Strung Out to Die (13 page)

“Can you imagine me in a self defense class when I can’t even save myself from a few doughnuts?” I pulled on the elastic waistband, let go, and let it smack my pooch.

“As a matter of fact, I’ve really toned up since taking it. We do more than just defense moves. We start out with all sorts of muscle building exercises,” Cheri said, and started doing some of the exercises involving all sorts of squat sequences.

I definitely needed some training in case my life really was in danger, but I had to say, losing weight at this point was pretty important too.

With Sean out of the way, I’d be able to discuss everything going on with Cheri and possibly talk a little more about the self-defense class.

“So, do you think the two women at the lake tonight had anything to do with this?” Cheri asked.

Slivers of glass were everywhere. Even
The Under
was glistening, and there was not a chance I was going to deal with that tonight.

“Yes.” I pulled the note out of my back pocket and waited while Cheri read it.

Her eyebrows rose and fell with every word. She pulled the beret off her head. Her long dark hair flowed down to her shoulders.

She stomped around in a circle like a child. “No way! It has to be Marlene. What did you do to her?”

That was my first question, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized I’d done nothing but be her friend.

“Here’s the deal. I don’t want any of the Divas to know, especially Ginger. She was too much on her plate as it is.”

Plus, I don’t think Ginger really believes that Sean it is innocent. Yes, I’ve painted him as a bad, bad man to the Divas and he was—to me–but I know he isn’t a killer.

I let Cheri in on a few of the details about the two plump women who had come into the shop a few times when I’d been there alone. Although, the last time was when Sean was there. I told her how they never buy anything or ask any questions. They just walk around and stare or try to peek in the back of the shop where the office and storage is.

“Plus, Marlene has access to all the beads; what bead is the note referring to?” Cheri glanced around.

“I don’t have any expensive beads.”

I did recall a time when Marlene wanted me to get these rondell beads that have real crystal instead of glass, but they were too expensive. Is that enough to make her mad at me, kill Doug, and then frame me?

She’d been trying to get her claws into Doug for a long time, and on several occasions, he’d turned her down. Was she just killing two birds with one stone?

“Has Marlene ever shared anything with you about her past?” I asked Cheri, looking for any clue.

“Nothing she hasn’t shared with the Divas.” Cheri took the last pan of broken glass and dumped it in the trash.

“I’m still going to have her work here and see if there’s anything out of the ordinary.” I checked the back door and made sure it was locked. “I still want to host the divorcee group next weekend”

“I have an idea,” Cheri said. “We can play a game about our ex’s and whoever wins gets a fabulous prize. But what could we use as the prize that won’t be too expensive?”

“I can give a free private beading class of the winner’s choice. They’d get everything for free.”

Who wouldn’t want that? Especially Marlene. The only reason she helped stock was so she could get free things.

Chapter Seventeen

I wasn’t sure, but it seemed like ever since Doug’s murder, there were more customers than ever. I was barely able to keep up. I was seeing new faces all the time, and some who had never picked up a bead in their lives. Going back to the basics made me remember how much I love to string the single, simple glass bead.

Sometimes I get too caught up in beading new and complex designs, but that week brought me back to the basics. Still, every time I walked over Doug’s dead body spot, I shivered at the thought that someone hated me enough to frame me for murder.

Noah Druck was no closer to finding the killer than I was. He still came around with that damn notepad and pencil I wanted to grab and break in half.

Every night after work, Bernadine and I met at the pier and walked around the edge of the lake. It must have been working, because the waistband indentions weren’t as deep as they were at the beginning of the week.

That day, I was meeting with Margaret and her mom to try to get some final designs on her bridesmaids’ accessories.

Throughout the week, I had been putting together a variety of designs that included different color schemes for Margaret to pick from and to give her an idea of what I was thinking would work.

They were going to arrive at the shop any minute.

“Don’t forget about tonight.” Cheri popped her head in after she got home from her classes to remind me of my first self-defense class.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be there.” Whether or not I wanted to go, I’d made a commitment and I was sticking to it.

