Fatal Feng Shui by Leslie Caine Read Free Book Online Page B

have to admit, her brash statements on her show have piqued even my interest.” She hesitated. “According to my friend’s stories about the show, that is.”
    I thought about how Ang Chung was obviously conning Shannon. “Did you know that some practitioners say that they can predict natural disasters for buildings that have bad feng shui?”
    Audrey replied, “I’ve heard that, yes, but I’m more than a little skeptical.”
    “Me, too. There’s also a Westernized, modern approach to feng shui that I personally can really appreciate. One that takes a common-sense approach to the whole thing.”
    “Is that what you practice in your designs?”
    Audrey, I realized, was trying to keep me talking in order to get my mind off my half brother’s murder, and I loved her for doing so. “Yes. I tend to use intuitive feng shui—to look at what works for my clients.”
    “For example?” she prompted.
    “In traditional feng shui, only square-shaped houses are considered lucky. Nowadays, we have attached garages, mud rooms, home offices, and so forth, so designing strictly square homes is rather difficult. Shannon has this lovely work area in a separate wing of the house, which is perfect for her lifestyle, but now she thinks that’s bad feng shui. So Sullivan and I have designed the front deck and a courtyard—including a gazebo—to give the house a square footprint. Without having to actually square off all the external walls.”
    “Doesn’t it irk you that you have to jump through hoops for her?” Audrey asked, frowning.
    “Not at all. If she hadn’t gotten so concerned about bad energy, she might never have considered remodeling, and then I wouldn’t have been hired. And you’d be surprised how well our design ideas mesh with feng shui. It is wonderfully instructive when it comes to furniture placement, and for reminding you to balance and harmonize rooms with a wide range of textures and materials. Also to bring the outdoors into your rooms. Everyone knows to use greens and blues to cool rooms and reds and yellows to warm them. A feng shui consultant would suggest the very same thing with colors for the exact same reason, but he’d call them yin and yang.”
    “Which reminds me,” Audrey said, racing over to snatch up her Tiffany notebook and pen from the side table. “You once gave me that quick rundown on dos and don’ts of color. I was going to talk about color on my show next week.”
    “You’re reaching deep for diversions now, Audrey.” I gave her a sad smile.
    “But I really want to hear your answer, Erin.”
    “Use reds in dining rooms and kitchens, because it flatters both foods and people’s complexions. Blue isn’t good for dining rooms. It’s a yin—cooling—color that’s great for bedrooms and to calm the spirit. Greens are also cool and soothing and yet rejuvenating, because they’re natural, outdoorsy hues. Yellows aren’t good for complexions. So you want to avoid using them in super-small bathrooms, but otherwise they warm and cheer rooms. Purple’s good for meditation, spirituality, deep thinking. Pink is the most sedative of all colors. Which is why it’s also great for bedrooms. Orange is good for gathering places because it stimulates and sustains conversation.” I sighed. “I think that’s the rainbow in a nutshell.”
    She studied me anxiously. “Did you want me to go with you to the police? Give you a little support?”
    “No, thanks, Audrey. I’m fine. Really.” But my thoughts flashed to the sight of poor Taylor on the Youngs’ foyer floor, and tears burned my eyes. “I just…He was so young. He didn’t deserve this.”
    “As we both know, my dear, life isn’t fair. All we can do is treat others with loving care, and try to make ourselves as receptive to loving care as we can.”
    “Nobody treated Taylor with loving care. That’s why he’s dead. And if loving care toward him was the measure I should have used, I failed him miserably.”
    “So