Read Online This Old Murder by Valerie Wolzien - Free Book Online Page A

camera set up before her.
    “If you’re feeling better, they’re going to need you in a few minutes,” Bobby Valentine said.
    “Why?”
    “Courtney wants to tape the show’s opening introducing you and the project.”
    “But I thought that wasn’t going to happen today!”
    “Courtney thought this would be a good day. I guess she’s had time to glance at the background notes on you and Island Contracting and she’s ready to go.”
    “And when Courtney is ready to go, you go?”
    He shrugged. “She’s the star of the whole shebang.”
    “Do I have time to put on makeup?”
    “Well, we were aiming more for the natural look.” He glanced over at Courtney.
    Josie looked, too. Courtney’s cheeks were pink, her eyelashes black, and her lips bright red. She looked wonderful, but not . . . “That’s natural?” Josie asked.
    “That’s what Courtney looks like on the air. Always. Period.”
    Josie took a second look at Courtney. “Oh, well, I suppose she would look better than I do even if I had makeup on and a fresh haircut.”
    “Let’s face it. If you were better-looking than Courtney, you probably wouldn’t have been chosen to be on the show. Besides, you look very alive, very perky.”
    “Thanks.” Faint praise was better than none at all. “I think you’re being waved at.”
    “Time to get this baby on tape. Want to borrow my comb again?”
    “I think I’ll settle for the windblown look.” She tried to tuck in her T-shirt as they walked over to join Courtney and the cameraman. “I’ve heard the camera adds five pounds.”
    “Ten actually. Ready to tape, Courtney?”
    “Just waiting for you.” She scowled at Josie.
    “I’m here now.” Josie scowled back. Just like old times. “Where do you want me to stand?”
    “We were just thinking that you both could be perched on the deck railing—on either side of the corner.” The cameraman pointed. “Light’s good. House is in the background and if I pan to the right, there’s a nice view of the bay.”
    Courtney smiled. “Sounds good to me. What about you, Josie?”
    “Fine.” She tried to emulate the energetic little jump that put Courtney up onto the railing and heard the wood creak ominously. “Shouldn’t I be prepared? What are you going to ask me?”
    “You know, we used to give guests lists of questions and what we discovered was that they prepared answers and the show lost some spontaneity.”
    “Besides, you’re only going to be asked about your life and work. You know the answers,” Bobby Valentine added, probably seeing the worried expression on Josie’s face.
    “We’re going to lose the light behind us in an hour or so,” the cameraman warned them.
    “I’m just going to introduce you and then off we go,” Courtney explained, and then, without a pause, did just that. “Welcome to
Courtney Castle’s Castles
. Would you like to own a summer home? Someplace to kick back and relax? Maybe someplace with a dock for your boat? Well, we’ve found a place just like that. But it needs a lot of work and that’s where Josie Pigeon and Island Contracting come in.”
    And suddenly Courtney turned to face her and Josie realized she was on. “Hi, Josie.”
    Well, that was easy. “Hi, Courtney.” She tried to match Courtney’s enthusiasm.
    But Courtney was talking to the camera. “Josie is a carpenter who owns her own contracting company here on the island. The company employs only women.” Courtney smiled. “I always like to think that my feminist sisters are getting a break, but tell me, is this type of discrimination legal, Josie?”
    It came at her out of left field. “Ah . . .” She thought furiously. “We don’t hire workers just because they are women. But there are still many companies that do discriminate against female workers, so these women need jobs. And, you know, we would hire men . . .” She realized she was talking to the side of Courtney’s face.
    “Do you find the women are as well trained as