One by one, I carefully carried out the designs for Margaret McGee on bead boards from the storage room. None of the necklaces were strung because she hadn’t actually requested a certain style. This would also allow Margaret to switch out beads she didn’t like.

The crystal antique, pink Swarovski element with the diamond rondelles were by far my favorite pick if Margaret was going for a soft, romantic look. The pink was very light, almost clear. When the sun hit them, they glistened. From what I remember, Margaret was having an outside wedding, making that necklace a perfect choice.

The two-toned Czech glass bead design was on the other end of the spectrum. The dark aurora borealis beads are edgy and eye catching. The brown seed-beads between each Czech really screamed for attention.

I had also created a few other designs that I considered “safe.” Ultimately, it was Margaret’s decision and I hope she decided to hire me.

I had been planning for this consultation for days and wanted to make it hard to leave without Margaret signing a contract. I even bought champagne and tea cookies to set a bridal mood.

When Margaret walked in, I handed her a fluke of bubbly, and offered her a couple of cookies. She was clearly pleased. I wanted to give Margaret an experience that would make her want to recommend The Beaded Dragonfly to her single, rich friends.

I would have done about anything right then to keep her business so I could gain more.

She walked up and down, looking at the designs I had laid out for her. I gave her a brief overview of the different designs. She spent a lot of time looking at the white lotus pearl.

“What if we did this pearl with the pink four-millimeter pink Swarovski crystal between them?” She held a few of the beads in her hand to show me her idea. “And one of these on each side.”

I looked into the palm of her hand. Lotus pearl, two-millimeter sterling silver ball, four-millimeter pink Swarovski crystal, two-millimeter sterling silver ball, and Lotus pearl. It was a very pretty combination.

She laid the design out on one of the bead boards and grabbed a strand of pearls. She looked in the mirror that was hanging on the wall and draped the strand around her neck. Her long, brown hair cascaded down and made the pearls look elegant against her olive skin.

“I’m going to wear my hair down.” She turned, looking at herself at all angels in the mirror. “My dress is strapless with a pink undertone.”

Margaret McGee was going to be one beautiful bride with or without one of my designs.

“Stunning.” I stood behind her, looking into the mirror at her image. “You look really beautiful in pearls.”

I was so glad that at the last moment, I had come up with a design with pearls. Most of the time, I stay away from them because I love color.

Margaret smiled. She could’ve been a model in a teeth-whitening commercial, her teeth were
that
white.

“Well?” I held my breath. My business really depended on landing this project.

“Momma is going to be so happy that I’ve decided to go with the pearl design.” She went back to the table where she laid out the design for her mother. “I want the one we designed for me, and the one you designed for the bridesmaids.”

“Great choice, Margaret.” I got a sales slip and a piece of paper, and I sat down at the table.

Quickly, I drew up the matching earrings and bracelet that would go with each bridesmaid so she could have a visual.

“I’m going to need each bridesmaid’s wrist size.” I explained to her that each bracelet was designed to fit, but the necklaces would be the standard sixteen inches in length.

I let out a sigh of relief when Margaret finally signed the contract, realizing that my dream was coming true.

Now, all I had to do was prove my innocence in Doug’s murder, and if I could, Sean’s innocence too.

Chapter Eighteen

“Beaded Dragonfly.” I said as I answered the phone, hoping it was a call asking about the shop’s hours of operation and not a beading question, becauseI  didn’t have much time to get across town to the Moose Lodge for my first self-defense class.

Most of the time, people call and ask all sorts of questions about beads they’ve seen on other people, but they don’t know the names and begin describing them to me as “round, glass, pretty.” Those adjectives describe most of the beads in my shop.

Regardless, I’ve wasted a lot of time trying to figure out which beads they are talking about over the phone, because they almost always end up coming into the shop to figure it out anyway.

“Holly.” The voice was low and raspy.

For a split-second, I wondered if this was the murderer. They were finally getting in touch with me to tell me why they killed Doug in my shop. Or worse…that I was next.

