Double Booked for Death (18 page)
Read Double Booked for Death Online
Authors: Ali Brandon
Maybe it was simply the figurative bad taste that Marnie’s original, caps-filled letter had left in Darla’s mouth that made her want to speak her piece to the woman.
By the time she reached the sidewalk, the two teens who Marnie had been lecturing had escaped.
The woman had buttonholed another victim, however: this one, a boy who looked no more than fourteen.
As Darla drew closer, she could see that despite his somewhat threatening appearance—lots of black leather, black denim, and various bits of chain and metal, including what adorned his ears and nose—he appeared on the verge of tears as he listened to her spiel.
The woman had buttonholed another victim, however: this one, a boy who looked no more than fourteen.
As Darla drew closer, she could see that despite his somewhat threatening appearance—lots of black leather, black denim, and various bits of chain and metal, including what adorned his ears and nose—he appeared on the verge of tears as he listened to her spiel.
“Now, you do know that the Lord Jesus Christ smites those who read Valerie Baylor’s books instead of his word,” Darla overheard her declare.
“Much as I hate speaking ill of the dead, I must tell you that she is already suffering the agonies of hellfire for polluting young minds with her blasphemous writings.
If you don’t want to join her in Satan’s domain when you die, you must reject her teachings and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Do you understand me, son?”
“Much as I hate speaking ill of the dead, I must tell you that she is already suffering the agonies of hellfire for polluting young minds with her blasphemous writings.
If you don’t want to join her in Satan’s domain when you die, you must reject her teachings and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Do you understand me, son?”
Her soft, twangy accent somehow made the callous words seem even harsher.
The boy was attempting to back away from her, but he’d maneuvered himself up against a stoop, leaving him no choice but to stand there.
For, despite the fact he’d been polluted with blasphemy, he also appeared too polite to simply push past Marnie and make his escape that way.
The boy was attempting to back away from her, but he’d maneuvered himself up against a stoop, leaving him no choice but to stand there.
For, despite the fact he’d been polluted with blasphemy, he also appeared too polite to simply push past Marnie and make his escape that way.
Darla’s redhead temper—the one she kept in check ninety-nine percent of the time—flared to volcanic life.
If there was one thing she despised, it was a bully .
.
.
male or female.
If there was one thing she despised, it was a bully .
.
.
male or female.
“Back off, Marnie,” she said in a stern voice as she approached.
To the youth, she went on in a kinder tone, “It’s all right, I’ll take care of her.”
To the youth, she went on in a kinder tone, “It’s all right, I’ll take care of her.”
With a grateful nod, the boy skittered past them and ran down the street, chains jangling.
Marnie, meanwhile, whipped about to face Darla.
Marnie, meanwhile, whipped about to face Darla.
“How dare you interrupt me in doing the Lord’s work?”
she demanded, outrage tingeing her cheeks and lips scarlet, so that she looked like she’d dipped into Mavis’s makeup kit.
Wide blue eyes narrowing, she leaned closer.
“I was opening that boy’s mind to the truth.
Why, look at this,” she cried with a gesture toward the flowered tribute.
“They might as well be worshipping at the feet of a golden calf!”
she demanded, outrage tingeing her cheeks and lips scarlet, so that she looked like she’d dipped into Mavis’s makeup kit.
Wide blue eyes narrowing, she leaned closer.
“I was opening that boy’s mind to the truth.
Why, look at this,” she cried with a gesture toward the flowered tribute.
“They might as well be worshipping at the feet of a golden calf!”
She had a point, Darla thought with an inner snort as she surveyed the burgeoning mound of flowers; still, that didn’t excuse the woman’s outrageous behavior.
Striving for a bit of calm, she went on, “I know you and your church don’t approve of Valerie Baylor’s books, but that doesn’t give you the right to censor what other people read.
And you certainly have no right to bully minor children into submission.
Why, I bet you’ve never even read one of her books.”
Striving for a bit of calm, she went on, “I know you and your church don’t approve of Valerie Baylor’s books, but that doesn’t give you the right to censor what other people read.
And you certainly have no right to bully minor children into submission.
Why, I bet you’ve never even read one of her books.”
“Certainly not!
Do you think I would pollute my own mind like that?
