Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Read Free Book Online Page B

back onto me conspiring with Belinda. That user seemed to have vanished right out of the conversation, though. But, Darlene kept going:

    Belinda stole the design from me during a crop at Scrap This. Just take a look at Belinda’s layouts in the gallery. What is posted in the magazine is so beyond her capabilities.
    JealousMuch posted:

    You are a real witch. Trying to ruin this woman’s happiness. You suck.

    Darlene defended again:

    The assistant manager sat her by me...

    A different long-time member popped into the thread.

    Same crap different day. When it starts not going your way, you add more details. What’s next? ‘All these people private messaged me and said they agreed with me. They just won’t say it on the board because of all the bullies.’

    Snickering yellow heads filled up the first row of the next response.  Even those mocking faces didn’t quiet Darlene.

    Believe what you like but I know the truth. Belinda swiped my designs, my pages, and submitted them as her own. I bet the manager convinced Belinda to do it. She doesn’t like me. See if I ever go to another crop there.

    Could I get that promise in writing and notarized?

    Gee, I wonder why. JealousMuch shot back.
    I’ve always tried to be helpful to her but she’s so insecure, any woman stronger than her is a threat. The girl ran home to work with her grandmas because she couldn’t hack it in the military. And when I asked some simple questions about a store contest, she had to get her grandmothers. I mean really. Not to mention the whole crime thing …

    Tears sprang to my eyes. I expected some anger but this type of character-assassination spewed by Darlene slammed my heart.
    Not too long ago, I relaxed rules for a contest so that Darlene could keep her ideas protected and now she claimed Scrap This—I —helped Belinda Watson steal her layouts.

    JealousMuch asked:

    I bet this is some little game between you and Belinda to drum up blog hits. Hoping for a book deal also?

    I drew back from the screen. Had Belinda and Darlene created some elaborate drama so they both gained fame and notoriety? I wouldn’t put it past Darlene. Belinda, on the other hand, I wasn’t sure about. Thinking back on the brawl, the only one who seemed surprised about all of it...besides me, my grandmothers, and the class attendees...was Hazel. The necklace did come off pretty clean from Belinda’s neck. Almost like someone undid the clasp rather than ripped it off.
    What was so important about this title that Darlene and Belinda went through so much trouble for Belinda to win, and then for Darlene to announce the truth?
    It made no sense. Darlene was the one who coveted a title in the scrapbooking world, not Belinda. Why would Darlene give up her dream for her cousin? If those two plotted this out, there was something bigger and more important going on than being labeled a Life Artist Diva by a scrapbooking magazine.
    Something involving the store and me. Otherwise, why bring the murder up if it didn’t play into their scheme? Were they trying to bankrupt the store? Take it over?
    My breath locked in my throat. A deep rage built in my chest. I clenched my hands, releasing the pressure the moment my nails dug into the skin of my palms.
    They wanted our store. My grandmothers store. If they wanted a fight—
    No. I slapped the thought away. Not going there. Not this time. The last time I speculated about people, I nearly got myself shot and risked Ted losing visitation time with his daughter. I was not going there this time. A little gossip would not have me opening up another of Pandora’s pretty decorative boxes again.
    But, I wasn’t stupid enough not to get some “protection” for my grandmothers and me. I took a couple more screenshots and saved them to my hard drive. One never knew when they needed a just in case pile of hard truth.
    FIVE

    “Answer me. Answer me.” My phone squawked.
    I lifted and dropped my head against my pillow a few times.