anything else.
Yep. I bet Flora was on the phone with one of the Divas before I made it out of her condo building, telling them how crazy I’m acting.
If they only knew that the next Diva meeting just might be in a jail cell.
Chapter Eight
Cheri would be my next stop and probably the easiest of all.
I questioned myself on the drive over about Jim’s offer about the security cameras. I should’ve taken the free one month trial. Then I would’ve known who took the Spinet.
I pulled up in front of the shop and parked the Focus. I walked around the building and climb up the metal stairs.
I knocked on the apartment door.
“Who’s there?” Cheri demanded on the other side of the door.
“It’s me, Holly.” I said in a sweet tone. I had no idea how I was going to explain why I was there, but the last two excuses hadn’t failed me.
“Holly? Is something wrong?” Cheri asked as I shivered in the falling snow. “Come in.”
“I’m okay.” I said through my chattering teeth. With the sun going down, the temperature was dropping quickly. I vigorously rubbed my hands up and down my arms.
“I just brewed some coffee. Would you like a cup?” She pointed to the percolating coffee maker on the counter in the kitchenette.
“That would be great.” I puffed some hot breath on my freezing hands.
“So what’s up?” Cheri handed me a mug.
The futon was already made out into a bed.
“I’m sorry. Did I disturb you?” I asked and nonchalantly looked around.
There was nothing there but a duffle bag with clothes sticking out of it. Just the futon with a cover and pillow, and the kitchen. There wasn’t any tables, drawers, or television.
“I was just reading.” She pointed to a stack of books sitting on the floor. “You really scared me though. I’m not used to getting visitors. I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom.”
I smiled and took a sip of the coffee. It would be hard to hide anything in here, I thought, looking around the efficiency. Cheri had nothing. And I mean nothing.
I went into the kitchen to peek in the drawers. They were empty. No silverware, plates, or napkins. All she had was a coffee maker and a couple mugs.
“You’re lucky I didn’t genie you.” She yelled from the bathroom.
“Genie me?” I wondered if I heard her correctly.
She came out of the bathroom and laughed. “Yep. This.”
Cheri did some sort of move with her hands in front of her body. It looked like karate.
“I’m glad you didn’t.” I said. I doubt she’d hurt me. She’d have to go through the extra weight first.
“I take karate a couple nights a week. I’m so tired by the time I get home, I usually read then go to bed.” She sat down on the futon. “If I have homework, I generally do it before karate in my car.”
There was an odd silence that hung between us. I tried to think of something, but nothing was coming to me.
“So, what did you want? You aren’t regretting renting me the apartment, are you?” Cheri asked with a look of fear in her eyes.
“No, no. I. . .” I took another drink to buy some more time. “I wanted to know if you wanted to be an honorary Diva since you’ll be seeing me and the girls a lot. We’d love to have you.”
“Oh, okay.” Cheri smiled. “I’d love to. But you have to come to karate with me sometimes. You need to be able to protect yourself, Holly. Plus it’s great exercise.”
Yeah, that. Here comes the weight thing.
“Actually I do need to lose some pounds.” I pulled the elastic out and let it snap back in place. “I gained it after my divorce. Do you mind if I go to the bathroom before I leave?”
“No, go ahead.” Cheri said.
It was the last place I could look for the Spinet before I moved on to the final suspect’s house.
I locked the door and began to go through the medicine cabinet. Nothing but ginseng, red root, and tampons were in there. Nothing that resembled a pouch or anything yellow.
“Okay. I’m going home now.” I smiled and waved my hand.
“Is that what you really wanted?” Cheri’s curiosity was peeked. “I mean, I thought you left a couple hours ago. It could’ve waited until tomorrow.”
Damn!
“No it couldn’t. I want you to feel welcome, that’s all.” I zipped my coat up and waved without saying goodbye.
If Ginger were here, she’d be able to read me like a book. I didn’t want to tell anyone that I’d lost the gem or that someone stole it. I had to get it back. And Bernadine’s house was on the way home.
No way.
I pulled into Bernadine’s driveway and noticed Flora’s car and Ginger’s car were both park out front. Were they having Diva meeting without me?
Did they really take the Yellow Spinet as a group effort? There was something going on and I was bound and determined to get to the bottom of it.
Bernadine met me at the door before I could even knock.
“I saw headlights. Come in, honey.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders like a mother would do to her child. “Flora and Ginger stopped by.”
