Gypped Read Online Free PDF Page B

houses?”
    “No, ma’am, no houses. You’re right about the woods. There’s a hiking trail just past the dead end. It’s a nice one. But people don’t really start their hikes there because the town has strict rules about parking on this street. We’ve got a permit for tonight.”
    “I see,” Regan said, accepting the claim check. “Thanks.”
    “You bet.”
    As Regan followed the path that led to the front door, the valet drove her car down the driveway and turned left, then seemed to disappear. The woods beyond the lawn were thick and dark, blocking any view of the road.
    Bright outside lights on the house illuminated the wild lawn and bushes. This place is certainly interesting, Regan thought. It’s obviously been here for years. And looks like it hasn’t changed much. I wonder what the parties in this house were like when it was first built. Was it a Hollywood scene? Now it looks as if it’s inhabited by ghosts.
    She rang the bell.
    A moment later Zelda opened a large, creaky front door. “Regan!”
    “Zelda, great to see you.”
    “Come on in!”
    “Well, don’t you look like quite the hostess,” Regan noted as she stepped inside and pointed to Zelda’s floor-length black skirt, and low-cut red top. Zelda’s hair was pulled up, decorated with rhinestone hairpins. “You’re so festive.”
    “Thanks. And you look fantastic. I’m so glad you’re here. Take off your coat. I want you to meet a couple from my old building before it gets too crowded.”
    A young woman appeared and took Regan’s jacket. Regan smiled, then followed Zelda into the living room. The lights were low; candles were glowing. Soft music was playing on a stereo. Two men were sipping drinks, staring up at a portrait of a flapper.
    “Curtis, Blair, say hello to my friend Regan Reilly.”
    The men turned and greeted her. Curtis was tall with a short light brown beard and an earring in his left ear. Bald, and a bitrounder, Blair was of average height. They were both wearing jackets and well pressed designer jeans.
    “Nice to meet you,” Regan said.
    “Regan and I were on a game show together, years ago,” Zelda said excitedly. “I can’t believe I ran into her today after all these years!”
    “A game show?” Curtis asked incredulously. “Stop it!”
    “Yes!” Zelda answered. “Can you believe it? Regan and I bonded during a very stressful situation.”
    “Stressful?” Curtis gathered peanuts from a bowl on a side table and started to laugh.
    “Of course it was stressful!” Zelda protested. “Who wants to make an idiot out of herself on national television?”
    “Honey, that’s why I’d never go on Jeopardy . Never!” Curtis insisted. “With my luck all the categories would be about football.”
    Blair affectionately put his hand on Curtis’s shoulder. He shook his head and guffawed. “Can you imagine?”
    Regan laughed. “Well Zelda and I didn’t do so well on Puzzling Words .”
    “Zelda’s payday was in her own backyard,” Blair remarked playfully, rolling his eyes. “We have an apartment on the floor above where Zelda lived when she struck it rich.” He turned to Curtis. “I knew we should have gotten the apartment downstairs. But would I have done something nice for that cranky old lady? Probably not.”
    “Hey, hey, hey,” Zelda said with a smile. “She was misunderstood.”
    “Join the club,” Blair retorted.
    Zelda turned to Regan. “These guys moved into my building a couple years after we were on that show.”
    “Here comes another neighbor,” Curtis pronounced.
    “Norman, come over and meet my friend Regan.”
    They were introduced, and Zelda filled Regan in on Norman’s background. “We’re friends and now he’s working for me. He’s staying here with me this week. It’s fun to share this crazy place.”
    “If you think we’re kicking ourselves about the money,” Blair said wickedly, “Norman is never going to get over it. He lived two doors down from Mrs.