A Dangerous Widow (A Dangerous Series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

so loud, it reverberated throughout the small space—and also
through me.
    “You have to do that to call her,” Laura
said.
    “Do you?” I said with an arched brow.   “How professional…”
    “You and I both know that this gong is just
a show for the tourists.   Rhoda’s a
smart businesswoman.   You’ll
see.   And I’m telling you—she’s
good.”
    “Laura?   Is that you?” a woman’s throaty voice boomed beyond the drawn red velvet
curtains that hung just beyond the gong.
    “That would be me!   And I have my best friend with me.   You know, the one I’ve told you
absolutely nothing about.”
    When Laura said that, the curtains parted to
reveal a robust, happy-looking woman somewhere in her early thirties.   And talk about a presence.   Rhoda Burns had bright red hair pulled
away from her forehead with the help of a black kerchief, zero makeup on her
full face, and a smile that was genuine and filled with
excitement—apparently to see Laura.
    “You look fab,” she said to Laura.
    “So do you.”
    Rhoda was wearing a colorful, flowery skirt
and a bright orange top that barely contained her massive breasts.   She picked up the sides of her skirt and
curtsied in front of Laura.   “This
old thing?” she said.   “Bought it at
Goodwill.   Fifty cents, two years
old—and I still love it.”
    Laura lowered her voice.   “Do you know who owned it?”
    “Unfortunately, I do,” she said.   “Dead, I’m afraid.   Cancer.   But her energy is good, and through her
clothes alone, her spirit continues to live on.”
    Oh, my God.   Seriously, Laura?
    “Rhoda, this is my best friend, Kate,” Laura
said.
    “No last names!” Rhoda cut in.   “We have a deal here, one to be
honored.   I’m going to make Kate a
believer yet!”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Rhoda,” I said as I
stepped forward and extended my hand.   “Laura has been raving about you.”
    When I spoke, something in Rhoda’s
expression shifted.   She looked at
me for a moment before she brushed my hand aside, enveloped me in a hug, and
said in my ear, “You poor, dear girl.   I’m so very, very sorry.”
    A chill ran through me.   “Sorry for what?”
    “We’ll discuss it later,” she said, looking
shaken.   “And soon, with the help of
someone from your past, the three of us will get to the bottom of it.   Let me tend to Laura first, and then you
and I will talk.”
    “Way to freak her out, Rhoda,” Laura said in
an uneasy voice.
    “I didn’t mean to.”  
    But as Rhoda Burns looked even deeper into
my eyes, it was impossible not to see the horror reflected back at me.

 
 
    *   *   *

 
 
    Thirty minutes later, when Laura emerged
from beyond the red curtain, she appeared at once pleased, distracted, and ill
at ease.
    “Looks like Jack’s getting another date,”
she said.
    “Well, that’s great,” I said as Rhoda also
came through the curtain.   “Maybe
he’s the one.   I want that for you,
sweetie.”
    “Kate,” she said in a concerned voice.
    “It’s fine,” I reassured her as I stood up
from the chair I was sitting in.   “Let’s just say that Rhoda here has
piqued my curiosity.”
    “Are you sure that you want to go through
with this?” Rhoda asked.
    “With a reading, if that’s what this
is?   Sure.”
    “Kate, I need to warn you that it’s going to
be much more than that.”
    “Then let’s see what that is.”
    She glanced over at Laura.   “You might want to have your friend with
you.”
    “Sure,” I said.   “There isn’t much she doesn’t know about
me, anyway.”
    “There’s plenty she doesn’t know,” Rhoda
said.   “But nothing to be
embarrassed about.   I take privacy
seriously, but in this case, I think you should bring her in with you.   For support.”
    For support?   My skepticism was running so high at
this point, I just went with it.   This would take thirty minutes out of my day.   Laura would be happy that I went along
for the