A Wrongful Drift (Seagrove 8) by Leona Fox Read Free Book Online Page B

didn’t commit, and that Sylvia Jones gets justice, that’s why.” She picked up the phone and dialed Zack.

4
    Z ack was not particularly happy to hear Sadie had more women to question. “Can’t you just give the list to Steve Ryan and let him take care of it?” he asked.
    “I went to see Steve Ryan,” Sadie said. “He made a comment about needing some kind of proof that Mr. Bradshaw’s right. So I’m out looking for proof. When I find it, I will give it to him, willingly. But I’ve got to find it first.”
    “Maybe you should wait until one of my officers can go with you, or at least Lucy and Betty,” he said, sounding concerned.
    “I have Mr. B with me,” she said, “but if it will make you feel better, I’ll call and see if Lucy or Betty can go with me. How’s that?”
    “Not perfect, but I’ll take it,” he said. “Be careful, will you? You seem to think you’re invincible, but you’re not. And I don’t want to lose you.”
    “I’ll be careful,” she said without really meaning it. She wasn’t lying so much as she didn’t really see what could happen.
    “Love you,” he said.
    “Love you more,” she said and hung up the phone.
    She dialed Mandy Willis’ number and made arrangements to meet the girl at a coffee shop near the college campus later in the day. Then she drove home to walk Mr. Bradshaw in the park and see what was going on at the shop.
    Betty was all aflutter when Sadie walked into the shop after walking Mr. B in the park. "Oh good, you're back! You know the barrel organ you brought back from Italy with the stuffed dancing monkey? I sold it."
    Sadie snorted. "I knew someone eventually would buy that thing. Are they taking the monkey and all?" she asked, unhooking Mr. Bradshaw from his leash.
    "Lock, stock, and barrel. I got the impression that if you had a stuffed organ grinder to go with it, he would have taken that, too. And get this - he's going to put it in his Italian restaurant in Boston. He must have some different clients because I wouldn't want a stuffed monkey watching me eat spaghetti."
    "I'm sure it will bring a certain crowd," Sadie said. "Is he coming to pick it up?"
    "No, he paid to have it shipped. I'm getting ready to box it up now. He brought me a wooden crate to use. I will be so happy not to have that creature watching me from the back of the store," Betty said.
    "I thought that's why we put him in the back, so you wouldn't have to see him watching you" Sadie said, raising her eyebrows.
    "Except I know he's there; endlessly watching me with his tiny monkey eyes, thinking his tiny - and probably evil - monkey thoughts. I can't wait to pack him up."
    "Here, I'll help," Sadie said as she pulled off her coat. "There have been times when I could have bought stuffed human remains. I could have dressed one like an organ grinder and sold him with the monkey."
    "Gross, and probably illegal," Betty said. "Now, a wax figure would work. They look pretty lifelike when done well."
    She lifted the organ grinder into the box and held it while Sadie fastened the straps that held the musical instrument up against the hard foam packing. They boxed the monkey separately and then nestled that box into the crate with the musical instrument. More packing material was added and then finally they nailed the lid in place.
    They rolled the crate on its dolly over to the roll-up door on the delivery dock and left it there in anticipation of the shipper’s arrival.
    "I can't tell you how happy it makes me to send that little guy away," Betty said.
    "I never understood why you bought such an evil looking monkey." She shivered. "I swear he'd curse me if he could. And I don't mean curse as in swear words. I mean voodoo, dark magic, you'll die before nightfall kind of curses."
    "You let your imagination run away with you," Sadie said. "It's one of the things I like best about you. But that does mean you have to take the furies with the fairies."
    "We don't get many fairies in here," Betty