16 Sizzling Sixteen Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sixteen
    Page: 19

    Let me take a look at that bottle. Maybe I can figure it out.

    I stopped for a light and pulled the bottle out of my big leather purse.

    Lula worked at the stopper, but it wouldnt budge. Youre right, she said. This suckers in for good. She shook the bottle close to her ear. Dont hear anything rattling around in it. She held it up and looked at it in what little light was left. Cant see anything in it. The glass is too thick.

    I think luck is a weird thing. Its hard to tell if you make it or if it just follows you around. And it seems to me it could just as easily be bad luck as good luck. Its not like its a constant ability, like playing the piano or being able to cook a perfect omelet.

    I cruised by the funeral home, and we scoped it out. There were several cars parked at the curb, and a clump of older men dressed in suits and ties stood talking by the open front door. Lights were on inside. Melons was having a viewing.

    I pulled over and parked half a block away. Ill wait here, and you go look around, I said to Lula.

    Why do you get to wait here? Lula wanted to know. Im the one hates dead people. I should be the one to wait here.

    You cant wait here. Youre the friend of the deceased.

    Fine, but Im not going in alone. Youre gonna have to make yourself blend in. Just tart yourself up some, and everyonell think youre a ho come to visit.

    I ratted my hair, put on brighter lipstick, took my sweatshirt off, and rolled my T-shirt so I had some skin showing.

    This is the best I can do, I said.

    Youre not all that hot, Lula said. Youre never gonna make any money looking like that.

    Sure I would. Im the girl next door.

    You dont know much, she said. You gotta have a short skirt to be the girl next door and you put your hair in two ponytails.

    I thought that was the Catholic schoolgirl.

    The Catholic schoolgirls skirt is plaid and pleated.

    I put Pips bottle back in my bag, hiked my bag up on my shoulder, and swung myself down from the Jeep. We made our way through the clump of men, through the open door, and into the foyer. Several older women stood by a table with a coffee urn and cups. I could see more women and a couple men in an adjoining room. The casket was in that room. So far as I could tell, this was the extent of the public areas.

    Small funeral home, I said to Lula.

    I guess the embalming goes on upstairs, being that the windows are blacked out, and we know Bobby Sunflower likes to keep rats in his cellars, Lula said.

Sizzling Sixteen
    Page: 20

    The hall wasnt long. It led to a small kitchen, stairs going up, and two doors. I opened one door to stairs going down. I held my breath and listened for a moment. No squeaking. I flipped the light on and whispered hello. No answer. I didnt want to rescue Vinnie bad enough to creep down the stairs. I closed the cellar door and tried the second door. It opened directly onto an alley and a small paved parking lot. A hearse and a black stretch Lincoln were parked in the lot. I stepped out onto the cement stoop to get a better look at the back of the building, and the door blew closed behind me. I tried the door. Locked. Crap!

    The funeral home was in the middle of the block, with no breaks between buildings. I was going to have to walk down the alley and around the corner to get back to Stark. Ordinarily, no big deal, but this wasnt the sort of neighborhood a girl wanted to stroll around in after dark.

    I moved to the alley and looked back at the building. Four windows on the second floor. All blacked out and barred, just like the front windows. I called Lula on my cell phone.

    Where the heck are you? Lula wanted to know.

    I accidentally got locked out. Im in the alley. Can you let me back in?

    Negative. Bobby Sunflower just came down the back stairs, and hes standing in the hall talking to some idiot thats got killer written all over him.

    Go ask them if theyve got Vinnie upstairs.

    Funny, Lula said. Why dont you rub your bottle and ask