They were all sitting around Bernadine’s massive granite top island that sits in the middle of her kitchen. Each of them had a tall glass of wine.
“Here. Have some wine.” Bernadine scooted a glass to
wards me. “Why don’t you get comfortable and take your coat off?”
I eyed them just as much as they were eyeing me.
We all picked up our wine and took a sip, each of us trying not to stare at the other.
“Okay, enough of this.” Ginger set her glass on the counter. Sean appeared out of nowhere and stood beside my friends. “What is wrong with you, Holly? You go to Sean’s and take money. Then you go to Flora’s acting like you committed some big crime. After you left Flora, she called Sean who jumped in his truck to find you because Flora was worried sick that you were going to pass out at the wheel Then he turned around and followed you to the bead shop where you went to Cheri’s apartment for God knows what. Then you end up here.”
“Even though we are divorced, I still care about you.” Sean said in a pathetic attempt to be sympathetic.
I broke down and cried like a baby. I buried my head in my hands, my shoulders bounced up and down as I cried.
“It can’t be that bad.” Flora rubbed my back. “The Divas can fix this.”
I looked up. All of them were staring at me like I needed to be in a padded room.
“I lost a Yellow Spinet. A customer’s Yellow Spinet.” I muttered through broken English.
“A what?” Sean’s face curled.
“A spit who?” Flora’s eyes crossed.
“No!” Bernadine’s hand flew to her mouth as she gasped.
I nodded. Her reaction confirmed the severity of the situation.
“Who gave you a Spinet?” Bernadine’s eyes lit up like the shiniest stars in the sky.
“Marlene Dietrich.” I sobbed.
“That’s not her real name. I knew there was something funny going on with that women.” Ginger spouted. “She’s evil and Willow knows it.”
Oh, God. Willow.
I looked at my watch. It read 8:00. Willow had been at the cabin, by herself for over two hours. I’ve never left her alone that long.
“I’ve got to go get Willow at home.” I started to get up and Flora stopped me.
“Wait. What’s this about a Spinet?” She asked.
I explained what had happened and how she, Sean, Cheri and Bernadine was the only ones in or near the office. I even told her how I checked their houses looking for the pouch.
In true Diva style they weren’t mad at me, but assured me they would help me find it or figure it out.
“Let’s all meet at the shop early in the morning before it opens. It has to be there somewhere.” Bernadine said, making me feel somewhat better.
“I never thought I’d see the day we have a Diva meeting in the Swanee jail.” I shook my head. “Marlene is going to kill me.”
“Let her try.” Ginger fussed. “I’d like to have a reason to rip those skin tight clothes off her.”
“Can you do it when I’m around?” Sean laughed, but no one laughed with him. “Fine, I’m leaving. But can I have my eight dollars back?”
“NO!” The Divas yelled in unison.
Chapter Nine
A little more calm than before, I pulled the Focus up the cabin driveway. If I’d only gone to the Divas with this information first, we probably would’ve been to the shop and found it by now.
I was startled by headlights coming up the drive behind me.
I thought it was Sean, but it wasn’t. It was Marlene.
Damn!
“Are you just getting home?” She was out of the car and up to my car door before I could get out. “It’s pretty late.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked, trying not to sound uncomfortable in front of her. But my nerves were on edge.
“Agnes needed some maple syrup for her pancakes in the morning and I ran into Jim at the store. He said something about the Divas getting together and told me where you lived. Plus, I wanted to discuss some design ideas for my Spinet.” Marlene continued to talk as we walked.
I didn’t even hear most of what she said, but I managed to get the gist of it.
“Willow?” I hollered inside the door. She always had to go pee when I came home from somewhere. And since she’d been there a few hours alone, I was sure she had to go now. “Willow?”
I didn’t hear any little hooves.
I looked down at Marlene’s heels and wondered if Willow heard them.
“Stay right there. Willow hates you for some reason and I bet she’s hiding.” Thank God there were no unders where she could hide. If there were, she’d just have to stay under there until she came out.
But she wasn’t. She was lying on the floor next to the bed, not moving.
“Willow?” I put my hand on her little body. Her stomach seemed to be hard.
I had read that pet potbellies can get distended bowls if they ate the wrong thing. And Bernadine doesn’t help matters. Whenever she’s around, she gives Willow any and everything. That’s why Bernadine was Willow’s favorite Diva.
