Bats and Bling by Laina Turner Read Free Book Online Page B

was probably right about that.  She could have just as easily lost her job by not letting Veronica take the brooch. Sometimes you couldn’t win for losing.
    “When was the brooch stolen?”
    “Last night.”
    “That’s horrible.”
    I nodded because she was right in that statement.
    “Do you know who took it?”
    I shook my head. “Nope. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. See if you had any idea who might have wanted to steal the brooch from Veronica.”
    “I don’t really know Veronica all that well except for as a customer. You don’t think it was just random? Someone breaking into your store for money and getting lucky?”
    “It could be that,” I said honestly. “I guess I’m being optimistic that someone had it out for Veronica. If I have to pay for that loss it’ll ruin me.”
    “So you’re hoping to find the person who stole it?”
    I nodded, figuring by this point she thought I was nuts but to her credit she didn’t comment on that fact.
    “Did anyone ever come in with Veronica or ask about the brooch at any time? Not many people knew the brooch was in my safe and so I’m trying to figure out if there was anyone else who might have known about it that I don’t know about.”
    Angela sat there for a second as if thinking.
    “When she came in to see what our designer had drawn up to give her approval she brought a friend with her.”
    “Do you know the friend’s name?”
    “She introduced her but I don’t remember. I’m sorry. Raquel hadn’t yet turned her over to me so I didn’t pay much attention to them.”
    “You mean Veronica had already commissioned that piece when Raquel gave her up?” If Raquel had done most of the work why would she turn the sale over to Angela. I’d been in sales long enough to know good sales people didn’t do that. They were too cut throat.
    Damn. “That’s OK. I …” A buzzing sound coming from my purse stopped me.
    “Excuse me a second Angela,” I said as I pulled my phone out of my purse. I saw it was a text from Katy that said call me 911. That worried me. My heart started to race with possibilities of what could have happened.
    “I don’t mean to be rude but do you mind if I make a quick call?”
    “Of course not, go ahead.”
    I hit the speed dial button and Katy answered on the first ring. She’d obviously been waiting for me to call.
    “You need to come home now,” she said frantically, not even bothering to say hello.
    “What’s wrong? Are you OK? Oh my God, did something happen to Cooper?”
    “No, no, nothing like that. I’m fine. Cooper’s fine. We’re all fine. Willie’s here and he needs to talk to you. Just come home.”
    “What is wrong?” I demanded. “You’re freaking me out.”
    “I can’t explain over the phone. Just hurry back.”
    “OK, leaving now.”
    I threw my phone back in my purse, heart racing. I couldn’t even imagine what had happened and was almost afraid to find out.
    “I have to go Angela.”
    “Is everything OK?” she said, sounding concerned.
    “I don’t know. If you think of Veronica’s friend’s name can you call me?” I asked, writing down my cell number on the back of a Starbucks receipt I pulled from my purse.
    “Sure,” she said taking the paper from me.
    I ran out of her apartment to my car and it was all I could do to not speed back to my condo but getting a ticket would just slow me down even more.
    It seemed to take forever but in reality I made good time going home. The traffic had really lessened in the last thirty minutes. Thank goodness. I’m not sure what I would have done if I’d been stuck in traffic.
    I soon pulled into the parking garage and rushed up the stairs to my condo, super nervous as I didn’t know what to expect.
    I flung open the door and Willie, Anna, and Katy were all sitting in the living room with somber looks on their faces. I went and sat in the empty chair, not even bothering to take my coat off and stared at Willie.
    “What is going on,” I