And as for your vile accusations”—Marnie gave her a chill look, shaking her handful of tracts in Darla’s direction as if they had the power to ward off evil—“I’m not censoring and bullying anyone.
I’m merely encouraging people—especially young people—to reject the Devil’s lies and live a righteous life.
And I won’t beg your forgiveness for my actions.”
Do you think I would pollute my own mind like that?
And as for your vile accusations”—Marnie gave her a chill look, shaking her handful of tracts in Darla’s direction as if they had the power to ward off evil—“I’m not censoring and bullying anyone.
I’m merely encouraging people—especially young people—to reject the Devil’s lies and live a righteous life.
And I won’t beg your forgiveness for my actions.”
“It’s not my forgiveness you need,” Darla snapped, losing her grip on her temper again.
“It’s Valerie Baylor’s grieving family you’d better be begging forgiveness from.”
“It’s Valerie Baylor’s grieving family you’d better be begging forgiveness from.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Darla regretted them, for Marnie’s flawless face crumpled, and her lips began to quaver.
“Don’t you know that’s all I think about, gaining their forgiveness ?”
she softly wailed, tears welling in those blue eyes.
“Why, everywhere I look, all I see is that poor woman leaping out in front of the van, and there’s nothing I can do to keep from hitting her.
And I have to live with that for the rest of my life, Darla.”
she softly wailed, tears welling in those blue eyes.
“Why, everywhere I look, all I see is that poor woman leaping out in front of the van, and there’s nothing I can do to keep from hitting her.
And I have to live with that for the rest of my life, Darla.”
She was weeping outright now as she went on, “Our Lord said to hate the sin and love the sinner, and so I did love Valerie Baylor.
And that’s why even though the police said it wasn’t my fault, it pains me beyond belief to know that I’m the one who sent her to hell before she had a chance to find salvation in him.”
And that’s why even though the police said it wasn’t my fault, it pains me beyond belief to know that I’m the one who sent her to hell before she had a chance to find salvation in him.”
Darla, who had begun to feel lower than worm poop for making Marnie cry, raised her brows at this last declaration.
There was no winning with this woman .
.
.
not now, not ever.
There was no winning with this woman .
.
.
not now, not ever.
“Look, Marnie,” she said with a sigh, “this has been an awful few days, and your being here on the street isn’t doing anyone any good.
The signing was a flop, and Valerie Baylor is dead, so mission accomplished.
Why don’t you and the rest of the congregation go back home to Dallas and find another cause?”
The signing was a flop, and Valerie Baylor is dead, so mission accomplished.
Why don’t you and the rest of the congregation go back home to Dallas and find another cause?”
Marnie sniffled delicately into a handkerchief that she’d pulled from the sleeve of her jacket.
“I would be happy as a clam to leave this Sodom,” she declared in a wavering if defi – ant tone, “but unfortunately, we can’t right now.
The van needs repairs before we can drive it again.
My fellow congregants and I will have to wait until the church can raise the cash and wire it to us.”
“I would be happy as a clam to leave this Sodom,” she declared in a wavering if defi – ant tone, “but unfortunately, we can’t right now.
The van needs repairs before we can drive it again.
My fellow congregants and I will have to wait until the church can raise the cash and wire it to us.”
“Just how much money do you need?”
“The repair shop said a thousand dollars should cover it,” Marnie replied, still snuffling, “but it might as well be a million dollars.
I fear we are doomed to remain here a long while.”
I fear we are doomed to remain here a long while.”
Darla sighed more deeply this time, mentally weighing guilt and peace of mind against Christian charity and principle.
Before she could stop herself, she heard herself saying, “I can lend you the money, Marnie, and you can repay me whenever your church raises the funds.
I just need your promise that you’ll stay away from the store and these kids, and go back to Dallas as soon as your van is roadworthy.”
Before she could stop herself, she heard herself saying, “I can lend you the money, Marnie, and you can repay me whenever your church raises the funds.
I just need your promise that you’ll stay away from the store and these kids, and go back to Dallas as soon as your van is roadworthy.”
“Do you really mean that?
You’d lend us the money?”
Marnie looked up from her handkerchief, eyes wide.
“Why, you don’t really even know me from Adam, and yet you’d do that for me, Darla .
.
.
especially, after all that’s happened?”
