Read Online Duffel Bags And Drownings by Dorothy Howell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Dorothy Howell
Tags: Mystery & Crime
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search. I walked to a railing that
overlooked shopping center, pulled out my phone and called Jack.
The view from this spot was awesome. The sun was setting, painting the sky in a dozen
shades of gray and blue. In the distance were high-rise office buildings. Stretched
out to my right were shops and stores, and immediately below me was an Italian restaurant’s
second-story balcony. A few tables were set up in the secluded dining area and were
covered with snowy white linens; china and crystal sparkled beneath the twinkle lights.
Only one table was occupied. A man sat there alone, though the table was set for two.
He had on a dark suit. His hair was a light brown. Even though he was seated I could
tell he was tall with an athletic build.
From my angle above him I couldn’t see his face but something about him looked familiar.
He drummed his fingers on the table, shifted in his chair, pushed his hand through
his hair, then—
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Oh my God. It was Ty, my official—former—official boyfriend.
I swayed against the railing. We’d broken up and it was over between us. Really. We’d
seen each other only a couple of times, and it hadn’t gone well, but still.
An image flashed in my head, taking my breath away: what if he was sitting at the
table waiting for his date to show up?
I didn’t know how I’d bear to see him jump up from his seat as she approached, greet
her, probably kiss her. My whole body ached at the thought.
No way could I stand here and watch that happen.
I turned to go, then saw Ty rise from his chair. A man approached. They shook hands,
then sat down.
Business, I realized. It was only a business meeting.
Marcie always said she doubted things would ever be over between Ty and me. I hadn’t
believed her.
But maybe, just maybe, she was right.
Chapter 7
As I headed through the parking garage toward the elevators the next morning, my cell
phone rang. Kayla’s name appeared on the caller I.D. screen.
Not a great way to start my day.
A phone call from Kayla when I was only minutes from arriving at L.A. Affairs could
only mean that something major had gone down this morning—already.
Jeez, what now?
Really, I had enough on my mind. That whole thing with seeing Ty last night at The
Grove was still bouncing around in my head. I’d told Marcie about it—as a BFF would—and
she’d been sympathetic and understanding. She’d also told me that Ty and I would probably
never be done with each other—which was also something a BFF would do, only this time
it was kind of annoying.
I didn’t want her to be right.
Our evening had ended on a high note when we’d gone into Nordstrom and—yahoo!—found
that a friend of Marcie’s had just gotten a sales clerk job there. She’d confided
that another shipment of the totally awesome Flirtatious satchel was expected in a
day or so, and promised to hold back two of them for Marcie and me—making her, of
course, our new BFF.
I was tempted to ignore my ringing cell phone—it’s hard to face a problem before my
first cup of breakroom coffee—but Kayla wouldn’t be calling me so early if it weren’t
important. I hit the green button and answered.
“Something major is going down,” Kayla said in a low voice.
I pictured her crouched under her desk, cupping her hand over her phone.
“I just heard that Edie and Priscilla have decided who’s going to handle the annual
luncheon for the Daughters of the Southland,” Kayla whispered.
“Is it me?” I asked.
Okay, I guess it was kind of crappy to think of myself first but, jeez, it was early.
“I don’t know,” Kayla said. “I’m telling you, Haley, working with these grouchy, cantankerous
old women is a death sentence. You’ll end up as gray-haired and wrinkled as they are.”
That wasn’t a look I was going for.
“If Edie and Priscilla stick you with this event, you can still try to get out
overlooked shopping center, pulled out my phone and called Jack.
The view from this spot was awesome. The sun was setting, painting the sky in a dozen
shades of gray and blue. In the distance were high-rise office buildings. Stretched
out to my right were shops and stores, and immediately below me was an Italian restaurant’s
second-story balcony. A few tables were set up in the secluded dining area and were
covered with snowy white linens; china and crystal sparkled beneath the twinkle lights.
Only one table was occupied. A man sat there alone, though the table was set for two.
He had on a dark suit. His hair was a light brown. Even though he was seated I could
tell he was tall with an athletic build.
From my angle above him I couldn’t see his face but something about him looked familiar.
He drummed his fingers on the table, shifted in his chair, pushed his hand through
his hair, then—
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Oh my God. It was Ty, my official—former—official boyfriend.
I swayed against the railing. We’d broken up and it was over between us. Really. We’d
seen each other only a couple of times, and it hadn’t gone well, but still.
An image flashed in my head, taking my breath away: what if he was sitting at the
table waiting for his date to show up?
I didn’t know how I’d bear to see him jump up from his seat as she approached, greet
her, probably kiss her. My whole body ached at the thought.
No way could I stand here and watch that happen.
I turned to go, then saw Ty rise from his chair. A man approached. They shook hands,
then sat down.
Business, I realized. It was only a business meeting.
Marcie always said she doubted things would ever be over between Ty and me. I hadn’t
believed her.
But maybe, just maybe, she was right.
Chapter 7
As I headed through the parking garage toward the elevators the next morning, my cell
phone rang. Kayla’s name appeared on the caller I.D. screen.
Not a great way to start my day.
A phone call from Kayla when I was only minutes from arriving at L.A. Affairs could
only mean that something major had gone down this morning—already.
Jeez, what now?
Really, I had enough on my mind. That whole thing with seeing Ty last night at The
Grove was still bouncing around in my head. I’d told Marcie about it—as a BFF would—and
she’d been sympathetic and understanding. She’d also told me that Ty and I would probably
never be done with each other—which was also something a BFF would do, only this time
it was kind of annoying.
I didn’t want her to be right.
Our evening had ended on a high note when we’d gone into Nordstrom and—yahoo!—found
that a friend of Marcie’s had just gotten a sales clerk job there. She’d confided
that another shipment of the totally awesome Flirtatious satchel was expected in a
day or so, and promised to hold back two of them for Marcie and me—making her, of
course, our new BFF.
I was tempted to ignore my ringing cell phone—it’s hard to face a problem before my
first cup of breakroom coffee—but Kayla wouldn’t be calling me so early if it weren’t
important. I hit the green button and answered.
“Something major is going down,” Kayla said in a low voice.
I pictured her crouched under her desk, cupping her hand over her phone.
“I just heard that Edie and Priscilla have decided who’s going to handle the annual
luncheon for the Daughters of the Southland,” Kayla whispered.
“Is it me?” I asked.
Okay, I guess it was kind of crappy to think of myself first but, jeez, it was early.
“I don’t know,” Kayla said. “I’m telling you, Haley, working with these grouchy, cantankerous
old women is a death sentence. You’ll end up as gray-haired and wrinkled as they are.”
That wasn’t a look I was going for.
“If Edie and Priscilla stick you with this event, you can still try to get out
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