A half rotted-out wooden porch led to the front door. I shuddered, thinking about what kinds of critters lived under those floorboards. I also reconsidered my footwear choice. Combat boots would've been more appropriate. Although, I'd take on a furry friend any day over the slithering kind.
I didn’t see anyone outside, so I walked up onto the porch, careful to avoid the missing step and boards, and rapped on the metal storm door. I waited a minute but didn't hear anything. Not even a dog barking or television playing. That surprised me. Given the appearance of the yard, I thought a junkyard dog would’ve greeted me for sure. I stepped back from the door and cautiously peered inside the window.
Sweet sugar. I found Joey. I could see him plain as day, sitting upright in the middle of the couch, still wearing his security uniform … with a bullet hole between his eyes. No doubt dead, as I thought I would be if I didn't get out of there right away.
I was back in my pickup truck, speeding down the trail and back onto the highway, before you could say long-lasting lipstick. And I was all the way back to Port Haven before I had a coherent thought. When my brain started working again, I pulled over at the first pay phone I could find and made an anonymous call to 9-1-1. I figured it was best to get the police involved right away, but I wasn’t about to spend the rest of the day answering questions. This whole stolen-ring business just got dicier. And it looked like my bestie’s life might now be in danger.
My cell rang and jolted me out of my zombie-like state. I was still parked in front of the pay phone, stupid move on my part. I closed my mouth, put my pickup into drive, and pulled back onto the road. A squad car passed me just then and pulled into the parking lot, taking the spot I’d just vacated. That was a little too close. I mean, how many people parked in front of pay phones these days? At a minimum, I’d have had to talk to the officer, and most likely lie. My slack jaw and glassy eyes would’ve been a dead giveaway. I was not a very attractive beauty consultant in that moment.
I remembered my cell phone, when it started ringing again. It was Aria. She had made bail. Hallelujah. I told her I’d be there to get her in a hot minute.
“I thought I looked rough,” were the first words out of Aria's mouth as she climbed into my truck. I had refreshed my makeup on the drive over, but it hadn’t been good enough. Aria knew me too well.
I went with the truth. “Let me see how hot you look after finding a dead body.”
“You what?!? Who? When? Where?" Aria's reaction was just what I had hoped for. Given both of our days thus far, I thought we could both use a drink. Make that a giant pitcher of something, while we figured out what to do next.
"Keep 'em comin'," I said to the waiter, who had just left a batch of fresh chips and dips on the table at our favorite Mexican restaurant. We had chosen a table outside where we could soak in some sun and talk in private. Well, somewhat. Aria dived into the salsa. I was all about the queso.
I refilled our glasses from the pitcher of margaritas on the table, and took a nice long sip. Ah, tequila did wonders for my nerves. And surprisingly, helped me think.
I explained to Aria how I came to find Joey's body, and everything else I had learned that day.
Aria summed it up nicely. “So, Justine’s just a desperate tramp, Mrs. J. was only looking for a deal, and the manager may or may not have lied."
“Pretty much."
"And it was the security guard who fingered me, but now he's dead."
"You got it."
"Awesome." Her voice had lost hope.
"I know. What else are we missing? Tell me about this ring. Was it gorgeous?" I asked.
"So gorgeous. It was a pink sapphire, at least 4 carats, with paved diamonds covering the mount and band. Totally swoon worthy."
"And someone must want it pretty badly. The question is … why?"
"I have no idea. So, now what?" Aria asked.
"Now, we need to go back to the jeweler, keep a low profile, and scope things out." It was my moment of brilliance.
"Like a stakeout?"
"Exactly." I had a feeling that night was going to be fun.
We inhaled our food (after all, who knew how long this stakeout was going to last?) and swung by my place for a quick wardrobe change. Well, it would've been quick, if Aria hadn't insisted on taking a shower. I made the most of that time. While she drained my hot water tank, I debated my clothing choices. The rational part of my brain was telling me to dress casual. The tequila part was rooting for camo. I compromised with a pair of camo cargo pants and a black tank top. I kept my Converses and refreshed my makeup, keeping my look very natural with only mascara, a little blush, and nude lip gloss. My apartment was above an antiques’ shop downtown, about four blocks from the jeweler, which made staking the place out even easier. People were used to seeing me downtown.
