Duffel Bags And Drownings Read Online Free PDF Page A

matter what.
    I thanked her and headed toward the rear of the building where I’d parked my car.
     Just as I reached the receiving area, I heard someone call my name. I turned and saw
     Lourdes hurrying after me.
    “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right,” Lourdes said, after she’d caught up
     with me.
    Okay, that was nice of her—but weird, at the same time. Then I realized she had an
     ulterior motive.
    Lourdes forced a smile. “You know, Faye has worked super hard to build the business.
     Cady is artistic, but it’s Faye who makes this place run. If it weren’t for her, Cady
     would still be baking cupcakes in her kitchen and selling them to whoever. So, please,
     don’t hold this problem against Faye. Not because of Jeri, of all people. Okay?”
    “We’re good,” I said. “I’ll come back tomorrow and talk to Cady about the menu.”
    “Great,” Lourdes said, and backed away. “Thanks.”
    I left the receiving area, jumped into my Honda and headed out, intent on finding
     a Starbucks, which I desperately needed. When I circled around to the front of the
     building, Jack Bishop popped into my head as I cruised through the parking lot toward
     the exit.
    I’d seen him here when I arrived. Did he know he’d just missed a murder? That something
     huge had gone down and he’d driven away, totally oblivious?
    For a few seconds I thought about calling him, telling him the whole story—except
     maybe for the part about that totally hot Detective Grayson—and flaunting the fact
     that, for once, my life was more cutting edge than his. But I was afraid he still
     might one-up me. I was in no mood.
    I pulled out onto Ventura Boulevard, confident there had to be a Starbucks around
     here somewhere. I’d gone only a few blocks when I spotted the familiar green sign
     that always said “home” to me.
    After I placed my order at the drive-thru, I pulled out my cell phone and saw that
     I had a message from Marcie. She absolutely loved the Flirtatious handbag I’d texted
     her about earlier and had already begun our usual three-pronged search mode—Internet,
     boutiques, and chain stores—to find one for each of us.
    While I inched forward in line I called Kayla to get an update on what was going on
     at L.A. Affairs. She answered on the first ring.
    “Oh my God, Haley, where are you?” she demanded.
    I could tell immediately that she was in high-panic mode.
    Jeez, I desperately needed that frappie now.
    I eased up closer to the car in front of me.
    “Edie and Priscilla are still behind closed doors,” Kayla said.
    “Still?”
    “Still,” Kayla said.
    This was worse than I thought.
    I leaned out my window. What the heck was taking that drive-thru guy so long?
    “Eve found out that they are reviewing the caseloads of all the planners,” Kayla said.
     “All of us.”
    Oh my God, if I didn’t get my frappie soon, I might scream.
    “That means any one of us could be let go,” Kayla said.
    Maybe I should abandon my car and go up on foot.
    “They’re probably looking for reasons to fire someone,” Kayla said. “How are your
     events going? Is everything okay with them? Are there any serious problems?”
    “No, nothing,” I insisted. “I was just following up with the caterer at—”
    Oh my God.
Oh my God
.
    If anybody at L.A. Affairs learned about the murder at Cady Faye Catering today and
     there was bad publicity, I would be blamed. It had been my idea to hire them. I’d
     practically put the smack-down on Priscilla to let me use them for the Brannocks’
     St. Patrick’s Day bash.
    This could totally impact my probation period with L.A. Affairs. It could even get
     me fired, since Edie and Priscilla were in a management huddle and seemed anxious
     to cut someone loose.
    Then another even worse thought hit me.
    Oh crap.
    What if things got totally out of control? L.A. Affairs’ reputation could be ruined—everybody
     would lose their job if the company went under. Cady Faye’s rep