Squirrel & Swan Stolen Things by M. D. Archer

Author:M. D. Archer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, female sleuthes, psychology, best friends, new zealand, female detectives, humor
Publisher: SWARM Publishing
Published: 2020-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

13

A cacophonous medley erupted from the kitchen, concluded by a very thorough-sounding smash.

Sophie, applying mascara in her bedroom mirror, paused. What was Victoria doing? She’d made an incredible racket coming home an hour ago, gone straight into her bedroom with ear-shattering slam of the door, and now this. With another crash, Sophie rolled her eyes and went out to investigate. Along the way she collected Myra in her wake, obviously also curious about the noise.

Victoria stood in the kitchen, her shoulders rising and falling with laboured breathing. On the floor was evidence of not one but two broken wine glasses and a shattered plate.

“It’s therapeutic to smash things,” Victoria said. “I read an article.”

“But you’re breaking my wine glasses,” Sophie said, lurching forward to assess the damage. “Inside the house. Look at this mess.”

Victoria narrowed her eyes, seemed to be about to say something, then blew out an angry gust. “They’re not yours.”

“They were a Christmas present.” Sophie looked from the shards of glass to Victoria. “What’s going on?”

She scowled. “Everything is ruined.”

Myra stepped out from behind Sophie. “Are you okay?” she asked bravely.

“No. What do you care. What do you want?” Victoria hissed.

“I just—”

“God, you’re so annoying,” Victoria said, throwing her hands up.

Myra’s eyes widened. “P-Pardon?”

“Hey, Myra didn’t do anything,” Sophie said.

“Ugh! I can’t stand you. It’s relentless,” Victoria fumed, whirling around to turn on Sophie. “You’re even worse. All this is your fault anyway.”

“What are you—”

“Leave me alone.” Victoria stalked out of the kitchen.

Sophie turned to Myra whose lower lip was trembling.

“What did I do?”

“She’s just in a mood, I think,” Sophie tried to assure her. “You know her.” She attempted a weak smile, but Myra’s eyes were already filling with tears.

“Hey, what are you doing tonight?” Sophie said brightly. She couldn’t leave poor Myra alone in the house with Victoria when she was being this awful. “Do you want to come to a barbeque at Paige’s house?”

Myra looked up and nodded quickly. “Yes, please.”

“Okay, we’ll go in about an hour, okay?”

Myra’s eyes dropped down the length of Sophie, taking in what she was wearing, then she scuttled down the hall to her room. Sophie watched her go, praying she wouldn’t choose an outfit exactly the same as her own—a printed summer maxi dress with pencil straps, and denim jacket.

Sophie retrieved the dustpan and brush from the cupboard and cleaned up the glass. Moments after she’d finished, there was a knock at the door. When Sophie opened it, there stood Hannah.

“Oh. Hi.”

Hannah’s face and hair were expertly done—her hair an artfully messy topknot with her heavy eyelashes somehow complementing her glowing, fresh-looking skin and nude-coloured lipstick—and she was wearing Activewear. The whole thing totally worked as a lewk. And even though Hannah was wearing Lycra, Sophie felt underdressed.

Hannah held up a bottle of white wine. “Can I come in? I want to talk.”

“Um.”

Sophie had over an hour before Paige would even begin to consider her ‘late’. And if Sophie was honest with herself, she wanted to hear what Hannah had to say.

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