“Oh, no!” I grabbed Willow and took off toward the door. “How fast can that car go?”
Marlene ran behind me.
“Fast as we need it to.” She clicked her key fob, making the car doors unlock. “Plus the roads have been plowed, so we are good. Where we going?”
“Doc Johnson’s just down the road from Agnes’s house.” I kissed Willow’s nose. “And step on it.”
It normally took me ten minutes to get to Agnes’s house but we made it in five.
Marlene laid on the horn. I jumped out with Willow, and Doc Johnson already had the door open.
“What’s going on out here?” He was putting his glasses on. He was in his pajamas, and his hair was tussled. “Why, Holly Harper, what’s wrong with Willow?”
I charged in the door. Doc Johnson ran his veterinary business out of his home. He was used to clients showing up at all hours of the night. No wonder he never married. No woman would put up with a life with no sleep.
“I’m not sure. I ran a few errands and came home. She hasn’t eaten since this morning.” I conveniently left out the part where I had lost Marlene’s diamond that cost more than my life, and didn’t notice until now that Willow had been sick all day.
“Anything out of her norm today?” He took her from me and put her on the metal table that sat in his kitchen.
“She took a walk in the snow. And I opened my shop today.” I racked my brain for anything different. I should’ve called Bernadine to see if she fed Willow anything.
Damn!
Another time a cell phone would’ve come in handy.
Doc Johnson listened to Willow’s heart not taking his eyes off Marlene.
I looked over at her. When did she put lipstick on?
She was looking at Doc just as intensely as he was looking at her.
“Do you mind? This is about Willow.” I whispered through my gritted teeth.
“Doc?” Marlene’s sexy accent came out like it always did around potential mates.
“Call me Clint.” He winked.
I rolled my eyes. There was no way this was happening. I was in the freaking twilight zone.
“Clint, can you tell what’s wrong?” Marlene might be hiding some things, but cleavage was definitely not one of them.
“There does seem to be some labored breathing.” He finally looked over at me. “Holly, I’m going to do a quick x-ray and see if anything shows up.”
I nodded and grabbed a tissue from the Kleenex box sitting on the counter. He took her out of the room. Marlene wrapped her arms around me.
“It’s going to be okay.” She hugged me tighter. “Think good thoughts, honey.”
I tried not to inhale too much of the Chanel Number Five that she must have poured on. I pulled away.
“I know. Good thoughts.” I said trying to smile through the tears.
Marlene was there for me and she barely knew me. She asked me to keep her precious jewel safe and I couldn’t even do that.
I sobbed some more. Some from worry about Willow, and the other from guilt. I should tell her.
“Marlene.” I to
uched her arm.
“Ladies.” Doc Johnson came back into the room. He put the x-rays up on the light box.
I wasn’t sure whether I should kiss him for interrupting me and stopping me from telling Marlene, or smack him from coming in and making me lose my courage to tell her.
There was all of Willow’s insides were right there in black and white.
“This is Willow’s stomach.” He pointed to her cute little round image. “There seems to be something lodged in there.”
Marlene and I stepped closer to the light box. I squinted to see what it could be. But I couldn’t make it out.
“Holly, where is my Spinet?” Marlene asked while still looking at the image.
“At the shop?” It sounded more like a question than answer.
“No, I think it’s in that swine of yours.” Her acrylic nails jabbed at the x-ray. “I’d know my Spinet anywhere.”
I squinted more. Surely Willow didn’t eat the jewel.
I smacked my head. She was the only person in the room other than Bernadine, Sean, Flora and Cheri.
But how? How did she get the Spinet? It was in the drawer.
Asshole!
I recalled walking in on Sean with Willow in his lap. He did say he had to shut the drawer, and she’s one quick swine. I bet she’d snatched it up without Sean even seeing it.
“That little pig really does hate me doesn’t she?” Marlene eyes were ablaze.
“I will need to operate to get it out of there.” Doc Johnson looked over top his glasses. “Is that a real Spinet?”
He looked at Marlene with more interest.
“You know what a Spinet is?” Her eyes turned sweet and gentle along with the accent.
“Of course I do.” Doc Johnson winked again and disappeared into the other room, preparing to take out the expensive gem.
Marlene fanned herself.
“A man after my own heart.” She sat back in the chair. “Did you know my precious gem was missing?”
I knew I was caught. Now that the mystery was solved, I knew I could tell her the truth.