OMG! That must be Kassandra’s old address, the one she never changed with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Now I paid attention.
Miss Fortune had planned on spending the night at Kassandra’s place, except Kassandra was a no show at the séance. Enter Bill Smith, by then homeless and living in the camper. He offered to drive the psychic to Kassandra’s home, he said. In reality he intended to rob both women. Miss Fortune tried to call Kassandra, but had no luck. And since she didn’t know Kassandra had moved, she gave Smith the address listed on the séance roster. Smith claimed that by the time they arrived at the Scottsdale site and realized there was no Kassandra, he got upset and argued with Miss Fortune. She stumbled and fell, hitting her head.
After loading the body into his camper, he drove west on Indian School Road and got the idea of discarding the dead woman in the canal that runs along the street. He had Kassandra’s bra in the camper and tightened it around Miss Fortune’s neck in hopes the authorities would suspect Kassandra. Well, he got that right. But why hurt Kassandra?
Apparently, Smith had kept Miss Fortune’s phone. The detectives found it and discovered several calls she’d made to Kassandra. Two of them were after she had accepted the ride from Smith. He had no idea Miss Fortune never reached Kassandra. Instead, he must have thought she would be the only one who could rat him out, telling the detectives that the victim had been in his truck when she called.
I could only imagine how giddy he felt when he spotted Kassandra’s Kia, only to find me in the driver’s seat. It wasn’t hard for him to figure out that we worked together. He put two and two together after our second unfortunate encounter, when he ran into J.S. and her van from R.E. Assist, and saw me with the For Sale sign with Desert Homes Real Estate. I wondered how long he had been casing the office to find Kassandra alone at closing time.
Enough sadness for one day. I turned off the television, got some water and my evening pill. My phone chimed. Yes, it was back to life, back to business, sort of.
“Hello.” No answer, I didn’t recognize the number. “Who the hell is this?” My frustration was back as if it had never left me.
“Fiat,” he said, followed by a soft chuckle. “I was about to ask how you feel. But I can tell you’re in top form.”
Tristan? Be still my heart.
“I... I... am okay.” Breathe Monica, breathe. “You’re not mad at me?”
Long pause. “How can I be mad at you? I’m gone for two days and you make the news. Tried calling your cell.” He paused.
It was coming back to me now, why I was so angry. Because the most important person in my life didn’t visit me at the hospital. “Where are you?”
“Airport, waiting to board my flight home. I’m glad to know you’re okay. Maybe I’ll see you when I get back?”
“Okay, yes. Yes.” I hung up. Why? Because he was still a married man. And I was scared, of my own feelings. Perhaps Brenda was right. It was time for me to ask the questions if I wanted to know the answers.
As soon as he returned to town and I could safely drive myself around. Like Scarlett O’Hara said, “After all, tomorrow is another day.”
I stretched out on the bed, rested my head on the pillow. My eyelids felt heavy; must be the pill.
I dreamed of Tristan and his Appaloosa, riding into the sunset.
~~~~~~~~~~~
More books by Maria Grazia Swan
Baker Girl’s Cozy Mystery series
Cooks, Crooks and a Corpse #1
Food, Fools and a Dead Physic #2
Coming Soon! Wine, Dine and Christmas Crimes #3
Lella York series
Gemini Moon #1
Venetian Moon #2
Desert Moon #3
Mina’s Adventure series:
Love Thy Sister #1
Bosom Bodies #2
Italian Summer #3
Ashes of Autumn #4
A Cat to Die For #5
Best in Show #6
Sniffing Out Murder #7
About the Author
Award-winning author Maria Grazia Swan was born in Italy. She’s lived in Belgium, France, Germany, Southern California and Arizona—all juicy places that fuel her stories and characters. She won her first literary award, in Belgium, when she was fourteen. As a young woman Maria Grazia designed haute couture clothes in Italy, and then she took the leap and moved to America where she raised her family.
These days, Maria Grazia volunteers at the animal shelter seeking the perfect family for homeless pets. Her deepest passions? Writing and being the matchmaker for people and pets who are waiting to find each other.
Maria loves travel, opera, good books, hiking, and intelligent movies. Her idea of a perfect evening? Stimulating conversation, Northern Italian food, and chilled Prosecco.
She loves to hear from her readers! Feel free to contact her through her website: www.mariagraziaswan.com
