“I. . .” I took the money out of my pocket. “I went over there to get some of my clothes from the attic, and when he went to get them I saw this money on the floor. And. . .uh. . .I took it.” I handed the money to Flora. “I took it because he owes me so much back alimony.”
Flora separated the bills.
“You are worried about eight dollars?” Flora held the money up. “It’s eight dollars. Who cares?”
Damn! Eight dollars?
“I know, but I still feel bad. I need you to put it under your mattress. Far away from me.” I shielded my eyes. I had to be dramatic so she’d believe me and leave the room so I could do some searching.
“Eight dollars?” She questioned me with a curious look.
I nodded, and frowned.
“Okay.” She walked back to her bedroom.
Quickly I searched her purse sitting on the table, the kitchen, the family room, and actually looked under her couch.
When I heard her footsteps, I laid my head on the floor.
“I did it.” She stopped standing over top me. “What are you doing?”
“I was feeling faint from my crime.” I laid my hand over my head. “I think I need to lie down.”
“You are lying down.” She confirmed.
“No, I mean on your bed.” I jumped up and walked to her room.
“Fine.” She turned the bedroom light on. “Can I get you something? Water? A psychiatrist?”
“Water. Water is good.” I ignored the bit about the shrink. How was I going to stop all the gossip? Flora would be on the phone as soon as I left, telling all the Divas how crazy I was acting.
I jumped out of her bed and quickly looked around her room and bathroom. Luckily her phone rang and she answered it, so I knew it’d buy me some more time.
I found everything from a drawer full of old cell phones to another one full of batteries. But there was no pouch. No yellow gem.
I strolled out of the bedroom when I heard her coming back down the hall.
“Here’s your water. What are you doing?” Flora asked with hesitation in her voice.
“I’m feeling much better.” I said. “By the way, did you see anyone in the shop office when you took the Divas projects to the storage room?”
“I saw Bernadine in there and the new girl.” Flora tapped her temples.
“Marlene?” I asked.
“No, the new girl. Not cougar.” Flora laughed.
“Cheri?” I asked.
“Yep, her!” Flora snapped her fingers. “Here’s your water.”
She held the glass out to me.
“Oh, thanks for listening. I don’t need it now.” I headed to the door. I turned around. Flora’s mouth as wide open. “Oh, keep the eight bucks. Consider it your fee for listening to me ramble.”
I darted out the door before she could say anything else.
Yep. I bet Flora was on the phone with one of the Divas before I made it out of her condo building, telling them how crazy I’m acting.
If they only knew that the next Diva meeting just might be in a jail cell.
Chapter Eight
Cheri would be my next stop and probably the easiest of all.
I questioned myself on the drive over about Jim’s offer about the security cameras. I should’ve taken the free one month trial. Then I would’ve known who took the Spinet.
I pulled up in front of the shop and parked the Focus. I walked around the building and climb up the metal stairs.
I knocked on the apartment door.
“Who’s there?” Cheri demanded on the other side of the door.
“It’s me, Holly.” I said in a sweet tone. I had no idea how I was going to explain why I was there, but the last two excuses hadn’t failed me.
“Holly? Is something wrong?” Cheri asked as I shivered in the falling snow. “Come in.”
“I’m okay.” I said through my chattering teeth. With the sun going down, the temperature was dropping quickly. I vigorously rubbed my hands up and down my arms.
“I just brewed some coffee. Would you like a cup?” She pointed to the percolating coffee maker on the counter in the kitchenette.
“That would be great.” I puffed some hot breath on my freezing hands.
“So what’s up?” Cheri handed me a mug.
The futon was already made out into a bed.
“I’m sorry. Did I disturb you?” I asked and nonchalantly looked around.
There was nothing there but a duffle bag with clothes sticking out of it. Just the futon with a cover and pillow, and the kitchen. There wasn’t any tables, drawers, or television.
“I was just reading.” She pointed to a stack of books sitting on the floor. “You really scared me though. I’m not used to getting visitors. I’ll be right back. I need to go to the bathroom.”
I smiled and took a sip of the coffee. It would be hard to hide anything in here, I thought, looking around the efficiency. Cheri had nothing. And I mean nothing.
I went into the kitchen to peek in the drawers. They were empty. No silverware, plates, or napkins. All she had was a coffee maker and a couple mugs.
“You’re lucky I didn’t genie you.” She yelled from the bathroom.
“Genie me?” I wondered if I heard her correctly.
She came out of the bathroom and laughed. “Yep. This.”
Cheri did some sort of move with her hands in front of her body. It looked like karate.
“I’m glad you didn’t.” I said. I doubt she’d hurt me. She’d have to go through the extra weight first.
