Paint the Town Dead by Nancy Haddock Read Free Book Online Page B

even a pause. She finished with a flourish, and held the vine top high for all to see.
    â€œSee the tendrils hanging here?” She pointed to five hanging bits of vine. “I curved them to more or less conform to the inside of the gourd and worked them in as I wove.These tendrils will hold the woven vine in place, so long as you don’t jerk on it. Or you can secure your vine topper by drilling holes along the rim and tying off your vine with twine. Doralee?”
    â€œIf you want more decoration, embellish with beads, charms, or whatever you fancy. Use raffia to tie your decoration to the vine.”
    She picked up a silver-colored sun charm tied to raffia, attached it to Sherry’s vine work, then she and Sherry both gently squeezed the tendrils to fit them inside the gourd.
    â€œI still need to do some finish work. A few strokes with my tools, and a little sanding, but this is a fair example of the finished product.”
    Doralee again held the gourd high with one hand. With the other, she took Sherry’s hand and they stood together to take a bow. Not every artist would be willing to share the spotlight, and I was grateful Doralee had given my aunt’s talent time to shine.
    A rousing applause, a few questions, and the audience rose. Some crowded around Doralee and Sherry while others shopped, meandering from display to display. I spotted Ernie and Georgine on Doralee’s side of the demo table, then lost sight of them and Kim. Which was more than fine by me. We’d made it through the demo without any ugly outbursts, and I sure didn’t want a commotion disturbing shoppers.
    The only hitch came when Doralee and Zach were packing her supplies and she discovered a missing tool.
    â€œIt’s a scratch awl.” At my apparently blank look, she added, “It looks like an ice pick.”
    â€œThe handle is wood and round,” Zach added. “Someone talking to Doralee probably jostled the table and it rolled off.”
    â€œBut Zach,” she protested, “each tool was in its mold in the kit.”
    â€œHoney, you held up the tools to show the class, and you may not have seated the awl securely when you put it back.Besides, that plastic isn’t the least bit sturdy. We’ve popped tools out just by hitting the kit wrong. The awl is here somewhere.”
    â€œYou’re probably right,” Doralee said as she unsnapped her smock and dropped it in the bin. “I’d stay and look for my tool, but we have massages scheduled in fifteen minutes.”
    â€œWe’ll search,” I assured her. “With so many people in here, it could’ve been kicked under a display.”
    â€œOr even a shelf,” my aunt added.
    Doralee cast a dubious glance around the store. “Your shelves are floor to ceiling, Sherry.”
    My aunt patted Doralee’s arm. “You’d be surprised what we found hiding under these old shelves and that glass counter.”
    â€œDon’t worry about your tool,” I told Doralee. “If we don’t find it, we’ll get you a new one.”
    She waved that offer away. “It’s not that valuable. I just hate to think there was a petty thief in the audience.”
    Right there with you
, I thought as they left. I also thought of the three oddballs who’d come to the demo—the snooty duo and Ball Cap Guy. I didn’t recall seeing any of them after the presentation, much less seeing them near Doralee.
    The rest of the afternoon passed quickly. The Six and I took turns helping customers, ringing up sales, and rearranging shelves. When Jasmine came in at four, she rehung the wind chime over the door, then helped me search in earnest for Doralee’s tool. We struck out, and I dreaded breaking the news to Doralee.
    Fred spent most of his afternoon in his workroom repairing a toaster.
    And, I imagined, checking on the animals. Which made me smile.
    Unfortunately, though our patrons looked at