Ghost of a Gamble (Granny Apples Mystery) by Sue Ann Jaffarian Read Free Book Online Page B

store looking at the various jewelry. Some of it was lovely. Some of it kitschy. The store itself wasn’t very wide, but it was deep. In the back was a door painted red and marked
The Raven’s Craft
in bold, black Gothic lettering. Next to the door was a large rectangular window. Emma peered through the glass to see a small room set up with a couple of chairs, a small table, and several shelves with books and bottles. Around the room were brightly scattered pillows and fabrics. It was a mini version of Dolly’s home. Just outside the door were a couple of plastic chairs, probably for waiting clients. On the door was a small sign decorated with brightly colored beads. In the center was a clock face. The sign informed people that Madam Dolly would be back around six thirty.
    Emma returned to the counter. “I take it through that door is where Dolly sees clients.”
    “Yes,” the girl answered without looking up from her work. “She closes the drapes on the window when she’s with someone.”
    “Does Dolly also work for the bead store?” Emma asked, thinking that The Raven’s Craft must rent space from the bead store, and maybe Dolly also worked in the store in exchange for her space.
    “She owns it,” the girl answered after writing something down on a slip of paper. “The whole place, both businesses.”
    “I’m sorry,” Emma said, apologizing. “I didn’t realize you were taking inventory.”
    “That’s okay,” the girl said without a hint of annoyance. “I’m just counting beads and I have all night to do it. It’s slow on Tuesday nights. Now what was it you asked?”
    “Does Dolly work for the bead store, too?” Emma repeated. “You know, on slow nights.”
    The girl noted where she’d stopped her counting and pushed the tray aside. “Madeline actually runs the jewelry end of things while Dolly does the fortune-telling stuff. They’re partners in the place, sharing the profits from both ends, but Dolly’s usually too busy with clients to pitch in behind the counter.”
    A partner
, thought Emma. Neither Milo nor Dolly had said anything about Dolly having a partner in her business. “Is Madeline here?”
    “She’s not feeling well today. She’s my aunt. Well, actually my great-aunt. I work here with a couple of other girls who go to UNLV.”
    “Looks like it would be a good part-time job for a college student. My own daughter is in college back East. She’s a junior.”
    The girl brightened and gave Emma a wide smile. “Me, too! I’m studying earth and environmental science. My name’s Megan, by the way.”
    “Nice to meet you, Megan.” Emma indicated the locked wall displays. “Do you and some of the other girls also make the jewelry? One of those photos looks like you.”
    “Yeah, that’s me before I colored my hair. Some of us make stuff to sell. Other things come in from local artisans. Madeline sells the jewelry on consignment for us. If you see something you like, let me know. It’s not fine jewelry, but if we don’t keep it locked up, it gets stolen.”
    Emma went back to the display with Megan’s photo. She liked the girl’s work. It was very creative. Youthful and trendy without being cheesy and cheap looking. “I’d like to see those two pairs of earrings, if you don’t mind.”
    Megan came from behind the counter and unlocked the case. She pulled out the earrings Emma had chosen and handed them to her. One pair was made of a blue stone with veins of gold and lavender. The other was more dangly with stones in striking earth tones. Both hung on sturdy silver wire.
    “You do very nice work,” Emma told her after examining the jewelry. “I’ll take them. I think my daughter will like the blue ones and the other pair is perfect for her friend Tanisha.”
    When Megan returned to the counter to ring up the sale, Emma’s eyes caught several framed photos on the wall behind the girl. They were photos of old-time Vegas showgirls similar to the photos back at