We decided to set out on foot and pick up Aria's car when we were done. It was just after 7 p.m. A relatively quiet time downtown, even with the added holiday tourists. Most of the day visitors had gone, and it was too early for the bar crowd. We walked past the jewelry shop on the opposite side of the street and saw that they were still open, but business was nonexistent. Our plan was to walk the rest of the way down the street to Sweet Thangs and grab a latte, and then set up shop on one of the sidewalk benches, where we could feign conversation and keep an eye out. That is, if my allergies would cooperate. I really needed to see a specialist.
Stakeouts are not glamorous; however, hearing about my bestie’s day in the slammer was amusing, only because of the way she told it.
"Girl, have you ever been in a holding cell? You got one idiot hopped up on drugs, talking to the brick wall. That one, sobbing her eyes out because she backed over her boyfriend with her daddy's 4x4. I'm still not sure if she was crying because her daddy's mad, or because her boyfriend's dead. I was just trying to keep my mouth shut and hold my bladder. You know how I feel about using the loo in public."
Aria stopped mid-story.
"Look, but don't look. The guy walking toward us is the same one who chatted me up today," she said.
I looked over my shoulder and did a double take. "I saw him today too. I'm pretty sure he was sitting in his car out front this morning, while I was looking for you."
The man didn't seem to see us and went inside the jewelry store. Aria and I looked at one another and both got up without another word.
"What's our plan?" I asked.
"I'm just going to go ask him if he saw anything odd today. Like, if anyone got too close to me or something."
"Right, you go flirt, and I'll try to get a read on him." I've seen men melt into a puddle of goo when Aria charmed them. If this guy knew anything, I was betting he'd spill it. Maybe even frame his buddy in the process.
"Or, we could go with that," she said.
We reached the store, and I took a deep breath. "Showtime," I said with a smile as I opened the door. But the guy wasn't inside. In fact, no one was.
"What the hickedy heck?" I asked.
"Where'd he go?" Aria looked from side to side.
The store was pretty much a rectangle, with glass display cases making up the perimeter and a work area in the back. Unless he was hiding behind a display case, he had to be in the back.
"It was a stupid move," the first guy said. I took a second, but I recognized his voice from earlier today. It was the owner, Gregory Pierce.
"What do you mean? It was brilliant," replied the second guy. I assumed this to be our mystery man.
They walked out of the back room. Aria and I were one step ahead, already hiding behind a display case. I could see them by looking up and out through the glass case. Gregory locked the front door. I had a mini moment of panic. Thankfully, I still had my phone with me. Aria looked at me like I was crazy when I pulled it out, but agreed with a head nod when I started live streaming on social media. With five hundred plus followers, I knew someone would see it and call in the Calvary. Plus, I had a feeling this was going to be good. I focused my came
ra on the men.
"Says who? You gave it to the police! You don't think they'll realize it's stolen?" Gregory said.
"No, why would they? And once they have it catalogued for the crime, we'll have it back. Like I said, brilliant."
"Only if O'Connor doesn't come back looking for it. You don't steal from the mob."
“Do the Irish really have a mob? C’mon. I doubt it. And he won’t come back. He thinks the guard has it. Leave it to them to work it out."
If by work it out, he means murder him; then yeah, that's exactly what they did.
"I'm done, Jacob. No more stolen gems. You need to get me clean pieces."
"You've grown soft," Jacob replied.
"I've grown up, and I’m trying to build a brand."
"Oh, shut up. Don't forgot who got you to the top. Who got you the goods when you were too poor to afford a pearl, let alone a diamond. We had a deal."
"Find someone else."
Aria and I glanced at one another with wide eyes when guy number three entered the room.
I saw the man before I saw the gun. He was at least six-and-a-half-feet tall, or maybe it was the green felt top hat that made him look that lofty. His beard was red. His gun was fancy. He was one angry leprechaun. If he was at the end of a rainbow, he could keep his gold.
