THE PAJAMA FRAME by Diane Vallere

Author:Diane Vallere
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: book club picks;Henery Press;cozy mystery series;women sleuths;amateur sleuths;beach reads
Publisher: Henery Press
Published: 2018-11-12T18:00:18+00:00

SIXTEEN

As soon as I saw the former detective, I stood up from my chair. It wasn’t that she instilled fear in me—quite the opposite. That was the thing about Officer Nasty. She was quite the opposite of me, my life, and everything I stood for.

Where I dressed in sweet vintage outfits that coordinated with daisy pins and colorful sneakers, Nasty dressed in tight jeans, revealing tank tops, and stiletto heels. My blonde hair was usually secured away from my face in a neat ponytail or ribbon. My bangs, and a lifelong addiction to SPF 50, made me look younger than the age on my driver’s license. But Nasty had golden skin and copper streaks through her long dark tousled hair. Even when she’d been on the force and dressed in uniform, she looked like she’d just rolled out of bed.

Some days she had. And did I mention? Some days, that bed had been Tex’s.

These days she ran Big Bro Security, a somewhat opportunistic company which exploited local crimes to generate business. Thankfully, I saw her before she saw me. It was her shadow who blew the whistle on my fade-into-the-background routine.

“Madison?” Erin said. “This is unbelievable! It’s a sign. This whole trip has been one sign after another. I’m totally going to get this part.”

Nasty whipped around and her hair flew out like the mane of a show horse. “Madison Night? What are you doing here?” She waved her hand in front of her face. “And what’s that smell?”

“I’m waiting for Captain Allen,” I said. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I realized how many different interpretations there could be, especially from her. I smiled inside, knowing I wouldn’t mind if she got the wrong idea.

“Um, Ms. Night? I think maybe that’s why Captain Allen wanted you to wait in”—he pointed down the hallway—“the other room.”

Nasty smiled. “He wanted you in Interrogation Room Two? That’s rich.”

Erin was delighted by the turn of events. She held her hands out in front of her, making mirror Ls with her index fingers and thumbs like a director framing a movie scene. “I’m just going to stand here and watch you two catch up. Pretend I’m not here. Donna, what were you saying about Madison?”

Nasty turned on Erin. Her fists balled up, and I think Officer Garcia feared for a moment Nasty might have to be restrained. “Need I remind you of our confidentiality agreement?” Nasty said to her. “If you want my help with this, you are to listen and take notes, but anything I tell you is not—I repeat, not—to be shared, or this entire arrangement is null and void.”

Erin looked taken aback for a fraction of a second and then snapped out of it and returned to her effervescent self. “Madison, this is great. I’ve been shadowing Donna for the day, and I asked her if she’d show me the police department.”

Nasty looked at Garcia. “Captain Allen knew we were coming. He’s not here?”

“He had an unexpected emergency,” Garcia said.

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