by Lotta Smith
“Yes, it’s true,” I replied.
“Oh my God!” Her jaw dropped. “Good thing she got engaged to a new guy who happens to be a billionaire heir. Otherwise she might have demanded the nursery back.”
I couldn’t just say, “Yeah, that was what I was worried about,” so I just giggled. Then I added, “Engagement in merely a week sounds unrealistic, right? But here’s the catch—the couple have known each other for fifteen years.”
“You have to tell me all the juicy details!” she said eagerly.
“Sure.” I nodded. “But don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“Of course. My lips are sealed.” She made a gesture of zipping her lips and throwing away the key.
The baby kicked again as if to say, “How much of the juiciest part are you sharing with my auntie?”
* * *
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Sneak Peek: Wicked and the Beast
PROLOGUE
“Guess what? I’m in the heart of a really, really serious crime!” Spreading her arms like a pair of wings, Julie Grey declared. Sporting rosy cheeks, she pushed her flat chest in front and stood as tall as her four feet could take. With her perfect posture probably acquired from ballet lessons, she looked so proud and confident.
I was tempted to say, “Again?” but I didn’t.
Julie, the daughter of Rick’s longtime friends Dr. Meredith and Benjamin Grey, had been kidnapped and kept hostage for days two years ago. She came home unharmed and according to Meredith, she didn’t seem to have suffered from any serious psychological trauma. Then again, I wasn’t insensitive enough to remind her of that case. After all, she was just a child and I didn’t want to be responsible for incurring her bad memory.
On the other hand, Rick didn’t share my discreetness.
“Don’t say you’re going to be kidnapped again,” he said matter-of-factly.
“Come on, I won’t be ever again kidnapped like some kind of an idiot.” She pouted.
“Julie, being kidnapped doesn’t make you look stupid,” I said, in an attempt to offer her some moral support.
“I think it does, especially when you’re being kidnapped for the second time.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I’m living in Mexico where you get kidnapped on as often as grocery shopping. Being kidnapped just once is like encountering some rare creature about to go extinct, but if I get kidnapped again, that could make me look like a careless loser. Or at least, that’s what Mom says. Anyway, as soon as I returned home, my parents had upped the security level and I’ve totally lost the liberty I used to enjoy on the way back home from school. Such as dropping by Bloomy to take a look at the latest collections and have some quality time with my French teacher over tea and a cupcake. Ah… memories. I don’t know why, but even if you’re eating the same cupcakes from the same Magnolia Bakery, they taste way better when I eat on the way home than at home.”
“I know.” Jackie nodded. “Everything tastes better when you eat that on the way home from school.”
Not that Julie could hear her voice because Jackie was a ghost, she clapped her palms, saying, “Now, let’s get back to the point.” Sounding like a mini-adult instead of a fourth grader, she batted her eyelashes at Rick. “Do you want to hear more details?”
“Yup, I’m listening.” He nodded his head, keeping his hand in his favorite position; the small of my back.
“Me, too!” Jackie chimed in. “I’m all ears.” She cupped her ears with her hands, as if she was determined not to miss any little piece of info. She was a Broadway actor when she was alive and died as a drag queen on the night of her murder. She had a closure but she still loved dressing in flashy women’s attire, and on this day, she was in a rainbow-colored dress and a pair of ultra-high heels in platinum,
Jackie was being herself like usually, but lately, I’d been over-sensitive for anything humorous and I tended to giggle. So I snorted laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Julie narrowed her eye.
“Well…” I was tempted to tell her about my ghostly pal, but then I realized we were in the middle of a tour in the hospital’s maternity ward. I glanced at the lady who was walking us in the ward and helping us grasp the feel of each birthing room and suite while explaining available services and options.
I glanced at her, who was patiently waiting for us as the only daughter of the two highest profile doctors at the hospital interrupted her job in the middle. When our eyes met, she offered me a polite smile but it was a little tight to call it came from her heart, and I had a feeling that talking about Jackie right there wasn’t going to give her a good impression about me. I liked the dark wood furniture, the prospects of having concierge, food delivery from any topnotch restaurants in the city, and in-room spa and hair cut services. I might want to deliver my baby daughter there, so I decided not to tell Julie about Jackie in front of the hospital staff.
“You know, it’s not easy to tell what was so funny about, but I tend to be really giggly these days.” I rubbed my protruding belly. “Maybe it’s the hormone giving me the tricks.”
I knew I was being lame, but I thought most ten-year-olds would buy lame excuses.
