Booked For Murder

by CeeCee James

  I shook my head. I hadn't really wanted to talk about it. But everyone else did, apparently. “It wasn’t that good of a move,” I admitted, reluctantly.

  Ruby sat forward and patted my arm. “Fast pitch?”

  I nodded, the memory of summer camp suddenly making me feel sick.

  “It’s over now,” Ruby said to reassure me. “You did great. Caleb James is free, and justice was served. You can put it in your book!”

  “It's sad,” I said. “I can’t get over how broken Gary was about his brother.”

  “Well, sad or not, he shouldn't have killed someone,” Momma said. She reached into her pocket and slipped Bingo a wafer.

  Momma always had a way with the obvious.

  “I guess I could use it in my book. But, it sure doesn't feel right benefiting from someone’s death.”

  “You're not benefiting from death, darlin’,” Momma said. “You’re benefiting from living through a deadly situation. That's different.”

  And sometimes I needed to hear her say those obvious things, just to make them sink in.

  I smiled. “I suppose that's one way of looking at it.”

  “Now that everything is all behind you, are you going to check in with Jake Phillips?” Ruby winked at me.

  “I don't know if I want to get mixed in with the boss’s brother. Doesn’t that always end badly? Besides, he barely knows I exist, anyway. No. I think, for now, I'll just focus on making it through the job alive and well. Apparently, it takes more skills than I’d originally put down on the résumé.”

  “Ha! Whatever. You’ve always landed on your feet. I want you to get to writing that book.” Ruby eyed me. “I've always wanted a famous author as my friend.”

  “I like her,” Momma interrupted. She sipped her lemonade and smiled at Ruby. “She's classy.”

  I couldn't help but laugh.

  “How about that one girl? Sierra? Was she ever involved in this? Or was she just a jerk?” Ruby asked.

  I thought about her for a moment. Specifically, Sierra’s scar came to mind. “I’m not sure what’s going on with her. It feels like more than just sour grapes at losing the manager’s position to me. Mr. Phillips put her on warning and, other than her fit about the meeting, she’s been better.” I grinned. “I’ll get to the bottom of it, don’t you worry.”

  “Ha! Of course you will! Liked I’d ever doubt it.” Ruby grabbed her empty glass off the table and stood up. “Well, I’ve got to get going. I’ll bring this inside and see myself out.”

  I waved at her. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Lunch tomorrow at Applebacks,” she said, pointing to me. Giving Momma a wave, she headed through the sliding glass door and closed it quietly behind her.

  Momma and I sat enjoying the afternoon sunshine. Though it was faint, I could still hear splashing and laughter from the pool. A few birds trilled to one another from the bushes. Bingo snored contently under Momma’s chair.

  I breathed in deeply, so glad to be alive.

  “You ready to go in, Maisie, dear?” Momma asked, her eyes on me.

  I nodded and stood to walk over to her. As I grabbed her hand, she drew me down for a hug.

  “Now, darlin’. Life isn’t so much about the smooth sailing, but what you do with the waves. And you did good, Maisie. I’m real proud of you.”

  I looked down at Momma’s hand in mine, and a lump formed in my throat. Her hand, thin now, the back covered in a map of veins, held mine as if for reassurance. I squeezed it and hoped that reassurance was given. I remember holding hers as a little girl as she helped me walk along the top of a curb. I’d pretended it was a balance beam over hot lava, and she’d sworn she was wearing lava boots and was completely safe as she helped to steady me.

  Those same hands hemmed my Wizard of Oz dress for a costume party, pressed over mine to help me knead dough, and fixed my hair for prom.

  Momma. So precious and dear. She looked up at me now, her once brilliant green eyes slightly faded now, her cheeks still as pink as ever. And her hair, fluffed out in wild curls because she was due for another appointment at her “beauty parlor.”

  “Well, Missy,” she said, patting mine. “What adventure does life have for us next?”

  Thank you so much for reading Booked for Murder.

  Follow Maisie in the next adventure—

  Deadly Reservations.

  And the soon to come, Final Check Out.

  Read more about where Maisie came from in the Angel Lake Mysteries.

  The Sweet Taste of Murder

  The Bitter Taste of Deception

  The Sour Taste of Suspicion

  The Honeyed Taste of Betrayal

  The Tempting Taste of Danger

  My own personal story is share in award winning Ghost No More, Metamorph Publishings winner of best Memoir.