"You know why I'm here. Give me back what you stole, and I won't kill you," he said.
Oh, sweet sugar. Looked like O'Connor had come back after all. I looked over at Aria. We both had the same wide-eyed expression again. I wasn't sure live streaming this was such a good idea anymore.
Our two guys were speechless. Having a gun pulled on you would do that.
"I said, give me my mother’s ring or you're dead. Don't tell me you don't have it either. That didn't work out so well for your friend." The men were still silent.
I thought back to Joey and remembered all those darn wildflowers. My nose started to twitch, and I knew I was going to sneeze. I pinched my nose to hold it in, but it was a disaster.
"ACHOO!" It wasn't the delicate sneeze of a lady either.
KABOOM! O'Connor shot the display case right next to us. I didn't hear the gun, just the sound of exploding glass. I covered my head. Aria screamed. The men started shouting. When I looked up, they were locked in hand-to-hand combat. Gregory had gone all Jiu Jitsu on O'Connor, but he was the scrappy type. Leprechauns could be feisty like that. Our mystery man, Jacob, took off running for the back door. I liked his thinking. That is, as long as no other goonies were back there. Aria and I kept a low profile and duck-walked toward the back. Another display case exploded right in front of us. We hit the floor and covered our heads. This O'Connor dude was nuts. I looked around for a weapon and spotted one. Time for plan B.
I crawled over to the wall, grabbed the fire extinguisher, pulled the pin, and went to town. Within seconds, the room was filled with a haze, taking the light and oxygen out with it. Aria and I bolted to the backdoor, hit the fresh air, and ran right into the police. Luckily, we weren't the only ones who were caught. All three other men were also in custody.
When the chaos settled, and Aria and I were free to go, I looked across the parking lot and spotted Mrs. J. Her cell phone was in her hand, and she kept looking down at it. It took me a second, but I realized that I was still live steaming on my phone. I took it out, clicked off the feed, and gave Mrs. J. a thumbs-up gesture. Tonight, I was more than thankful for her nosiness.
Makeup and Murder
(Beauty Secrets Book #1)
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* * *
Chapter 1
In my world, Christmas falls on May 14 every year. That’s when the summer issue of Beauty Secrets magazine drops, and all my clients anxiously await their copies.
Today was that day.
If the worst part of my job was getting up at sunrise every few months for a couple of catalogs, then I didn’t have much to complain about. As soon as those beauties landed on my doorstep, I ripped open the cellophane and dove into the hot new looks of summer. I had seen the product sneak peeks at last month’s regional meeting, but was still amazed by all the new fashions. Lipsticks that plumped, mascara that defined, and moisturizers that worked magic, rounded the lineup. Sexy summer skin was merely a click away. Out with the smoky eye shadows and heavy bronzers. In with soft watercolors for the eyes, shimmering blushes, and bright nail polishes—the romantic look. I was eager to try it out, and I was certain my clients would flip for it too.
I knew I’d have to be on my A-game if I was to visit all of them before sunset, which is why I was steering my little Chevy pickup truck down Sugar Plantation by a quarter after eight, toward my first client’s house. Yes, I know it’s not the sexiest of rides; but hey, it was free—thanks to my parents—and no car payment meant extra money for shopping. Hello, Nordstrom!
My first stop was to see Aria, my best friend, and the first one to snatch up any free samples. Thankfully, she also hosted the best parties, so I didn’t mind. Aria’s a girl’s girl—fashionably chic and a straight-talker with a sweet spot for nail polish. Her love of the candy-colored lacquer made her a platinum-card-carrying, top-notch client for Beauty Secrets, and the new summer shade selection promised to deliver. I had the free samples to prove it.
I pulled into Aria’s neighborhood and gagged at the bubble-gum colored Jeep idling at the stop sign waiting to pull out. What was Justine Martin doing here? The woman was my arch enemy ever since fourth and a new beauty representative for that Other Company, a fact that I wasn’t able to understand given that her makeup looked like she slapped it on with a paint brush. If pastels were in, I’d guarantee her face looked like a chalked up Easter egg. It was no coincidence she was pulling out of my business’ most popular neighborhood the day of a catalog drop. I knew better.
