Death by Surfboard by Susie Black

Author:Susie Black [Black, Susie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Cozy Fashion Mystery;Contemporary Whodunnit;Mystery Solved by Amateur;Women sleuths ;Fashion Murder Mystery ;Sassy heroin
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

I studied Queenie from behind the rim of my wineglass. “Was your interpretation of Joan’s response to my question the same as mine?”

Queenie drummed her fingertips on the table. “Remind me. Your nana always said…?”

I grinned. “Arrogance will kill you every time.”

Queenie smiled sweetly. “Such a wise woman, your nana.”

I agreed. “The wisest.”

Queenie squared her shoulders. “My answer to your question? No one beats David Workman in the category of arrogance.”

I smiled like a shark. “Oh, but you are wrong, my Queen. Indeed, someone else does.”

Queenie’s surprised eyes widened. “Who?”

I twirled a ta-da with my hands. “Ronnie Schwartzman.”

Once one of the most powerful people in the swimwear industry, golden boy Ronnie Schwartzman did anything he wanted to and suffered no consequence. Ronnie’s cushy world disintegrated when the brash Clothing Concepts sales executive murdered a prominent, powerful swimwear buyer. Now Ronnie is a long-term guest of the state at the Graybar hotel. It’s a pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later world, but eventually, we all pay for our sins. Ronnie’s sins cost him his freedom. The buyer’s sins cost the woman her life.

Queenie clucked her tongue. “No, smartass, name someone not in prison for life.”

I said, “You’re wrong. He’s exactly the right person. Ronnie is the epitome of arrogance. And where did his get him? A permanent address at the state pen. So, tell me. Do you honestly think our boss poisoned Jack Tyne?”

Queenie tapped her index finger on the tip of her nose. “Honestly, no. I can’t see him doing the deed.”

I asked, “Why? Jack certainly gave him enough motivation.”

Queenie tsked. “David doesn’t have it in him. David’s a big bully who yells at, embarrasses, and intimidates his underlings and leaves no doubt he’s the boss. But David is a gutless wonder. He schemes and cheats and does underhanded things, but dirty his hands? Nah. Not a chance.”

I laughed. “So, I guess David isn’t one of your favorite people.”

Queenie shrugged. “It’s complicated. Ours is a love-hate relationship. He gave me my first big break in the industry, and I’ll be forever grateful. But I’ve got no illusions. He only helped me to advance his own professional goals, not mine. As long as you understand David is first, foremost, and only for David, you’ll be ok. If you’re expecting him to be someone to depend on and trust to cover your back if the going gets tough, you’re gonna be sorely disappointed.”

I joked. “So, he’s a first-class jerk, but not a killer.”

Queenie cackled. “Exactly.”

I dipped my head. “Then somebody worked awfully hard to frame him.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Who?”

I said, “Using your theory of who has the most to lose, I vote for either Harvey or Carrie.”

Queenie sputtered like a motor missing a cylinder. “H-Harvey M-Mazer? The n-nerdy n-numbers jockey whose pie charts put us to sleep?

I crossed my eyes. “Well, it’s not Harvey, the six-foot-tall rabbit.”

Queenie’s hands flew to her heart as she gasped. “You’re joking.”

I shook my head no. “No, I’m not. Why are you so surprised? Harvey has as much to lose as David, maybe even more.

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