Nightmares Can Be Murder (A Dream Club Mystery) Read Online Free PDF Page A

hesitated, a little frown flitting across her perfect features. “Well, I guess you could say I’m in the black, but barely.”
    Barely
.
That meant she wasn’t at all, just what I’d suspected
. “So you’re just breaking even; you’re not turning a profit,” I said flatly.
    She held up a finger for silence. “Okay, here we go. I’ve finally crunched the numbers, and here’s the deal.” She gestured to a spreadsheet she’d plucked out of the printer. “If I meet all my expenses by the end of the month, I’ll have enough to pay the rent till September, or possibly October. It’s cutting it close, but I think I can do it.”
    “It sounds like you’re going to have to step up your marketing,” I said as gently as I could. The situation was worse than I’d expected. I don’t think Ali realized how dire things really were; her sunny personality seemed to protect her from some of life’s harsh realities.
    “I’d like to do more promotion. I just never seem to have the time or the budget for it. What I really need is some national attention.”
    “National attention?” That seemed like a stretch, but I didn’t want to burst her bubble.
    “Yes,” she went on in a dreamy voice. “If I could just persuade the
Daily News
or one of the major metropolitan newspapers to do a feature on me, I’d have it made. Or if I could get on
The Today Show
, that would be incredibly cool.”
    “I think it’s very hard to land those spots,” I said mildly.
    “Who knows? Maybe Matt Lauer will visit the shop and bring along a camera crew. Now that would be sweet!” Ali pumped her fist triumphantly in the air like a boxer. She smiled but then her expression turned pensive. “I’ve sent out tons of press releases, but so far, no takers. I’m not sure what the problem is. No one’s beating a path to my door. The national media seems to be ignoring me.”
    The
Daily News
.
The Today Show.
Always thinking big, that’s Allison
.
    I let my gaze wander around the shop, trying to be objective. Trying to look at it dispassionately, through an investor’s eyes. It’s a charming brick building dating back to 1895, with wide-planked wood floors, a tin ceiling, and wonderful architectural details like eight-inch crown molding and hand-carved chair rails. The candy shop and lounge area are on the first floor, along with a small kitchen and bathroom. A shaded patio area is in the back, housing a few tiny bistro tables and wrought iron chairs.
    Upstairs, there’s a cozy two-bedroom apartment that’s been completely renovated. Ali plans on eventually buying the building and using the apartment for rental income. Her goal is to buy a small house for herself, but at the moment, she and I are both living in the apartment above the shop.
    Ali told me that the building used to be a jam factory at the turn of the century, a neighborhood lending library in the fifties, and more recently, the office of a community newspaper that had folded. The upper floor needed some paint and refurbishing, which is why Allison got a very good deal on the rent.
    But would she be able to keep the place going? It seemed as though people weren’t beating down the old-timey door with the hand-painted lettering and brass fittings, clamoring for sweets. She definitely needed a gimmick, and maybe she should expand her offerings. Old-timey candy is nice, but why not add desserts and beverages?
    The patio area in the back was pleasant, and perhaps she could start serving tea and pastries? Or would that require a different sort of business license? That was something I needed to investigate right away. The shop was in a downward spiral, and only a new business model could save it.
    Who eats “retro candy” anyway?
    As far as I knew, this was Ali’s fifth career move since graduating from art school. A brief stint working for a graphic designer, a freelance marketing gig for a textile museum, an event planner for a couple of local galleries, and the proud