Ms America and the Offing on Oahu (Beauty Queen Mysteries No. 1) by Diana Dempsey Read Free Book Online Page A

“You’re not trying to get rid of me, are you? I saw that Mario Suave guy giving you the eye.”
    “He was not!” Was he? Kind of a flattering idea. “Anyway, remember when I researched pit school on the web?” I’m the one in our family who does the legwork. “If I recall, there was a program in North Carolina that lasted for twelve weeks or so. And it cost something like twelve grand.”
    “Which is a ton of money. We could get six flat-screens for that.”
    “We only need one flat-screen.” Actually, we don’t even need that. “I was just thinking that with Rachel giving me guff now about applying to private universities, we have more than enough to cover pit school, too.” Not that I’m happy about Rachel’s attitude. And she knows it. Which is why she’s not calling me much.
    But if I’ve learned one thing from how my mother pushed me into pageants, it’s not to make your child do what you couldn’t yourself. That’s a recipe for resentment.
    Jason gives me another soft kiss. “Let’s talk about it later.”
    “Okay. It’s just that I’m so excited. This prize money means that everyone in this family can take a few steps forward.”
    “Right now the only steps I want to take are into Best Buy, to see what’s up with flat-screens.” He kisses my forehead. “See you later.”
    I watch him go. I guess my husband isn’t the most ambitious guy I ever met. But he’s just such a darn good mechanic! He could make something more of himself, I know it. I bet that if he pushed through pit school, he could get a job with NASCAR.
    I turn to exit the banquet hall and end up barreling into Trixie. Like me, she’s showered and dressed and looks a lot better than she did at 4 AM.
    She grabs me and squeals loud enough to wake the dead. “Happy, Happy, Happy, I just heard and I am so happy for you! Whoops, I knocked off your tiara.”
    I sense the thing sliding leftward. It feels like the Titanic on my head. “Now I know why Queen Elizabeth practices wearing hers before big occasions.”
    Trixie continues to talk with a bobby pin between her teeth and both her hands righting my crown. “I should get a job doing horoscopes. I predicted you’d win and what do you do? Go and win.” She steps back, beaming. “You’re on straight now. I’m so happy for you. Let’s celebrate by eating real food.”
    “I could stand getting my breakfast drink but after that I have to see Mr. Cantwell and sign the paperwork.”
    “Ooh!” she squeals again. “Well, I’m going to eat like a pig and then be a saint after 10 AM.”
    We head for the hotel’s casual café, where Trixie selects a lemon poppyseed muffin the size of a newborn’s head. The girl behind the counter looks at me and asks, “The usual?”
    “Please.”
    Trixie and I sit at the counter to watch my morning concoction being concocted. Pineapple juice, strawberries, a banana, a dash of vanilla extract … Then, “Is wheat germ good for anything but fiber?” Trixie asks me.
    “I think it’s good for PMS.”
    She regards the brew with heightened appreciation then lets out a yelp. “Oh my Lord, I cannot believe I almost forgot to tell you. There’s news about Tiffany Amber. A rumor the police took some man in.”
    “They arrested somebody already? Are you kidding me?”
    “I’m not sure they arrested him. They may have just brought him in for questioning.”
    “Does anybody know who the guy is?”
    Trixie shakes her head, pops some muffin in her mouth. In silent rumination she munches and I gulp. I wonder if this man the cops took in killed Tiffany. If he did, wow. We queens have been on Oahu only two weeks. In that short a time, how could somebody get a man mad enough to snuff her? Somehow, knowing her as I do, I think Tiffany Amber is capable of that achievement.
    My appreciation for Oahu PD grows with this revelation. And once someone does get arrested for murdering Tiffany, I’m off the hook. The tiara will rest safely on my head, even