“Holly, you there?” The voice sounded vaguely familiar.

“Umm…yes.” I was cautious.

“Thank, God. I need you now.” Sadie was no longer disguising her voice. “I know he is cheating on me now. I need you to meet me at this bar and go in to see if he’s with a girl.”

“Sadie, where are you?” I checked the clock on the wall. I had a little over an hour until my self-defense class.

Week, week, week.
Willow’s big black eyes stared up at me. She was starving. I bent down and patted her on the head.
Humph
, she fell to the ground and rolled over for a good belly scratch.

“I’m at The Livin’ End.” She was angry. “I followed him here. You said you’d help.”

“And how exactly do you expect me to help?” I walked through the shop, finishing the nightly duties, and shutting off the lights.

“I have a picture of him. You can look at it and then go into the bar to see if you see him with a girl.” Sadie sniffed into the phone.

I’m a sucker for a crying woman, especially one that was being cheated on.

“Fine. I have to take Willow home and then I will be there.” 

“Hurry, Holly,” She said. “If he walks out with another woman, I just might kill him.”

“Don’t do that. The last thing we need in Swanee is another murder.”

I clipped on Willow’s leash, locked the shop door and we got in the car. Sadie’s words replayed in my head and I pushed the accelerator down a little more, making my VW go faster.

Luckily, Swanee wasn’t that big and I got Willow home, fed, and put to bed. Then I grabbed my yoga pants for defense class. I wasn’t going to have time to change at home since I was headed to The Livin’ End. I’d have to change at the Moose Lodge.

I pulled into bar’s parking lot and parked next to Sadie. She was sitting on the hood of her car as if she was waiting to pounce on her prey.

“Get in the car.” I shooed her to her door. “No self-respecting, cheated on woman acts like this.”

She jumped around and snapped her fingers. “So you do think he’s cheating.”

“Give me the picture and get in the car.” I demanded.

I had to pee, so it was a good excuse to go in.

I took a long look at the picture of Sadie’s cheating husband. I did a double take when I noticed he was sporting a purple Mohawk. If he still had that hairdo, he sure wouldn’t be hard to find. I glanced around the smoky bar.

The jukebox was blaring, but the drunks bellied up to the bar were louder. The line to the women’s bathroom was down the hall and around the corner of the bar. I planted my feet in line, determined not to let any drunken woman cut in front of me, which almost always happened when I was there.

“I don’t remember seeing anyone fighting that night.” The bartender yelled from behind the bar.

Without looking to see who he was talking to, I kept my head down.

“Listen, we don’t want any trouble here. We’re just trying to figure out who killed Doug Stone.” Noah said from the other side of the bar.

I tilted my head slightly to make sure it was him. He and another Swanee officer were writing away on their little notepads.

I rolled my eyes. I’d give anything to see read that thing Noah was always writing in.

At least he was here following up and not just going around accusing people without evidence.

“If I knew something. I’d have told you.” The bartender pulled the tap and filled a frosty mug with the cheap beer. “If I remember something, I’ll call you.”

Noah and the other officers nodded and walked out.

Finally, I got to the bathroom, and when I was finished, I walked through the entire bar. Definitely no purple Mohawks. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t a mohawk in sight.

Sadie was back out on the hood of her car. She threw her hands in the air. “What took you so long?”

“I had to pee. But he wasn’t in there.” I said, and looked at the picture one last time before I gave it back to her.

I wanted to make sure I got all the details so I could tell the Divorced Divas about this. Not that they’d be surprised that Sadie had asked me to spy, but that her husband has a purple Mohawk.

Chapter Nineteen

I parked my car next to a light pole. That was something I’d learned from the defenseforyou.com website when deciding whether or not to go through with this class. Nothing had happened in the past week to make me feel like someone was watching me, making me more and more suspicious of Marlene.

My curiosity was really piqued when she called saying she wouldn’t be able to help me this week. It would be the first time she hadn’t stepped foot in the shop on a day we were open in six months. I made a mental note to stop in and check on Agnes to make sure nothing had happened to her.