“Oh, really?” She furrowed her eyebrows and gave me a head-to-toe onceover and to be honest, I was a little bit intimidated. She might be young but she was already acting like any other ladies from Upper East Side. Then she looked at me. “Are you having a boy or girl?”
With Jackie excitedly bouncing by my side chanting, “It’s a baby girl. Woo-hoo!” I said, “We’re expecting a baby girl.”
“Yup. Can’t wait to see the little princess,” Rick chimed in.
“Wow, a baby girl?” Julie moved her arms elegantly, as if she was channeling a fairy or something. “I hope she resembles Rick a lot. You know, according to new research, babies who look like their dad tend to be healthier. Wouldn’t that be great?” Contrary to her saccharine smile, I felt like being scrutinized. Maybe I was just overthinking and overreacting, but I felt my eyebrows itching to knit together…
“A girl who looks just like me?” Rick leaned in. “Sounds fun, but personally, I’d really love to see mini-Mandy.”
Then he kissed my cheek, prompting me to giggle again and the baby to kick.
My name is Mandy Rowling, a former FBI Special Assistant turned the chief agent of Paranormal Cases Division of USCAB, a security-based conglomerate owned and run by Rick’s dad Dan Rowling. I was at seven and a half months pregnant with our first child, and as an expecting mom-to-be, I was shopping around the birthing room to deliver the baby at the hospitals where my obstetrician Dr. Bergman was affiliated. While the tour escort at Mount Sinai showed us around the maternity ward, Julie crashed us.
Julie was a nine-year-old girl whose mom Meredith, was a close friend of Rick’s since childhood. On that particular Saturday, she was visiting there for Take Your Kid To Work Day. And the moment she found us, or rather Rick, she practically forgot about observing her neurosurgeon dad’s work. In spite of the age difference between Rick and her, she seemed have a huge crush on my husband. She’d never mentioned that, but when Rick kissed me, I caught her shrugging and sticking her lower lip.
“You’re gonna so get over Rick, sweetie.” Jackie was cooing by her side. “I know Rick’s steaming hot, but he’s too old for you, sweetie.
“So Julie, do you want to tell us more about the crime you’re involved in?” Rick bent down to her eye level.
“Oh, right… the crime.” She cleared her throat. “Actually, we’re expecting another crime in our family.”
“No kidding?” I blinked rapidly, not quite following.
“But, how can you expect a crime?” Rick furrowed his eyebrows. “Most victims are ambushed in surprise.”
“I know, but the one I’m talking about is different. He’s predictable,” she said, grinning. “You’ve heard about the serial thief called Mysterious Art Connoisseur?”
“Oh, I see. You’re taking about the serial art thief stealing from the mansions in Upper East Side, right?” Rick nodded.
“Exactly,” she agreed. “My mom’s older sister Aunt Nicole lives in the neighborhood where the thief had struck not just once or twice but sixth times, and she’s recently acquired a really priceless art piece. Actually, she knows two of the victims and she’s seriously thinking about upping her security.”
“Aunt Nicole’s neighbors might be getting robbed, but that doesn’t mean her home will be burglarized like others?” Jackie crossed her arms.
I nodded ever so slightly so that only Jackie would notice.
Julie wasn’t looking at me, and she went on. “She and Uncle Edie already have USCAB subscription, but I have a hunch Aunt Nicole is likely to need your services since Uncle Edie is still in London for business. Anyway, that’s what brought me to chat with you—to bridge between you and my aunt just in case. You know, like liaison, and …”
She didn’t finish the sentence.
“Hello, young lady,” called a woman’s voice from the doorway.
“Oh… Mom.” With her mouth and eyes wide open, panic crossed Julie’s face for a brief period, but she was quick to regain her composure. “Hi! I thought you were busy,” she commented, offering a nonchalant smile.
“I am.” Meredith tapped the floor with the tip of her Yves Saint Lauren ballet shoes. “But when your dad texted me about losing you while he was checking on his patient, I had to take some time off and look for you. Who could have imagined you’d be bothering with Mandy and Rick?”
“Actually, she wasn’t bothering us,” I lied. Okay, she was keeping our attendant from doing her job, but I didn’t have a heart to say that in front of her.
“No, she wasn’t,” Rick agreed. “Julie was offering her expertise of being a baby, helping us pick the right candidates for the delivery.” His comment prompted Julie to puff her cheeks and pout, insisting, “I’m not a baby!” prompting her mom to chuckle.
