Murder of a Botoxed Blonde Read Online Free PDF Page B

But these women seemed to think their rights superseded Trixie’s rights, and Skye wasn’t about to put up with that. She was sick of people who thought freedom of speech meant freedom to harass anyone who didn’t think the same way they did.
    She took Trixie’s arm and attempted to walk around the women, but the protestors formed a line, blocking the spa’s entrance. They were at a standoff when another car drove into sight. Squinting into the sunlight, Skye frowned and dropped Trixie’s arm. The approaching white Oldsmobile looked mighty familiar.
    Trixie took one look at Skye’s face, muttered something about getting their purses, and hightailed it back to the Civic.
    Skye barely noticed her friend’s defection as the Oldsmobile’s driver got out, flung up her arms, and yelled, “Surprise!”

CHAPTER 3

Chewing the Low Fat
    “ W hat are
you
doing here?” Skye asked.
    Before she answered, Skye’s mother reached up and tucked a stray curl behind Skye’s ear, pulled Skye’s sweater down, and brushed a streak of dust off her jeans. May’s own short salt-and-pepper hair never had a strand out of place, and her crisp twill pants and matching jacket looked as if they had just left the ironing board. “When Trixie mentioned you two were coming to the spa for Thanksgiving,” May said, “we decided it was the perfect chance to surprise you with one of those girls only weekends they’re always talking about on the TV.”
    Skye stowed away for later examination the fact that her mom and best friend had schemed together behind her back, and asked, “What about Thanksgiving dinner?” May had hosted the relatives from both sides of the family for as long as Skye could remember.
    “Aunt Kitty agreed to have it this year. I sent our regrets.”
    “But there’s no reason to miss it. We’re nearly as close here as we are at home. Besides, I already invited Wally.”
    “So he said.” May was a dispatcher for the Scumble River Police Department, and Wally was the chief of police. “That’s another reason I decided this was a good year for you to skip. That way, next year, when you’re back together with Simon, it’ll be less awkward.” May didn’t approve ofSkye dating Wally, who was older, divorced, and not Catholic.
    “Mother!” Emerald green eyes that matched May’s own blazed. “I
am
going to the family Thanksgiving dinner. I
am
bringing Wally. I am
not
getting back together with Simon.” Skye gritted her teeth. Why couldn’t May understand? The last time she’d seen Simon was nearly two months ago, when his mother and hers had locked them together in the bowling alley basement in an attempt to force them to make up. He had refused to explain how he “forgot” to mention that the college friend he was staying with on his trip to California was a woman; and Skye had refused to trust him without an explanation. Now Skye shook her finger at her mother and snarled, “Simon is out of my life. Deal with it.”
    Another vehicle pulled into the driveway, saving May from responding. This one was a Mercedes with a license plate that read crmpays . May grabbed Skye’s arm and dragged her over to the Benz.
    A six-foot-tall, well-toned woman with smooth mahogany skin and black hair worn in a coronet of braids got out of the driver’s seat. May hugged her, and said to Skye, “I asked Loretta to join us. Since she and Vince are dating, I want to get to know her better.”
    Loretta gave Skye a hug and kiss, and said in a droll tone, “Surprise.”
    Loretta Steiner was Skye’s sorority sister, sometimes attorney, and possibly her future sister-in-law, although Skye wasn’t holding her breath about that since her brother Vince had a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” reputation. Skye would need to get Loretta alone to hear how May had convinced her to attend this little party.
    Before Skye could begin to worry about who else might show up for the weekend, an old red Camaro roared down the lane and stopped with