by Diana Orgain
I’m hesitant. A woman! A woman PI out in San Francisco whom Peter’s character swipes a case out from under? That sounded eerily familiar, and I glanced over at Domingo who was sulking off in a corner. This play had way more truth to it than he was letting on – the ending was most certainly real life… what about the rest of the play? Was Domingo on the run? Or, had he been in the past? Had he unintentionally killed a client, letting it get too personal?
The audience trickled out, and the cast and crew made their way to the lobby for the after party after the crew changed out of their costumes. The food was not quite as elegant as it had been opening night, but the director was far too nervous to order food again. Fried chicken, refried beans, and rice. Honestly, it was a pregnant woman’s dream. “I can’t believe you’re eating food here,” Jim teased.
“I’m pregnant, and this is fried chicken,” I said. “Yeah, I’m eating.”
“How is your pregnancy going thus far?” Paula asked as Rita sat down with me to gobble up some food as well.
“A lot better now that I’m not slowly ingesting nicotine and chloroform,” I said.
“Yeah, that’ll do it,” Paula said, shaking her head. “Is what Cassandra did to you going to hurt the babies?”
I frowned. I really didn’t want to think about that. “Right now, everything is checking out okay. But, between the carbon monoxide poisoning last month, the high dosage of nicotine, and the chloroform, my doctor is keeping a very close eye on me. But, two healthy heart beats, and they have started to wiggle a little. It took me forever to start to feel Laurie moving around in there, but I started feeling these two pretty quickly.”
“Second pregnancy,” Paula said. “With my second I noticed it way earlier. They say it’s because you know what you’re expecting or something like that. So, you don’t mistake it for indigestion or whatever.”
“That makes sense,” I said.
Jim sat down, a very empty looking plate in front of him. He had been a nervous wreck over the past several days, so he had been eating like a bird. I smiled at him, and he smiled back. He was worried about the babies after I had given him the run down on everything that Cassandra had done. I think a part of him blamed himself; he had been the one running off to get me those poisoned brownies every couple of days. How was he supposed to know she had doused them with nicotine and poison to attempt to slowly kill me? Frankly, the one and only reason we caught her is because she had gotten impatient and had tried to finish me off at the first after party. The scary part was, if those brownies hadn’t have gotten mixed up, I probably would have eaten several of the poisoned ones. But, I had bit into a different brownies recipe that had merely been disguised as one of my tasty purple brownie treats. Thank goodness because she had put enough chloroform in there to kill someone who hadn’t already been being regularly poisoned by her.
Mom came trotting up, having changed out of her costume, and she plopped down at the little table where the rest of us were seated. “Well, this was a fun little adventure,” she said, glancing up and waving Galigani over who had gotten lost in the crowd.
“What, the play, or Kate’s case?” Rita asked.
“Both,” my mom said. “Not sure if acting is for me.”
I laughed. Knowing Mom, she was ready to get going on her next big shenanigan. She always had something ridiculous going on. She would be casted in a play that had been written as a drama but was instead done up as a comedy. She just screamed ridiculous, and she loved it. We all laughed and talked about the play and the case – Rita enjoyed giving Jim a hard time about Cassandra stalking him. He wasn’t a fan of the picking fun, but he went along with it anyways. He was a sensitive man, but he could take a few jokes. I was so glad that we were going to be able to put this whole Cassandra thing behind us, and I was especially glad that we had gathered up enough evidence to convict her. According to Rita, she was going to be spending a lot of time behind bars for this one. There was something oddly satisfying about knowing your husband’s ex-girlfriend was going to be hanging out in a jail cell for an extended vacation.
As we were all laughing and having a good time, I spotted Domingo sulking in a corner and drowning his sorrows in soda and fried chicken. He and I had had our differences, but I can’t imagine what it must feel like to have something you worked so hard on and put so much of yourself into become the local laughing stock. I excuse myself from my friends and family for a moment and wondered over to Domingo, plopping myself down in the empty seat beside him.
“No amount of carbs is going to make you feel better,” I teased slightly, and he sat back and wiped his face and hands on a napkin before chugging a bit of his soda to wash the crumbly meal down.
“No, probably not,” he said, shaking his head as he sat his soda down. “You come over here to pick fun at me?”
“No, that sounds more like something you would do,” I said, crossing my arms. “You know, I’ve read the original script. And, as much as it pains me to say it, you’re an excellent writer, Domingo. I just wish your play had gotten into the right director’s hands. One who wouldn’t have rewritten half the play just to get a few laughs… or added in a random musical number.”
“Yeah, that one hurt,” Domingo admitted, but he laughed slightly. “It… it was kind of funny, I guess.”
“Oh, no, it was hilarious. Very slapstick, but I still like your version of it a lot better,” I said, and the man broke into a slight smile. I sat upright. “Did you just smile at me?”
It was immediately gone; he broke into a scowl. “Well, don’t get used to it. And, thank you, Kate. I appreciate hearing that.”
“Maybe you can find another director willing to put on the show?” I suggested.
