Read Online Steamed (A Maid in LA Mystery) by Holly Jacobs - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Holly Jacobs
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and introduce yourself when things out here wind down? Tell her I sent you.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I didn’t ask your name.”
Of course she hadn’t. Until a few minutes ago, I’d been invisible. But she saw me now, and I suspected in the future that she’d see other things clearer as well. “Quincy. Quincy Mac.”
“Well, thank you, Quincy Mac.”
I picked up the tray of rather cold puffs and started making the rounds again. There’s something comforting about being invisible. I pasted on a social smile, asked, “Shrimp puff?” and thought.
Banning had a new girlfriend. Someone who seemed different to Shaley. I’d have do some investigating and find out a name.
“Shrimp puff?”
It would have been easier to ask Shaley the new girlfriend’s name, but I couldn’t use her.
“Shrimp puff?”
“What was that all about?” Detective Not-So-Friendly jerked his head in Shaley’s direction.
I thought I was on the east side of the ballroom. Drat my sense of direction—or rather my lack thereof.
“What was what all about? I’m just passing out shrimp puffs. Either take one, or get out of my way, I need to clear this tray.”
He took one and said, “The girl. I saw you talking to, then hugging the girl.”
I gave him a mom-look and he shoved the puff in his mouth and reached for another, presumably to keep me talking.
“The poor girl said she’s lost her father recently. I was comforting her. That’s what moms do. They comfort.”
“Don’t try a mom-card. You know she’s Banning’s daughter.”
“She is?” I thought back to acting class with Mr. Magee, and tried for my best innocent eye-bat.
“Obstruction,” he said in a low, menacing warning. Then he shoved the puff in his mouth.
It’s hard to look menacing with a puff in your mouth.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He took another puff, but rather than waiting around to hear what else he had to say, I left and circulated with the rest of my tray.
I finished the night off, told Honey about Shaley. Honey’s daughter is seventeen and she’s mom enough to know how deeply kids can hurt, so she was sympathetic and promised to help.
There’s a difference between moms and mothers. Shaley had a mother—someone who was genetically tied to her, but from where I stood, wasn’t very emotionally invested. Honey was a mom. She’d do anything for Trixie…well, except give the poor girl a better nickname. Trixie was really Beatrix. And Honey, being a fan of the Trixie Belden series, and not a fan at all of her mother-in-law from whom her daughter got her name, called her Trixie. Honey and Trixie? I’d read the books and got it.
I’m not sure Honey’s ex or his mother ever got it, but they hated Trixie’s nickname.
Anyway, Honey was a mom first and foremost. She would take Shaley under her wings.
I thought about Shaley’s mother.
Granted she wasn’t mommish in the least. And Shaley had said she was using what money she had to keep up appearances and snag a new husband.
Murdering an ex wouldn’t help with the appearances, or with the new husband.
I didn’t think I’d find the murderer, let alone have him look at me and confess, Yep, I did it . I wanted to look at the suspects and get a feel for them.
I didn’t think Shaley or her mom had killed Banning. I could always come back and take another look if needs be, but for now, I was going to push ahead with other suspects.
Quincy Mac, PI was still in business.
Only problem was, she didn’t have any idea what to try next.
Chapter Five
That night, I put an X through Shaley and Shannon’s pictures. No, I didn’t have any proof, but until I found information that changed my mind, I didn’t think it was either of them. As a mom, I’d learned to trust my gut.
“Thanks.” She smiled. “I didn’t ask your name.”
Of course she hadn’t. Until a few minutes ago, I’d been invisible. But she saw me now, and I suspected in the future that she’d see other things clearer as well. “Quincy. Quincy Mac.”
“Well, thank you, Quincy Mac.”
I picked up the tray of rather cold puffs and started making the rounds again. There’s something comforting about being invisible. I pasted on a social smile, asked, “Shrimp puff?” and thought.
Banning had a new girlfriend. Someone who seemed different to Shaley. I’d have do some investigating and find out a name.
“Shrimp puff?”
It would have been easier to ask Shaley the new girlfriend’s name, but I couldn’t use her.
“Shrimp puff?”
“What was that all about?” Detective Not-So-Friendly jerked his head in Shaley’s direction.
I thought I was on the east side of the ballroom. Drat my sense of direction—or rather my lack thereof.
“What was what all about? I’m just passing out shrimp puffs. Either take one, or get out of my way, I need to clear this tray.”
He took one and said, “The girl. I saw you talking to, then hugging the girl.”
I gave him a mom-look and he shoved the puff in his mouth and reached for another, presumably to keep me talking.
“The poor girl said she’s lost her father recently. I was comforting her. That’s what moms do. They comfort.”
“Don’t try a mom-card. You know she’s Banning’s daughter.”
“She is?” I thought back to acting class with Mr. Magee, and tried for my best innocent eye-bat.
“Obstruction,” he said in a low, menacing warning. Then he shoved the puff in his mouth.
It’s hard to look menacing with a puff in your mouth.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
He took another puff, but rather than waiting around to hear what else he had to say, I left and circulated with the rest of my tray.
I finished the night off, told Honey about Shaley. Honey’s daughter is seventeen and she’s mom enough to know how deeply kids can hurt, so she was sympathetic and promised to help.
There’s a difference between moms and mothers. Shaley had a mother—someone who was genetically tied to her, but from where I stood, wasn’t very emotionally invested. Honey was a mom. She’d do anything for Trixie…well, except give the poor girl a better nickname. Trixie was really Beatrix. And Honey, being a fan of the Trixie Belden series, and not a fan at all of her mother-in-law from whom her daughter got her name, called her Trixie. Honey and Trixie? I’d read the books and got it.
I’m not sure Honey’s ex or his mother ever got it, but they hated Trixie’s nickname.
Anyway, Honey was a mom first and foremost. She would take Shaley under her wings.
I thought about Shaley’s mother.
Granted she wasn’t mommish in the least. And Shaley had said she was using what money she had to keep up appearances and snag a new husband.
Murdering an ex wouldn’t help with the appearances, or with the new husband.
I didn’t think I’d find the murderer, let alone have him look at me and confess, Yep, I did it . I wanted to look at the suspects and get a feel for them.
I didn’t think Shaley or her mom had killed Banning. I could always come back and take another look if needs be, but for now, I was going to push ahead with other suspects.
Quincy Mac, PI was still in business.
Only problem was, she didn’t have any idea what to try next.
Chapter Five
That night, I put an X through Shaley and Shannon’s pictures. No, I didn’t have any proof, but until I found information that changed my mind, I didn’t think it was either of them. As a mom, I’d learned to trust my gut.
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