Bitter Sweets Read Online Free PDF Page B

chocolate chip cookies baking.

    “I certainly hope so,” she said, trying not to sound too discouraged. “I’m trying to get in touch with Lisa Mallock. Can you tell me if she lives around here?”

    The beautiful smile froze on the woman’s face. “Not anymore,” was the reply. “She moved a couple of weeks ago.”

    Well, at least that answered one thing.

    “I really do need to speak to her. Do you know where she is now?”

    “I... ah... I really don’t think I should tell you. Lisa asked us not to say because . . .”

    “Yes? Because?”

    “Nothing. I don’t think I should discuss her with you. She’s a really nice person, one of the best people I’ve ever met, and she’s had such problems lately with ...”

    “With?”

    The woman shook her perfectly styled head of hair. “No. That’s all I’m going to say. Good-bye.”

    At least she didn’t slam the door in her face. She simply closed it. Firmly, decisively, if apologetically, she closed it.

    Same difference, Savannah thought as she dragged her body-which suddenly seemed bone tired-down the sidewalk.

    “Hey, lady,” said a soft, barely there voice behind her.

    She turned and was surprised to see a small fairy princess, about ten years old, standing on the porch of the house she had just visited. Instantly, she knew it was a fairy, because of the pink tights and leotard, the lacy skirt, and, of course, the glitterspangled wand in the child’s hand.

    “Yes?” she asked, smiling down at the dainty apparition as it tiptoed toward her on pink satin ballet slippers.

    “You were asking my mom about Christy’s mom, huh?” the girl said, a slight pout on her pixie face.

    “Christy’s mom?” Savannah’s mind raced.

    “Yeah, Christy Mallock, the girl who used to live down the street.”

    “Lisa’s daughter?”

    “That’s right. She’s the same age as me, and we used to go to ballet class together, but now she moved across town, and we have to go to rehearsal in different cars. I miss her.”

    “I’ll bet you do.” Savannah’s heart beat wildly. She was embarrassed by her eagerness to extract whatever information possible out of this innocent, unsuspecting child. “But you still see her in dance class?”

    “Oh, sure. Christy gets to be the queen of our pageant.”

    Savannah cast a furtive, guilty look at the house, but Mommy Perfect seemed to be nowhere in sight. She was sorely tempted simply to ask the girl outright where Lisa and Christy were living now. But, having just been refused the information by the mother, it seemed down and dirty to use the child that way. Even a P.I. had to draw a line somewhere.

    But there were other ways. ...

    “Your pageant? That sounds very exciting,” Savannah said. “When are you having it?”

    “Day after tomorrow, in the gymnasium at our school.”

    “And where do you go to school?”

    “Channel Islands Elementary.”

    “What time is the recital?”

    “It’s at two o’clock in the afternoon.”

    “May I come?”

    The girl beamed with pride at Savannah’s interest. “Sure. Anybody can come, if you pay three dollars.”

    “Thank you...and what is your name?”

    “Marilee.”

    “Thank you, Marilee. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

    “Are you really going to come?” the girl cried after her as Savannah climbed into the Camaro.

    “Sure, and thank you for the invitation,” she replied. “I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

    Savannah lay in her bed, trying to enjoy her new rose-sprinkled sheets and her latest Victoria’s Secret acquisition, an oversize, silk poet’s shirt. The ruffles spilled over her wrists and tickled the backs of her hands. The deep vee in the neckline revealed softly rounded femininity.

    Here, in her own bedroom, she had always indulged her female side...a part of herself that was often neglected in her day-to-day work. In the course of being a detective, she saw some pretty horrible aspects of society,