Looming Murder by Carol Ann Martin Read Free Book Online

completed her business, she looked at Jenny and then back to me, changing the subject yet again. “So what were you two talking about before I so rudely barged in?”
    “Nothing really,” Jenny said, munching on something that looked like a caramel-pecan muffin. “Oh, my God, this is so good.” She flicked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, sending her feather earring fluttering. “Della was telling me all about her plans for the store.” That was a complete fabrication, but better I supposed than admitting we had been gossiping about members of the weaving group, including Marnie herself.
    I was sinking into a comfortable sugar high. “I want to stir up more interest in my shop. I know there must be something I can do other than sit around and wait for customers to show up. I just haven’t figured out what yet.”
    “What did you do before moving here?” Something in the way she looked at me made me believe she already knew all about me. After all, the papers had dragged my reputation through the mud for weeks until the real embezzler was caught. It was a miracle nobody in Briar Hollow had recognized me from my pictures in the media.
    “I suspect you already know, don’t you?” I waited for her reaction.
    Marnie had the grace to blush. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I recognized you immediately, but I can’t say that I read any of the articles.”
    I seriously doubted that. In fact, I was willing to bet she’d practically memorized every libelous word written about me.
    Jenny’s eyes darted from me to Marnie and back again. “What is she talking about?”
    “You’ll probably hear all about it, so I might as well tell you myself. To make a long story short, I used to be a financial analyst for an investment firm. Six months ago I came across evidence that my boss was embezzling from the company. When I confronted him, he begged me to wait twenty-four hours before calling the SEC.” I scowled, remembering. “He said he wanted to make restitution before turning himself in. And—fool that I was—I believed him. Of course, to the SEC, the fact that I didn’t report him until the next day made me look guilty.”
    “Poor you.” Jenny sounded genuinely shocked.
    “But then he disappeared, and that made her look even guiltier,” Marnie chimed in. I was right. Marnie did know every detail of the case.
    Jenny’s head swiveled from Marnie to me. “He disappeared?”
    “He pulled a fast one. The next day, when I called the SEC, he had vanished. He was apprehended three weeks later, trying to cross the border into Mexico—three weeks during which I was questioned, charged, arraigned and released on a one-million-dollar bond, borrowed from my mother. Even after he was caught, a lot of people still thought I was guilty. In the end, I was able to clear my name only by providing evidence against him.”
    Jenny’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God!”
    I let out a long sigh. “Testifying against my boss, as it turned out, caused another set of problems. In the financial industry, blowing the whistle on a superior is professional suicide. It’s almost worse than embezzling.”
    Marnie laughed ruefully. “Maybe because they all seem to think it’s okay to steal from clients.”
    I gave a half smile and said, “Rather than look for another job in the industry, I decided it was time for a change.” I shrugged. “So, here I am, doing what I always wanted to do—operating a weaving shop and studio.”
    The women were quiet until Jenny said, “I’m not sure I’d have the guts to just pick up and go like that. It was incredibly brave of you.”
    I smiled crookedly. “A few of my friends said the same thing, but they made the word ‘brave’ sound more like ‘crazy.’ I wouldn’t be surprised if they placed bets on how long I would last here.” I grew thoughtful, remembering how overwhelming the decision to move had been.
    Marnie leaned forward to pat my hand. “I’m sorry I asked. It was really none