She rolled down her window and leaned forward as I slowed to turn in. Her fluffy white poodle sat on the seat next to her wearing some ridiculous sequined outfit. The poor pup. I sped up as I turned the corner instead. My truck splashed some nice muddy water off the road curtesy of the last night’s rain onto her gaudy ride. I smiled at her shocked expression and gave her a little wave. I hadn’t willingly spoken to her since 1995. I didn’t see any reason for that to change today.
When I pulled into Aria’s driveway, her front door was already open and her son Arjun stood there in his monster pajamas, action figures in hand, being the look out. He smooshed his face against the glass when he saw me, complete with blown-out cheeks and finger antlers. I laughed, and he took off racing down the hall like a wild child—a characteristic I know he picked up from his mother. While she has definitely mellowed out in her thirties, get a couple tequila shots in her and she’s nineteen again. Girls’ nights are always an adventure.
A second later, Aria came to the door, looking as much like a fashionista as ever. She could make even yoga pants look glamorous, which she did almost every day at the downtown fitness studio where she taught.
I waved hello and bent down to grab my client binder, aka my Beauty Bible. I never made a house call without it. The binder was key to my success in the business. It held record of every product my clients purchased, along with a register that included the date, item numbers, and methods of payment. My beauty business would be a mess without it.
“What’s up, girlie?” Aria asked, opening the front door.
Before I could answer, Arjun came zipping back down the hall, sporting a pair of red rain boots and a cowboy hat, ready to head out the front door.
“Excuse me, little man. Where do you think you’re going?” Aria asked.
“Outside,” replied Arjun, trying to wrangle past his mom.
“I don’t think so. You know the rules,” Aria replied.
“Ooohhhh!” Arjun’s little fists got all tight and his cheeks puckered in as he wound up to pitch a preschooler’s fit. I knew where this was headed if Aria didn’t calm him down quickly.
“Give me twenty minutes with Aunt Ziva, and then we’ll go out
together. Got it?” Aria said.
I loved it when Aria referred to me as Aunt Ziva. We weren’t really sisters, but we were the closest thing to it for each other.
Aria shut the front door, putting an end to the matter. Arjun stomped his rubber boots and did an about-face and headed to the living room. The clamor of engines roaring and monster trucks being dumped out onto the hardwood floor, soon followed. Disaster adverted for now.
“No seriously, what’s up? You look ticked.” Aria knew me well.
“Justine,” I said, and shuddered. “She wasn’t here, was she?”
“Girl, did you bump your head? You honestly think she’d stop by my house?”
Back in grade school, when Justine turned all my girlfriends against me, making my world seem very small, Aria was the only one who stood by my side. She was still there today.
“I passed her on my way in. I know she’s up to something. She always is,” I said.
“Pshhh, let her try. She’s pathetic. Latte?”
“With soy?” It was a rhetorical question. With Aria, it was always with soy milk or almond milk, or whatever milk alternative she had in her fridge.
“You know it,” she replied.
“Pass.” Nothing ruined a good latte like soy milk. Gross. I took my lattes with two percent at least, whole milk preferably, and skip the coffee. I was chai all the way.
“A little bit of good nutrition wouldn’t kill you. Did you get in your run this morning?”
Aria knew I tried to work out a least a couple times a week to make up for my poor eating habits. Okay, make that downright horrible eating habits, but business had been booming and exercise was at the bottom of my to-do list.
I couldn’t hide my guilt. “Yeah, of course.”
“Liar.” Aria didn’t even have to look up to know that I was full of it.
I laughed. “But hey, at least my jeans still fit.” Although, at that moment, my jeans did feel a little tight. They were a denim-spandex fabric too. Maybe I should just switch to leggings. Those are quite fashionable nowadays, and a good beauty consultant is always in style.
A Ring to Die For Page 2
