Death of a Domestic Diva Read Online Free PDF Page A

pen and started writing. “Really. So I’ll be citing you for speeding—violation of code 618.62.” He flipped to the next sheet. “And reckless driving. Code 901.93.”
    I whimpered.
    â€œFailing to stop for an officer in pursuit. Code 110.61.”
    Now, that one irritated me. “I couldn’t stop because I was flying through the air.”
    He stuck his head into my car, glared at my dash. “Plus you still haven’t gotten the speedometer fixed since the last time I caught you for speeding, have you?”
    â€œIt’s only been a week,” I said, “And I’ve been real busy—”
    â€œWith this?” He snatched the envelope from my hand. “You planning on driving it up this morning to New York yourself?”
    I snatched my envelope back from him. “It’s a violation to take private property from a citizen without a search warrant,” I said. “And that’s not just a county code.”
    Chief Worthy’s smile disappeared, along with his lips, which he sucked right back into that thin line of mouth.
    â€œJosie Toadfern, I won’t write you up on all those violations, if you’ll just listen to me. Give up on this nonsense about getting on the Tyra Grimes Home Show!’
    For a second there, I thought he was going to predict a dire outcome if I persisted, like Lewis Rothchild had done.
    But instead he added, “I was up in Masonville yesterday on business and word’s already spread up there. They were all laughing about your plan up at the sheriff’s department. You’ve got to give this up—this crazy dream of yours isn’t going to come true anyway.” Then he grinned. “You just can’t resist thinking you can make things go your way, can you—Nosy Josie?”
    Now, I’ve got to take a break here to explain a few things.
    Back in high school, I was president of the Reading Club and worked on the school newspaper. I got a reputation for being nosy because I was ruthless about following up on any story I thought might interest more than two people.
    For example . . . young John Worthy, second-string quarterback for Mason County High School South, suddenly in a starring role? That was a great story, I’d thought. Just what did him dating the coach’s daughter have to do with that change? And, I thought, let’s get opinions from all the kids who knew John pretty well . . . especially John’s exgirlfriend. Which was . . . me.
    Yes, that story made for a sold-out issue of our little high school newspaper. It also got me thrown off the newspaper, because the advisor was the coach’s cousin. Then John got back at me by telling everyone something that was totally untrue—that I liked working in the laundromat with Uncle Horace and Aunt Clara because of all the secrets I could learn from other people’s laundry.
    Well, actually, that’s only partially untrue. I did (and do) like working in the laundromat. And you can learn a lot of secrets—or at least, pick up some mighty interesting clues—from other people’s laundry. Lipstick on a collar is just the beginning, believe me.
    Still, I’m not a gossip or rumormonger—unlike most of my fellow Paradisites. So it hurt when John started a rumor that I am, and gave me the nickname Nosy Josie. Not a fun taunt for a teenage girl. For a while there, that nickname even hurt my aunt and uncle’s business. Fortunately, even though the nickname’s stuck, everyone knows they can trust me not to gossip—which is why Paradisites tell me all kinds of things about themselves and each other. I admit I’m glad, because I have a deep and abiding curiosity in human affairs of all kinds. Which kind of does make me a nosy Josie, I guess. But I still hate that nickname.
    Now, I looked at Chief Worthy and said, through gritted teeth, “I will get Tyra Grimes to come here. You’ll see.”
    Chief