Beach Bags and Burglaries (A Haley Randolph Mystery) by Dorothy Howell Read Free Book Online Page B

onto a canvas always made a person look superintellectual—almost as much as sitting in Starbucks, wearing a scarf, and typing on a laptop.
    “I’ll check it out,” I said.
    “Let’s have a look at the restaurants,” Harvey said. “I want to see them all so we can decide where to have dinner.”
    “Will you join us, Haley?” Geraldine asked.
    “No, thanks, I’m meeting friends,” I said, and glanced around the lobby. Where the heck was Bella, anyway?
    Geraldine rose, picked up the Sea Vixen, and left with Harvey.
    My senses jumped to high alert. Geraldine had said she’d found a Sea Vixen at one of the resort’s shops. I had to find it.
    I was about to take off when I saw Sandy and Marcie walk into the lobby from outside. They were still dressed in their beachwear, and seemed to be involved in a deep discussion.
    “We’ll let Haley decide,” Sandy said as they walked up.
    Marcie gave her a have-at-it wave.
    “I met this guy on the beach,” Sandy said. “His name is Sebastian and he works here. I didn’t want to talk to him, and Marcie thinks I should have.”
    “It was only a conversation,” Marcie said. “Besides, he was really good-looking.”
    “Vacation flings never work out,” Sandy said.
    How had I gotten into the middle of this?
    “He liked you,” Marcie said.
    I had to find a Sea Vixen tote.
    “I already have a boyfriend,” Sandy insisted. “Besides, this is our no-men vacation. Right, Haley?”
    The vision of the very last tote being snatched from the shelf while I stood here zapped my brain.
    “Right, Haley?” Sandy asked again.
    I had to get this discussion over with so I could find that shop.
    “Right,” I said.
    “See?” Sandy said. “Haley is committed to our pact, and so am I. She didn’t run after a good-looking man today, did you, Haley?”
    Jeez, did hunting down Ben count?
    “Or get all crazy and girlie because a good-looking man talked to her,” Sandy said. “Right, Haley?”
    Had I gotten all crazy and girlie talking to Luke Warner?
    “Haley?” Sandy asked.
    Yikes! I had.
    They both stared at me, waiting for an answer. But I couldn’t tell them the truth.
    Thankfully, I didn’t have to respond, because Bella appeared out of nowhere and pushed her way into our group.
    “This is b.s.,” Bella announced, scowling and planting her hands on her hips.
    I’d seen Bella angry only one time—and it wasn’t pretty.
    Sandy gasped. “What happened?”
    “I was robbed,” Bella declared. “Somebody stole my lucky panties.”
    We all just stared at her.
    “Stole them right out of my room,” Bella said.
    “Somebody stole your panties?” Marcie asked.
    “My lucky panties,” Bella declared. “What kind of place is this, anyway?”
    “Maybe you just forgot to pack them,” Marcie said.
    “I’d never forget my lucky panties on vacation,” she told us.
    “The hotel staff unpacked for us,” Sandy said. “Maybe whoever put your things away put them in the wrong drawer or something.”
    “I looked everywhere,” Bella said, still fuming. “I already talked to that woman—what’s her name, Avery?—and told her all about it. She said she was sure they hadn’t been stolen. But if they’re not in my room—and I’m sure as heck not wearing them—what else could have happened to them? Nothing, that’s what. Somebody stole my lucky panties.”
    “Haley!”
    A gut-wrenching scream caused us all to jump. I turned and saw Yasmin, still dressed in her bride-to-be pink beach ensemble, rushing toward our little group. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Her fists were clinched, and her mouth hung open as she sobbed.
    It wasn’t a good look for her.
    “Haley, you have to help me,” she said as she pushed her way between Bella and Sandy. “You all have to help me. You have to!”
    Nobody said anything.
    “My guests have cancelled! Almost all of them!” Yasmin leaned her head back and cried harder.
    Around us, other people in the lobby stared.
    Yasmin shook her