Read Online That Old Black Magic by Mary Jane Clark - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Jane Clark
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thing.â
She looked up to see where the comment had come from. Falkner Duchamps was grinning at her.
Was he really back again? He was starting to creep her out.
Her facial expression must have displayed her discomfort.
âDonât worry,â said Falkner. âIâm not stalking you. My dissertation meeting was horrendous. I needed to cheer myself up.â
Chapter 22
S abrina Houghton unlocked and pulled back the security gate. She entered the Duchamps Antiques and Illuminations shop and flipped the switch on the wall. Instantly the large space was bathed in glowing light coming from dozens of wrought-iron and crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Below, gleaming mahogany tables and sideboards held a wide assortment of sparkling candelabra and polished candlesticks. Glass display cases contained smaller silver candle holders, providing purchasing opportunities at lower price points. In the three years Sabrina had been working during the day at Ellinoreâs shop, she never failed to take pleasure in the sight of the glittering world Ellinore Duchamps had created.
As she pushed her long red hair behind her ears, Sabrina marveled at Ellinoreâs unerring taste and ability to find beautiful things. She knew she had learned much from her boss. Ellinore took Sabrina to auctions and estate sales as they sought new items to continually freshen the shopâs stock. Sabrina hoped to use the knowledge she had gleaned to acquire beautiful objects of her own for the home she and Leo would share after their marriage.
As she continued into the store, Sabrina looked up at a particular chandelier dripping with crystal prisms. The hand-cut glass was faceted with patterns that increased refraction, creating a magical, twinkling effect. Sabrina had fallen in love with the chandelier the moment she saw it at an auction of the contents of an old Garden District mansion. Ellinore had paid handsomely for it even then. Now it hung in the shop for ten times that price. Depending on how generous the wedding gift checks were, Sabrina hoped that she could buy it.
She went to the back room and laid down her purse. When she came out front again, the bell over the front door tinkled.
A man and his teenage son, both dressed in Bermuda shorts and tennis shoes, entered the shop and began to browse around. The boy pointed upward.
âLook at that one, Dad. Mom would love that.â
The father looked at the chandelier. âYouâre right, Russ, she would.â He turned to Sabrina. âHow much is that?â he asked.
âFifteen thousand,â she said softly.
The man nodded. âItâs worth it.â
Father and son continued to study the chandelier as Sabrina guiltily uttered a silent prayer that they would decide against buying it. She wanted Ellinore to succeed with her shop, but that chandelier was meant for her.
Chapter 23
O n the cab ride from the bakery to the casting directorâs office, Piper noticed two police cars pulling up in front of Muffuletta Mikeâs sandwich shop on Royal Street. The flashing lights signaled that something was wrong.
Piper was immediately curious but tried to focus on the job at hand. She had to go over the sides of dialogue Gabe had sent her to prepare. There were only a few lines, and she already had them memorized. Though the role was small, the scene would set up the entire movie. It definitely had the potential to be quite memorable.
The part called for a female in her late twenties, naturally beautiful with a good figure. The character, Amy, would be costumed somewhat provocatively. She would encounter the male lead as she was preparing to climb aboard one of the St. Patrickâs parade floats. At the end of a short conversation, Amy reveals her name. Later her character would be found dead.
There were a half dozen empty chairs in the waiting area when Piper arrived. She wrote her information on the sign-in sheet and noted that several
She looked up to see where the comment had come from. Falkner Duchamps was grinning at her.
Was he really back again? He was starting to creep her out.
Her facial expression must have displayed her discomfort.
âDonât worry,â said Falkner. âIâm not stalking you. My dissertation meeting was horrendous. I needed to cheer myself up.â
Chapter 22
S abrina Houghton unlocked and pulled back the security gate. She entered the Duchamps Antiques and Illuminations shop and flipped the switch on the wall. Instantly the large space was bathed in glowing light coming from dozens of wrought-iron and crystal chandeliers suspended from the ceiling. Below, gleaming mahogany tables and sideboards held a wide assortment of sparkling candelabra and polished candlesticks. Glass display cases contained smaller silver candle holders, providing purchasing opportunities at lower price points. In the three years Sabrina had been working during the day at Ellinoreâs shop, she never failed to take pleasure in the sight of the glittering world Ellinore Duchamps had created.
As she pushed her long red hair behind her ears, Sabrina marveled at Ellinoreâs unerring taste and ability to find beautiful things. She knew she had learned much from her boss. Ellinore took Sabrina to auctions and estate sales as they sought new items to continually freshen the shopâs stock. Sabrina hoped to use the knowledge she had gleaned to acquire beautiful objects of her own for the home she and Leo would share after their marriage.
As she continued into the store, Sabrina looked up at a particular chandelier dripping with crystal prisms. The hand-cut glass was faceted with patterns that increased refraction, creating a magical, twinkling effect. Sabrina had fallen in love with the chandelier the moment she saw it at an auction of the contents of an old Garden District mansion. Ellinore had paid handsomely for it even then. Now it hung in the shop for ten times that price. Depending on how generous the wedding gift checks were, Sabrina hoped that she could buy it.
She went to the back room and laid down her purse. When she came out front again, the bell over the front door tinkled.
A man and his teenage son, both dressed in Bermuda shorts and tennis shoes, entered the shop and began to browse around. The boy pointed upward.
âLook at that one, Dad. Mom would love that.â
The father looked at the chandelier. âYouâre right, Russ, she would.â He turned to Sabrina. âHow much is that?â he asked.
âFifteen thousand,â she said softly.
The man nodded. âItâs worth it.â
Father and son continued to study the chandelier as Sabrina guiltily uttered a silent prayer that they would decide against buying it. She wanted Ellinore to succeed with her shop, but that chandelier was meant for her.
Chapter 23
O n the cab ride from the bakery to the casting directorâs office, Piper noticed two police cars pulling up in front of Muffuletta Mikeâs sandwich shop on Royal Street. The flashing lights signaled that something was wrong.
Piper was immediately curious but tried to focus on the job at hand. She had to go over the sides of dialogue Gabe had sent her to prepare. There were only a few lines, and she already had them memorized. Though the role was small, the scene would set up the entire movie. It definitely had the potential to be quite memorable.
The part called for a female in her late twenties, naturally beautiful with a good figure. The character, Amy, would be costumed somewhat provocatively. She would encounter the male lead as she was preparing to climb aboard one of the St. Patrickâs parade floats. At the end of a short conversation, Amy reveals her name. Later her character would be found dead.
There were a half dozen empty chairs in the waiting area when Piper arrived. She wrote her information on the sign-in sheet and noted that several
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