Read Online Strung Out to Die by Tonya Kappes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tonya Kappes
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talking on her phone—as usual. Her wavy hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail at the nap of her neck.
She waved, and I waved back. Knowing she was there made me feel a little more at ease, and I was able to go in the storage room and retrieve the Divas’ bead boards.
I jumped over the spot where I’d found Doug and opened the door. On the far wall, was shelving where Cheri had stored all their projects.
Carefully, one by one, I took each project down, making sure the beads didn’t roll off and into an Under .
I smiled at Flora’s bohemian chandelier earrings. They reminded me of the one thing I’d wanted in my divorce from Sean. His grandmother had given him the most beautiful chandelier. A real chandelier; not just any old light. It was adorned with the most beautiful crystal beads in all shades of pink and red. I had no clue about its monetary value. I just knew that I loved it because of its beading elements.
I lowered my standards and begged him to let me have it for the shop. I even went as far as offering to let him off the hook for alimony for six months, but he refused. He said I could have it when I pried it out of his cold, dead fingers. The beautiful heirloom was sitting in a box in his family room. It would’ve looked perfect hanging in the middle of my shop.
Anyway, I tried to talk Flora out of making those chandelier earrings since they would be pressed up against that damn phone of hers all the time. I even suggested she get rid of the dang phone, but she gave a resounding, “Hell no!”
Flora was already sitting at the table, chatting it up with Cheri and Bernadine, when I walked back into the shop.
I stopped and looked. For a moment, everything seemed normal, but it wasn’t.
“Do you need some help or a hug?” Cheri’s beret was sitting sideways on her head. I tried to straighten the crooked hat. She pulled away. “Stop. It’s supposed to be that way.”
“I’ll take the hug.” I wrapped my arms around my upstairs tenant.
I was grateful that Cheri hadn’t been home when the murder occurred. She’d been spending long hours at the library preparing for her upcoming exams.
Cheri bent down and scratched behind Willow’s ears. Willow’s tail whirled around in excitement. She loved Cheri, because Cheri was always taking her on quick walks when I was working long hours in the shop. It was a good excuse for Cheri to take a break from studying.
“You’re looking fit.” Flora commented on Cheri’s toned arms.
Cheri flexed. We laughed.
“I’ve been going to a self-defense class, and it’s getting me into shape.” She flexed her muscles. “You gals should think about it. Especially now, with a murderer on the loose.”
She did have a point. It was something I was going to have to seriously think about. Not only for self-defense, but the toned arms was something I’d always dreamed of having.
I did my little hop over Doug’s dead spot and went back to get Cheri’s project. It was a stretchy bracelet made from all sorts of different colored glass beads. Nothing too fancy, but she didn’t have time to get too involved because of her commitment to school.
When I came back in, I sat her board down and I noticed Marlene helping Agnes up the shop’s two front steps. Agnes was smacking Marlene’s hands away like she didn’t need Marlene’s help, when she clearly did.
“Hi, Agnes. You look great.” I tried not to focus on her blue hair.
I quickly went back and got another bead board while they got settled in and put Agnes’ children’s beads on it. It would be a simple single strand of all wooden beads. The package contained beads of various colors, as well as plain, unpainted wood. I’d let her choose which ones to use.
Agnes Pearl was rarely seen without her purple turban, but today she was just sporting her cotton candy blue hair. In fact, I was pretty sure if a child came into the shop, she might try to eat Agnes’ hair.
“Thank you, Holly.” She pushed
She waved, and I waved back. Knowing she was there made me feel a little more at ease, and I was able to go in the storage room and retrieve the Divas’ bead boards.
I jumped over the spot where I’d found Doug and opened the door. On the far wall, was shelving where Cheri had stored all their projects.
Carefully, one by one, I took each project down, making sure the beads didn’t roll off and into an Under .
I smiled at Flora’s bohemian chandelier earrings. They reminded me of the one thing I’d wanted in my divorce from Sean. His grandmother had given him the most beautiful chandelier. A real chandelier; not just any old light. It was adorned with the most beautiful crystal beads in all shades of pink and red. I had no clue about its monetary value. I just knew that I loved it because of its beading elements.
I lowered my standards and begged him to let me have it for the shop. I even went as far as offering to let him off the hook for alimony for six months, but he refused. He said I could have it when I pried it out of his cold, dead fingers. The beautiful heirloom was sitting in a box in his family room. It would’ve looked perfect hanging in the middle of my shop.
Anyway, I tried to talk Flora out of making those chandelier earrings since they would be pressed up against that damn phone of hers all the time. I even suggested she get rid of the dang phone, but she gave a resounding, “Hell no!”
Flora was already sitting at the table, chatting it up with Cheri and Bernadine, when I walked back into the shop.
I stopped and looked. For a moment, everything seemed normal, but it wasn’t.
“Do you need some help or a hug?” Cheri’s beret was sitting sideways on her head. I tried to straighten the crooked hat. She pulled away. “Stop. It’s supposed to be that way.”
“I’ll take the hug.” I wrapped my arms around my upstairs tenant.
I was grateful that Cheri hadn’t been home when the murder occurred. She’d been spending long hours at the library preparing for her upcoming exams.
Cheri bent down and scratched behind Willow’s ears. Willow’s tail whirled around in excitement. She loved Cheri, because Cheri was always taking her on quick walks when I was working long hours in the shop. It was a good excuse for Cheri to take a break from studying.
“You’re looking fit.” Flora commented on Cheri’s toned arms.
Cheri flexed. We laughed.
“I’ve been going to a self-defense class, and it’s getting me into shape.” She flexed her muscles. “You gals should think about it. Especially now, with a murderer on the loose.”
She did have a point. It was something I was going to have to seriously think about. Not only for self-defense, but the toned arms was something I’d always dreamed of having.
I did my little hop over Doug’s dead spot and went back to get Cheri’s project. It was a stretchy bracelet made from all sorts of different colored glass beads. Nothing too fancy, but she didn’t have time to get too involved because of her commitment to school.
When I came back in, I sat her board down and I noticed Marlene helping Agnes up the shop’s two front steps. Agnes was smacking Marlene’s hands away like she didn’t need Marlene’s help, when she clearly did.
“Hi, Agnes. You look great.” I tried not to focus on her blue hair.
I quickly went back and got another bead board while they got settled in and put Agnes’ children’s beads on it. It would be a simple single strand of all wooden beads. The package contained beads of various colors, as well as plain, unpainted wood. I’d let her choose which ones to use.
Agnes Pearl was rarely seen without her purple turban, but today she was just sporting her cotton candy blue hair. In fact, I was pretty sure if a child came into the shop, she might try to eat Agnes’ hair.
“Thank you, Holly.” She pushed
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