“People will expect to see a comedy now,” he said. “This was the shows debut, and it got a descent amount of attention. Now, people are going to expect it to be funny. If I go to some other playhouse and put this thing on, the audience will buy tickets expecting to see a comedy. That twerp ruined this for me.”
“Sorry, Vinnie,” I said.
“It’s Vicente,” he corrected me, shaking his head.
“The play’s real, isn’t it?” I asked. “The woman back home… is her husband still looking for you?”
“Kate, I told you it was just a play,” he insisted. “I’m a professional. Do you really think I would have a relationship with one of my clients?”
I kept an intense stare in his direction, seeing if he would break or show any sign that he was lying. But, he kept firm. “I suppose not. Though, I’m guessing at least part of it was inspired by a real-life situation?”
“What part?” he questioned.
“Well, that case the main character was talking about at the end… it sounded very familiar,” I said. “Oh, and what was that line? Something about some broad handling your cousin’s cases?” I smirked at him, and he smirked right back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but I could tell he was holding in a chuckle.
“Yeah, sure,” I said. “You know, Domingo, I’m still new at this whole PI thing. But, I solved two cases this month. I just doubled my average. Does it make you nervous that this amateur broad is catching up to you?”
He frowned. “Sweetie, this is a man’s game. Besides, how are you going to keep this up with a baby growing in you.”
“Two, actually,” I said and patted my stomach. “And, I did pretty well when I was toting Laurie around before I got her a nanny. I like this job, Domingo. And, you better watch out. Because I’m your competition in this town.”
He laughed. “All right, sweetheart. I’ll be on the lookout.”
“Are you ever going to take me seriously?” I questioned.
“Kate, I already do,” he said. “You’ve got gusto. Keep it up, honey. I’m actually impressed.” He stood and walked off, depositing his half-eaten dinner in a trash bin.
I think that was a compliment? Yeah, I decided i
t was. I headed back to my group of friends, but by now the party was starting to die down. “I say we go back to Jim and Kate’s place and make margaritas,” Rita said.
“Are you an alcoholic?” I asked.
“Only on Tuesdays,” she said.
“It’s Friday,” Paula said.
“Well, look at that,” Rita said with a wink. “Come on, my treat. I’ll pick up the ingredients on the way. I know you have that fancy blender.”
Jim leaned over and whispered to me, “Has this woman been in our house?” I just shrugged. I knew then that my friendship with this woman was going to be very interesting, but I was kind of excited about it. She was a character to say the least. Jim laughed and smiled. “You know what? I could do a margarita.”
“Hazzah!” Rita exclaimed. “This is my type of guy right here, well, if I had a type of that sort.”
The End
New Series Alert!
A Gluten Free Crew Mystery Series
Murder as Sticky as Jam
Mona Reilly is preparing for the grand opening of Jammin’ Honey, a local Jam and Honey shop, in the small town of Magnolia Falls. Her best friend, Vicki, supplies the shop with honey and homemade lotions, candles and royal jelly. While Mona and Vicki are off taste testing the gluten-free catering the shop mysterious burns down. When a body is recovered from the fire, Vicki’s brother, incidentally the most handsome cop Mona has ever laid eyes on, is assigned to the case. Everyone in town has a motive and it's up to Mona to solve this sticky situation.
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Bonus Preview – Murder as Sticky as Jam
Please enjoy the following excerpt from Murder as Sticky as Jam: Book One in the Gluten-Free Mystery Series.
MURDER AS STICKY AS JAM
A Gluten-Free Mystery
by
Diana Orgain
Copyright © 2018 by Diana Orgain
Chapter One
Soft jazz played in the background as Mona Reilly bustled around the empty shop. In just a few days, in time for the Memorial Day weekend, would be the grand opening of her shop Jammin’ Honey, but only if she finished the prep work in time.
Memorial Day weekend was the official opening of the summer tourist season in the scenic mountain town of Magnolia Falls. Mona knew it would be the perfect time to open the doors to the shop that had been only a dream a few months ago. Tucking a strand of glossy black hair behind her ear, she sat down at the café table by the window to catch her breath.
Picking up the Magnolia Falls Gazette, she read the report on the front page about the grand opening. Pride filled her chest with warmth as she read the article once more. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
It’s real, Mona thought, her nerves kicking up a notch.
A pair of tourists stopped out front and peeked through the window. Mona jumped to attention; her shop was supposed to open in a few days. She had to get a move on.
Where’s Vicki? Mona wondered.
It was a quarter past ten and she hadn’t heard from her best friend and business partner, Vicki Lawson. Vicki was an organic beekeeper and was the honey part of Jammin’ Honey. Mona reached for her cell phone to call Vicki, but the phone buzzed in her hand before she could dial.
She saw from the caller I.D. that it was her Great Aunt Beatrice. She’d been able to finally finance the opening of her shop through a generous loan from her Great Aunt Cecilia, Beatrice’s identical twin. The two Aunts were identical in everything except the way they handled money, and now Mona cringed at that the thought that Aunt Bee was calling to impose some sort of financial frugality.
“Hello Aunt Bee,” Mona said into the phone.
“Mona! Is everything ready?” Bee asked, her voice cracking with enthusiasm.