You’d lend us the money?”
Marnie looked up from her handkerchief, eyes wide.
“Why, you don’t really even know me from Adam, and yet you’d do that for me, Darla .
.
.
especially, after all that’s happened?”
At her reluctant nod, the woman smiled brightly and flung her arms about Darla in an enthusiastic hug.
“You literally are the answer to my prayers,” she cried.
“I spent most of last night on my knees asking the Lord to intercede.
And here you are.”
“You literally are the answer to my prayers,” she cried.
“I spent most of last night on my knees asking the Lord to intercede.
And here you are.”
“Yes, here I am,” Darla agreed as she awkwardly disentangled herself from the woman’s grasp and took a step back.
Managing a smile in return, she added, “Just call me the First Bank and Trust of Darla.”
Managing a smile in return, she added, “Just call me the First Bank and Trust of Darla.”
Already, she was beginning to regret this impulse.
For the moment, however, bankrolling a get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge fund for Marnie seemed the lesser of any evils that might befall the greater Brooklyn area should the church group keep hanging around town.
Thanks to various of Great-Aunt Dee’s smaller bank accounts that Darla had inherited, she could spare the money.
And if the church didn’t repay her, well, she’d make Marnie send her a receipt and call it a charitable deduction.
For the moment, however, bankrolling a get-the-hell-out-of-Dodge fund for Marnie seemed the lesser of any evils that might befall the greater Brooklyn area should the church group keep hanging around town.
Thanks to various of Great-Aunt Dee’s smaller bank accounts that Darla had inherited, she could spare the money.
And if the church didn’t repay her, well, she’d make Marnie send her a receipt and call it a charitable deduction.
Aloud, however, she simply said, “Wait right here, and I’ll be back in a minute with a check.”
FIFTEEN
WITH THE MARNIE SITUATION SETTLED—OR SO DARLA hoped!—she spent the next hour or so returning the displaced books to their proper places.
Of course, being the avid reader that she was, she couldn’t resist flipping through a few of her favorite novels, stopping outright more than once to sit cross-legged on the floor to read a chapter or two.
Only when she found herself weeping for probably the hundredth time over Beth’s death scene in the battered copy of
Little Women
that her grandmother had given her as a child did she take herself firmly in hand.
She was due back downstairs at Jake’s for pizza at six o’clock, which was fast approaching.
Of course, being the avid reader that she was, she couldn’t resist flipping through a few of her favorite novels, stopping outright more than once to sit cross-legged on the floor to read a chapter or two.
Only when she found herself weeping for probably the hundredth time over Beth’s death scene in the battered copy of
Little Women
that her grandmother had given her as a child did she take herself firmly in hand.
She was due back downstairs at Jake’s for pizza at six o’clock, which was fast approaching.
She finished with the books and spent the rest of the time doing weekend household chores.
Once, she gave way to morbid curiosity and flipped on the cable news station to see if there were any updates on Valerie Baylor’s death.
A brief segment regurgitated that morning’s broadcast and included the news that no charges were being filed against the Lord’s Blessing Church or its driver, Marnie Jennings.
Once, she gave way to morbid curiosity and flipped on the cable news station to see if there were any updates on Valerie Baylor’s death.
A brief segment regurgitated that morning’s broadcast and included the news that no charges were being filed against the Lord’s Blessing Church or its driver, Marnie Jennings.
The newscaster also mentioned that private services would be held this coming Thursday.
Remembering Hillary Gables’s promise to try to finagle an invite for her to the exclusive service, Darla made a mental note to check with the agent the next morning.
Remembering Hillary Gables’s promise to try to finagle an invite for her to the exclusive service, Darla made a mental note to check with the agent the next morning.
When six o’clock rolled around, she left Hamlet with his kibble and headed downstairs.
Jake greeted her at the door, wiping a smear of tomato sauce from her chin as she ushered Darla inside.
Jake greeted her at the door, wiping a smear of tomato sauce from her chin as she ushered Darla inside.
“Sorry, snacking on some breadsticks and marina.
And watch out, Reese went a bit overboard on the food,” Jake explained, gesturing her to take a seat.
And watch out, Reese went a bit overboard on the food,” Jake explained, gesturing her to take a seat.
Overboard was an understatement, Darla thought with a grin.
