Bead of Doubt by Tonya Kappes Read Free Book Online Page A

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.
    “That’s why I called you.” I told her the entire story, including how the Divas thought I was crazy.
    She laughed the entire time.
    “It’s funny now, but if you hadn’t found it, then we would’ve had a problem.” She said.
    Marlene was right after all. She was growing on me, leopard print and all.
    “After all, we Divas take up for each other, right?” She questioned.
    I smiled. Marlene was a Diva whether we wanted to accept her or not. She was going to fit in just fine.
    “That’s right.” I hugged my new friend. “How can I make it up to you?”
    “I wouldn’t mind having a part-time job.” She said. “Agnes just doesn’t have enough for me to do. And you need to get my Spinet wrapped and finished.”
    “Fine.” I said, giving in.
    I’m not sure what I’ll have her do, but I do owe her.
    “Oh, and I wouldn’t mind a date with Doug Sloan.” Slowly a smile crept across her face. “You’ll need to clear that with Ginger for me.”
    “Let’s do one thing at a time.” I patted her leg, and waited for my Willow to come out of surgery.
    Yes, my relationship with Marlene Dietrich was going to be one thing at a time.

Excerpt
    Strung Out To Die
     
    Chapter One
     
     
    “She is going to be the death of me,” I grumbled, wondering why Marlene had left the empty bead boxes stacked up next to the front door.
    The front door rattled the thin shop walls as I slammed the door shut with my foot, sending empty boxes tumbling to the floor. At least I thought they were empty until I heard glass beads trickling on the hardwood. Frantically, I pushed them out of the way and walked on my knees to stop the sparkly gems from rolling under the shelving unit that my stupid ex-husband had put up. Sean had had a brilliant idea—or so he thought that if he screwed the shelves up on the wall, it would make an excellent display, leaving a two-inch gap at the bottom.
    Idiot.
    I think he did it on purpose. He knows I hate to clean, especially under the beds, couches or anything that has an under. These shelves are hung with just enough space for the dust bunnies and loose beads to find a home.
    “Ugh.”
    The under.
    With my butt stuck up in the air, which was not particularly