In Deep Voodoo by Stephanie Bond

Author:Stephanie Bond [Stephanie Bond]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780060820572
Google: fnNoOYyjKDQC
Amazon: 0060820578
Publisher: Avon
Published: 2005-09-26T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

Blood makes a nice colorant...

"It could have been an innocent phone call," Penny admitted as they climbed into B.J.'s smelly car. "It would make sense that Mona would be calling Deke's office and keeping tabs on me... if I was the 'her' Steve mentioned he'd be keeping an eye out for."

B.J. grunted. "Steve Chasen didn't seem to be that torn up about losing his boss... or his job."

"I noticed."

"Would he stand to gain anything from your ex's death?"

She lifted her shoulder in a slow shrug. "Not that I know of. He didn't have ownership in the practice, and he's not an attorney, so it's not as if he can take over Deke's clients."

"Is that BMW his?" he asked, pointing to the gleaming white car parked nearby.

"Yeah."

"Pretty snazzy ride on a paralegal salary." B.J. put his own not-so-snazzy car in gear. "Okay, let's see if we can find Diane Davidson."

Penny called directory assistance, but the number and address were unlisted. "I think we have it at the shop," she said, then dialed. After several rings, Marie answered breathlessly.

"Charm Farm, this is Marie."

"Marie, it's Penny."

"Penny! Thank goodness it's you," Marie whispered. "People have been coming in all morning and leaving voodoo dolls. We have trash bags full! And some detective has been tromping around in the garden, and now he's asking questions."

Penny swallowed hard. "Is his name Maynard?"

"Yeah, that's it," Marie said.

"What kinds of questions?"

"About the garden, about the party, about the voodoo doll. He's talking to Guy now."

"Don't worry," Penny said on an exhale. "Just be truthful."

Marie made a fretting noise. "I don't want to get you into trouble."

Panic darted through Penny's chest. How much had she complained to Marie about Deke? Had she said things that could be misconstrued? "Just be honest," she said carefully. "Marie, you know I didn't kill Deke."

Marie's silence wasn't comforting.

"Marie? Don't you?"

"Well, of course... but I'd understand if... I mean, I'm not saying you would, but if I were in your shoes, I might."

Heat flooded Penny's chest and face. Good grief, if even Marie thought she'd killed Deke, she was sunk. She turned toward the window, angling her body away from B.J. and lowering her voice. "I didn't kill him, Marie, you have to know that."

"Okay," Marie breathed. "Should I tell him about my friend Melissa and Deke?"

"Yes," Penny said. "Absolutely. As soon as we hang up."

"Okay. The detective is looking at me, so I'd better go."

"I need for you to look up a customer address first."

"Let me step behind the counter." The computer keyboard clicked. "Okay, who?"

"Diane Davidson."

"Okaaaay." Marie's curiosity was practically burning up the phone line, but to her credit, she didn't ask questions. Marie rattled off the address, and Penny jotted it down. Then she gave Marie her new cell phone number. "Call me if... you think you need to." She disconnected the call, then shifted uncomfortably in the seat and handed the address to B.J., directing him where to turn.

B.J. cleared his throat. "Maynard is interrogating your employees?"

"It would seem so.

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