Armchair Detective by Kelli Jae Baeli

Author:Kelli Jae Baeli [Baeli, Kelli Jae]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
ISBN: 9781434824622
Publisher: CreateSpace
Published: 2009-06-14T05:00:00+00:00

"Phoebe -- " She looked up at me as the doorbell rang. I waved her away so she could get the door. From my place by the fire I could hear faint voices, but could only identify Phoebe's. Momentarily, Phoebe came back in the room, and as I turned, I came face to face with Porsha Pemberton. I know my eyes must have looked like they were about to pop out. I couldn't even muster a greeting. "Ms. O'Brien, I'm glad I found you. Your brother told me where you were." Phoebe lifted her eyebrows in my direction. "My brother?" "Yes, he was looking for you, too. I wanted to speak to you about our little agreement." I forgot all about the brother-thing, as my heart leaped to my throat. I tried not to let Phoebe see my sudden fear. "Uh, Porsha, can I come by your office tomorrow? This really isn't a good time -- " "I want to know why you made such a hasty retreat last night. I woke -- " "Porsha! Please -- " I glanced at Phoebe, who was frowning by now. "I would prefer to speak to you in private, if -- " "Who is this?" She cut me off, giving Phoebe the once-over. "Your latest -- " "Porsha!" I interrupted her again. "This is my friend Phoebe McMasters." Porsha's face brightened. "McMasters?" She turned to Phoebe. "_The_ McMasters?" Phoebe was flustered. "I ... I suppose so -- " "I sold a good deal of real estate to your grandfather years ago, may he rest in peace." It suddenly occurred to me that Phoebe had kept her last name when she married Steve. I wondered what his was. "Oh, you're with Pemberton Properties?" "I _am_ Pemberton Properties," she stressed snootily. Phoebe was unimpressed. "I see." But she didn't see. I could see it. She wanted to know who this woman was to me. I came over and took Porsha's elbow, trying to steer her toward the foyer. "Porsha, I'll be in your office at nine sharp in the morning, and I promise, we'll work this out, okay?" "This isn't business," she said sharply, pulling her arm away from my grasp. "It's personal." "Porsha, I'm asking you to do me a favor, okay? Listen, let me get my jacket, and we'll go somewhere and talk it over." Porsha dug her feet in. "We're all adults, here. I'll say what I have to say, and then I'll be on my way." It was no use. I was twisting in the wind. "I wonder if Ms. McMasters knows where you were last night?" She turned to Phoebe. "Your little house guest, here, got me drunk with wine and then took advantage of my trusting nature." She pointed at the glass in Phoebe's hand. "And I see she's working on you, tonight." Phoebe met my eyes, and all I could do was sigh and look away. "Ms. Pemberton," Phoebe began softly, "I don't know who you think you are, but I'd like it very much if you got out of my house.

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