“Just about. Putting on the finishing touches, you know.”
“Cecilia will be very proud.”
“I’m sorry she won’t be at the opening,” Mona said.
Her Great Aunt Cecilia had shocked everyone declaring that, as a celebration for her 80th birthday, she’d be traveling around the world on an exclusive cruise with her new beau, Herman. Herman was a spry and debonair seventy-year old, and Beatrice swore the man was only after Cecilia’s money.
As if in a show of defiance, Cecilia had loaned Mona the seed money to open her shop, further annoying Beatrice who firmly believed that everything in life should be a struggle; that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, was her motto.
Of course, Beatrice had opted to stay in Magnolia Falls and celebrate in her own way, saying that a cruise was way too extravagant, not to mention expensive.
“Are you going to make us a coupon for opening night?” Beatrice asked.
Mona laughed. Bee ran a coupon clipping club. Her frugal reputation preceded her. She was notorious for working over every business owner in the community and hustling discounts for all her members.
“What do you suggest?” Mona asked.
“BOGO,” Bee said eagerly.
Mona chuckled. “If I offer buy-one-get-one on opening night, I’ll be out of business before the party’s even over.”
“Okay,” Bee said reluctantly. “How about a BOGO on your special blackberry ginger jam?”
Mona glanced at her shelf stocked with jams. There weren’t enough blackberry ginger jars to run a special, but if she made a few more batches, she could accommodate Aunt Bee.
“For you, I’ll do it,” Mona said.
“Ah! You are a dear. I’ve got the coupons already printed.”
“What? You printed the coupons before I even agreed?”
Aunt Bee cleared her throat. “No. Of course not. I only meant you could consider it as good as done.”
Mona laughed. “You’re a terrible liar.”
Bee giggled. “Well, I can guarantee the whole club will be there opening night. And that’s another thing I wanted to speak to you about. Don’t go all crazy on that party. No need for caterers, or a band or whatever you’ve got planned. Just put up a few balloons.”
Mona winced. There was no way she was going to hold back on her party. She’d been dreaming about opening the shop for too long. She looked around at the hardwood floors, the cherry trim, the glass cases and brass lined counters. It all screamed that no expense had been spared. The shop had a vintage yet modern look. It was a cheerful environment that she knew would be a success.
“Well, you know what Cee says, it takes money to make money,” Mona said through a smile.
Bee let out a high-pitched scream, “Don’t listen to that old bag! She knows nothing.”
Mona giggled. “I knew that’d get your goat. I have to go now, Bee. I have to make some more jam for your coupon clippers.”
She hung up and hightailed it to the back of the shop where she plugged in a small burner. As she measured out the water to boil, her cell phone buzzed again.
It was Vicki. Mona poured the water into the pan and answered the phone.
“Hey, what’s up? Where are you? I was getting worried,” Mona said.
“Sorry! I should have called you earlier, but I got a little carried away here at home and made an extra batch of honey lip balm and honey candles, just in case.”
“Just in case, in case of what?”
“What if we sell out? I don’t want the shelves to be empty on our grand opening weekend, do you?”
“My Aunt Bee called you, didn’t she?” Mona asked.
Vicki chuckled. “Yeah, I agreed to a—”
“Two for one special?”
Vicki moaned. “You too?”
“I’m just starting another batch of my blackberry ginger jam,” Mona said.
“Oh,” Vicki said. “I thought you were already at the store?”
“I am. I brought my portable hot plate,” Mona said.
“Well don’t burn the shop down!” Vicki said.
“Come on,” Mona laughed. “I’m not that stupid!”
<
br /> “Okay, I’ll be there soon. I’ll bring breakfast,” Vicki said. "Biscuits and coffee sound good?”
“You know me too well. In the meantime, I’ll be here all alone, working my hands to the bone.”
Vicki laughed. “I know you’re such a workaholic! Anyway, I’m going to make it up to you.”
“Yeah, well coffee and biscuits will only get you so far. I need you to scrub the bathroom and stock shelves.”
“I know,” Vicki said and by the tone of her voice Mona could tell she was smiling, “But I have another little surprise for you.”
Mona gripped the phone tightly. She hated surprises. “What’s that?”
“Leo is coming for the grand opening,” Vicki said, giggling as she hung up.
“Wait! Wait!” Mona said into the dead phone. She stared at the phone in her hand, trying not to hyperventilate.
Leo’s coming to the grand opening?
Leo Lawson, Vicki’s older brother, was tall, dark and handsome. He’d been the first boy Mona had a crush on back in school, and she’d never gotten over him. In high school, he’d broken her heart when he started dating, Lacey, the head cheerleader. But shortly after graduation, he’d left Magnolia Falls, to join the military, and now he was back after eight long years.
She knew he worked at the Magnolia Falls PD, but she hadn’t seen him, yet.
Not properly anyway.
She’d ducked out of the grocery store a few times, when she’d seen his patrol car pull into the parking lot. And there’d been the time, she snuck out of the back of the bookstore on Main Street, when she’d heard his voice asking the clerk for the latest police procedural.
