Pinnipeds and Poachers: A paranormal cozy mystery by Aggie Parris

Author:Aggie Parris [Parris, Aggie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maxwell Landing Press
Published: 2023-11-07T00:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

Carly paid the driver of the open-air taxi, peeved when the driver held his hand out for a tip. She peeled off a couple more dollars and she and Yvonne stepped down out in front of the bazaar. Carly’s mouth dropped open as she beheld dozens of permanent kiosks alongside temporary ones and full open-sided stores. There were kiosks selling native art, tee shirts, sunglasses, umbrellas, hats, sandals, and everything one could possibly need or want in the Bahamas. She had no idea how long she stood there before Yvonne took her elbow and guided her into the maze.

The bazaar was full of tourists enjoying an autumn vacation in the islands. Carly was stunned by all the bright colors alongside the pastels, especially the clothes. There was every kind of vacation wear imaginable; shorts, tops, swimwear, dresses, sarongs, even pantsuits. Carly stopped in front of an aqua pantsuit consisting of loose muslin drawstring pants and a short-sleeved button-up muslin tunic top. She fingered the fabric and wanted it. She checked the price and her eyebrows shot up.

Yvonne saw her astonishment and pulled her away. “No, cher. If you want that little number, I know a place for a quarter of the price.” Carly nodded and let herself be pulled away. They walked slowly, looking over the wares and watching the people. Yvonne paused by a kiosk peddling jewelry and stroked some of the bracelets.

“Hey, baby,” a deep woman’s voice called out. Carly turned to see a plump middle-aged woman with dusky brown skin and two gold teeth motioning to her. “Come here, baby. Let me braid your hair.” The woman had her own hair tied up in a scarf and wore a flowered skirt with a bikini top barely holding up her large breasts.

Carly looked around to see about half of the tourist women sporting long thin braids ending in multi-colored beads. She smiled and shook her head at the woman.

“Come, baby,” she insisted. “I make you look good. Your man will like it, hey? Come, let me braid your hair, baby.”

Carly shook her head again. “No, thanks.”

“Only one dollar a braid, baby.” The woman took a step forward raising her hand as if to grab her. “You rich American. You can afford it, baby.”

Yvonne looked up and scowled. “Back up, Grizelda. This is my friend.”

“Ho! Friend you say?” Grizelda showed her teeth. “I give her better price than you, Yvonne Caress Juarez. Let American choose.”

“Come,” Yvonne said to Carly. “We’ll go get lunch.” She pulled Carly away from the other woman.

“You be sorry, Yvonne,” Grizelda growled. “Soon I be strong enough to take you out, then we’ll see what’s what!”

“You want to stay away from that one,” Yvonne hissed in Carly’s ear when they were far enough away. “That’s Mama Grizelda Romano. She is bad juju woman.”

“What did she want with me?” Carly asked.

Yvonne shrugged. “Money first. She would braid your hair into probably two hundred braids. At a dollar apiece, you do the math.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.”

“It’s average. Braiding hair is big business here in the islands.

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