Thrilled To Death by Jennifer Apodaca Read Free Book Online

grandparents for decades. And she had stayed good friends with Grandpa after Grandma died, just being there as a calm and steady friend. So the distress or worry in her voice urged me to agree to see her. “I’m on my way to the office, how’s that?”
    â€œHow about McDonald’s? Can you stop by there on your way to the office?”
    Why not? My whole day was shot. Besides, I wasn’t going to get any work done with Heart Mates currently a construction zone. “Sure, Rosy, I’ll be there in five minutes.”
    â€œI’m already here,” she said, and cut the connection.
    That was the efficient side of Rosy that I knew well, and it also meant that she had something serious on her mind. Quickly, I dialed the office.
    â€œHeart Mates.”
    â€œHi, Blaine. I have to make another stop before I get to work. Everything okay there?”
    â€œNothing’s on fire.”
    I took that as a yes. “Okay, I have my cell phone if you need me.”
    â€œNow I can sleep nights.” He hung up.
    Sheesh. A little respect would be nice.

    The McDonald’s on Mission Trail has historical pictures of Lake Elsinore dating back over a hundred years. They included the railroad, Main Street, and the Chimes that once boasted of hot springs used for therapy and relaxation. The Chimes has been renovated and still stands on Graham Street, but the hot springs were closed. McDonald’s always struck me as an odd place to hang historical pictures, but on the other hand, more people would probably see pictures of Lake Elsinore’s history in a busy fast-food place than in a museum.
    Rosy sat below the picture of old Main Street, wearing a blue top stamped with huge white flowers, munching on a hash brown patty and drinking a large cup of coffee. I ordered a cup of coffee and joined her. Lord, I was tired.
    â€œHi, Rosy. So what’s up?”
    After patting her mouth with a paper napkin, she met my gaze and said, “I want to hire you.”
    Surprised, I leaned my elbows on the small rectangular table. “Hire me? Or are you looking to sign on as a client at my dating service?” Maybe she was lonely? Rosy had lived alone since her husband died a decade ago. She regularly hung out with the seniors in Lake Elsinore, did some volunteer reading tutoring in the middle school, and met up with her old friends at the university regularly. But even though she had a full life, she might long for a little romance.
    Rosy moved her coffee aside with her blue-veined hand. She had her short, neat fingernails polished a shell pink with sparkles. “I want to hire you to investigate Shane Masters to find out exactly which magician’s act he’ll spoil this Saturday night.”
    I didn’t know what to say. In the last several years, Shane had made a huge splash by revealing the secrets of the magic behind the acts of magicians. It was usually a magician who was breaking out into big success. But why would Rosy try to find out whose act Shane was spoiling? Trying to think this out, I started with the obvious. “Rosy, he keeps the identity of the magician a secret. No one knows until Shane goes on and starts the show. And then he never says the magician’s name, he always just says things like, ‘This act is performed by a well-known magician.’ And of course, it’s all from a single magician’s show. It’s the media that names the magician.” It was ridiculously clever. The damage to that magician was very real, while Shane gained more and more fame.
    Rosy nodded and started twisting her napkin. “I know, but Sam, this is our town. Someone must know. Surely you can find out. We will pay your fee, whatever it is.”
    An uneasy sensation skittered down my back. “ We? Who is the other part of the we? ”
    I heard the slap of rubber sandals on the floor just as a new voice said, “I’m the other part of we.”
    I looked up at a