“I take karate a couple nights a week. I’m so tired by the time I get home, I usually read then go to bed.” She sat down on the futon. “If I have homework, I generally do it before karate in my car.”
There was an odd silence that hung between us. I tried to think of something, but nothing was coming to me.
“So, what did you want? You aren’t regretting renting me the apartment, are you?” Cheri asked with a look of fear in her eyes.
“No, no. I. . .” I took another drink to buy some more time. “I wanted to know if you wanted to be an honorary Diva since you’ll be seeing me and the girls a lot. We’d love to have you.”
“Oh, okay.” Cheri smiled. “I’d love to. But you have to come to karate with me sometimes. You need to be able to protect yourself, Holly. Plus it’s great exercise.”
Yeah, that.
Here comes the weight thing.
“Actually I do need to lose some pounds.” I pulled the elastic out and let it snap back in place. “I gained it after my divorce. Do you mind if I go to the bathroom before I leave?”
“No, go ahead.” Cheri said.
It was the last place I could look for the Spinet before I moved on to the final suspect’s house.
I locked the door and began to go through the medicine cabinet. Nothing but ginseng, red root, and tampons were in there. Nothing that resembled a pouch or anything yellow.
“Okay. I’m going home now.” I smiled and waved my hand.
“Is that what you really wanted?” Cheri’s curiosity was peeked. “I mean, I thought you left a couple hours ago. It could’ve waited until tomorrow.”
Damn!
“No it couldn’t. I want you to feel welcome, that’s all.” I zipped my coat up and waved without saying goodbye.
If Ginger were here, she’d be able to read me like a book. I didn’t want to tell anyone that I’d lost the gem or that someone stole it. I had to get it back. And Bernadine’s house was on the way home.
No way.
I pulled into Bernadine’s driveway and noticed Flora’s car and Ginger’s car were both park out front. Were they having Diva meeting without me?
Did they really take the Yellow Spinet as a group effort? There was something going on and I was bound and determined to get to the bottom of it.
Bernadine met me at the door before I could even knock.
“I saw headlights. Come in, honey.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders like a mother would do to her child. “Flora and Ginger stopped by.”
They were all sitting around Bernadine’s massive granite top island that sits in the middle of her kitchen. Each of them had a tall glass of wine.
“Here. Have some wine.” Bernadine scooted a glass towards me. “Why don’t you get comfortable and take your coat off?”
I eyed them just as much as they were eyeing me.
We all picked up our wine and took a sip, each of us trying not to stare at the other.
“Okay, enough of this.” Ginger set her glass on the counter. Sean appeared out of nowhere and stood beside my friends. “What is wrong with you, Holly? You go to Sean’s and take money. Then you go to Flora’s acting like you committed some big crime. After you left Flora, she called Sean who jumped in his truck to find you because Flora was worried sick that you were going to pass out at the wheel Then he turned around and followed you to the bead shop where you went to Cheri’s apartment for God knows what. Then you end up here.”
“Even though we are divorced, I still care about you.” Sean said in a pathetic attempt to be sympathetic.
I broke down and cried like a baby. I buried my head in my hands, my shoulders bounced up and down as I cried.
“It can’t be that bad.” Flora rubbed my back. “The Divas can fix this.”
I looked up. All of them were staring at me like I needed to be in a padded room.
“I lost a Yellow Spinet. A customer’s Yellow Spinet.” I muttered through broken English.
“A what?” Sean’s face curled.
“A spit who?” Flora’s eyes crossed.
“No!” Bernadine’s hand flew to her mouth as she gasped.
I nodded. Her reaction confirmed the severity of the situation.
“Who gave you a Spinet?” Bernadine’s eyes lit up like the shiniest stars in the sky.
“Marlene Dietrich.” I sobbed.
“That’s not her real name. I knew there was something funny going on with that women.” Ginger spouted. “She’s evil and Willow knows it.”
Oh, God. Willow.
I looked at my watch. It read 8:00. Willow had been at the cabin, by herself for over two hours. I’ve never left her alone that long.
“I’ve got to go get Willow at home.” I started to get up and Flora stopped me.
“Wait. What’s this about a Spinet?” She asked.
I explained what had happened and how she, Sean, Cheri and Bernadine was the only ones in or near the office. I even told her how I checked their houses looking for the pouch.
In true Diva style they weren’t mad at me, but assured me they would help me find it or figure it out.
“Let’s all meet at the shop early in the morning before it opens. It has to be there somewhere.” Bernadine said, making me feel somewhat better.
“I never thought I’d see the day we have a Diva meeting in the Swanee jail.” I shook my head. “Marlene is going to kill me.”