“That’s the lamest excuse I can imagine, but you have a point, Rick.” As she threw her head back, her blonde hair cascaded on her shoulders. “Now that you mentioned her babyhood, I’m less angry. Julie, you owe Mandy and Rick a huge thank you.” She glared at her daughter.
“Mandy, Rick, thank you so much,” she muttered, gnawing her lower lip.”
“You’re welcome.” Rick beamed. “Be a good girl and don’t go missing, okay?”
“Sure.” She bobbed her head at him and then looked up at Meredith. “I was not just helping them picking the right room, but I also briefed Rick about Aunt Nicole’s potential heist. Her latest collection is likely to be stolen, so telling him about that in advance is so going to help her, right?”
“Now Julie, let’s go back to the orthopedics clinic,” Meredith commanded Julie while clutching her hand tightly, and then turned to me. “So Mandy, are you all set to give birth to your baby here at this hospital?”
“I like this hospital, but I’m still torn between here, Lenox Hill, and St. Luke’s,” I said, rubbing my belly. “Here and Lenox Hill is close to home, and St. Luke’s is close to Rick’s workplace.”
“I believe each facility has its own pros and cons, but both are reputably good,” Rick interjected. “The baby’s still staying breech, and we’re expecting C-section. If you’re expecting this procedure, which hospital would you prefer?”
“Well, that’s a good question. Each location has its perks. I hear Lenox Hill’s suite offers to-die-for view.” She chuckled, softening her face. “Except, if you’re going with C-section, you’re going to deliver the baby at the operation room and the view would be irrelevant. It’s easier to go home when you and the baby are being released from the hospital if it’s closer to your home. So, my recommendation would be here.”
“That’s a good point,” I agreed.
“I’m note telling you this just because I work here, but they serve to-die-for dinner.” She winked.
“Really?” My ears perked up.
The staff who had been showing us around cleared her throat. “So, Mr. and Mrs. Rowling, would you like to see other rooms, too?”
“Sure, sorry for keeping you waiting,” I apologized.
“Oh no, you didn’t keep me waiting at all.” She shook her head.
“Oh, Eliza! Thanks again forgiving me the heads-up about my daughter’s whereabouts!” Meredith scurried to the attendant, hugging her with one arm while Julie gave her a dirty look with her hand still secured in her mom’s death grip.
“My pleasure, Dr. Grey.”
“So, how’s our daughter reacting to this suite?” Rick whispered in my ear.
I reached for my belly. “Hmm, I think she’s been quiet in the past few minutes.”
“Is she okay?” He looked into my eyes like he was trying to read her condition through my eyes.
I felt like looking back at his mesmerizing green eyes, but Jackie chimed in. “No worries, she’s fine. It’s just she’s sleeping right now.”
“Jackie says she’s asleep,” I relayed her words, planting a peck on his jaw.
“Good.” His lips parted into a smile. “Darling, Mom and Dad are really looking forward to see you.” He stroked my tummy, making me giddy.
Neither of us expected that we’d be involved in the serial heist case Julie had mentioned in a few days.
Check out all the books of Mandy, Rick and Jackie’s adventures!
About the author
Hi! My name is Lotta Smith. I’m the author of Paranormal in Manhattan Mysteries and Kelly Kinki Mysteries. I love everything comedy, from novels, TVs, to movies. In my teenage days, I was addicted to mysteries that involves amateur sleuth duo of a hot male professor and a quirky female student—with a light touch of romance sprinkled on top. So I went to medical school, partly because I wanted to see real dead bodies, and mostly because I was determined to meet sexy professors (specializing forensic pathology, perhaps) and go a-sleuthin’.
I got to see dead bodies and learn about the danger of petting zoos (sometimes, kids have their lips bitten off by…say, a pony!) but unfortunately, sexy professors were absolutely nonexistent. Recently, I realized that I’m a hopeless unromantic.
I’m hard at work writing new books.
To hear about new books and discounted book sales, please sign up for my newsletter at:
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And check out my other books on Amazon
Paranormal in Manhattan Mysteries: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H7LHR31
PI Assistant Extraordinaire Mysteries:
Book 1: Ghostly Murder: http://amzn.to/204aWJ4
Book 2: Immortal Eyes: http://amzn.to/1T4DKC3
Book 3: Deadly Vision: http://amzn.to/1og0Pp9
Also, there’s a bundle of 3 books available…
Confessions of the Assistant Extraordinaire: amzn.to/1R3GaO6
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XOXO, Lotta Smith
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