In addition to the aforementioned breadsticks, the table held an immense sausage and black olive pizza (a couple of slices already missing), a heaping plate of wings, a six-pack of imported beer (also missing a couple), and a salad—that last presumably to counteract the calorie-fest that was the rest of the meal.
In addition to the aforementioned breadsticks, the table held an immense sausage and black olive pizza (a couple of slices already missing), a heaping plate of wings, a six-pack of imported beer (also missing a couple), and a salad—that last presumably to counteract the calorie-fest that was the rest of the meal.
Reese sat in one of the matching chrome chairs doing the Henry the Eighth routine, a wing in one hand and a slice of pizza in the other.
She’d caught him in midchew, so he limited himself to a nod as Darla plopped into one of the other chairs.
She’d caught him in midchew, so he limited himself to a nod as Darla plopped into one of the other chairs.
“Better hurry if you want anything, kid,” Jake warned, serving herself salad and then passing the bowl to Darla.
“A couple more minutes, and Reese will finish everything that’s not nailed down.”
“A couple more minutes, and Reese will finish everything that’s not nailed down.”
“Yeah, you know, but at least I’ll work it off in the gym tonight,” he defended himself in a muffled voice as he swallowed.
Giving her an evil grin, he added, “Which is more than I can say for some people.
I think you’ve packed on a couple of extra pounds since I last saw—”
Giving her an evil grin, he added, “Which is more than I can say for some people.
I think you’ve packed on a couple of extra pounds since I last saw—”
His comment was cut short as the remainder of Jake’s breadstick flew across the table to bounce off his forehead.
But her tone was amiable as she said, “That’s right, pick on the crippled lady.
But you know what they say: old age and treachery beats youth and skill every time.
You and me ever tangle, you better put your money on me.”
But her tone was amiable as she said, “That’s right, pick on the crippled lady.
But you know what they say: old age and treachery beats youth and skill every time.
You and me ever tangle, you better put your money on me.”
“I know I will,” Darla agreed in solidarity as she dug into her lettuce.
While they ate, Reese gave a more detailed account of his interview of Janie.
It seemed that, after waiving her rights, she had been eager to tell her story.
According to Reese, she’d grown defensive only when he’d pointed out that such a stunt, if actually sanctioned by the publisher, would not have entailed anonymous Internet advertising and cloak-and-dagger payment.
When Reese had pressed her on the issue, she had finally admitted that she’d had her own suspicions, but that she needed the money for school.
While they ate, Reese gave a more detailed account of his interview of Janie.
It seemed that, after waiving her rights, she had been eager to tell her story.
According to Reese, she’d grown defensive only when he’d pointed out that such a stunt, if actually sanctioned by the publisher, would not have entailed anonymous Internet advertising and cloak-and-dagger payment.
When Reese had pressed her on the issue, she had finally admitted that she’d had her own suspicions, but that she needed the money for school.
“Ahem,” Darla interrupted him, putting aside her fork.
“Speaking of cloak-and-dagger, I understand you put me on the suspect list for Janie’s mysterious Scarf Lady.
Something about a southern accent?”
“Speaking of cloak-and-dagger, I understand you put me on the suspect list for Janie’s mysterious Scarf Lady.
Something about a southern accent?”
She gave those last words her best Texas drawl by way of emphasis, drawing a grin from Jake.
Reese merely shrugged, but his expression was sheepish as he said, “So sue me, it’s my job.
I gotta look at everyone, and you fit the bill.
Accent, connection to Valerie Baylor.
You would have been a shoe-in, except for that red hair.
No way the girl could have missed that in her description of the suspect.”
Reese merely shrugged, but his expression was sheepish as he said, “So sue me, it’s my job.
I gotta look at everyone, and you fit the bill.
Accent, connection to Valerie Baylor.
You would have been a shoe-in, except for that red hair.
No way the girl could have missed that in her description of the suspect.”
This time, it was Darla who hurled the breadstick.
Reese was quicker this time out, catching it in midair and then taking a large chomp out of it.
“ Anyhow, we’re still looking for whoever hired her,” he said as he chewed.
“One of our IT guys is backtracking the email address for me.
And we’ll be interviewing people who Janie says can corroborate her claim that she was long gone before Ms.
Baylor ended up in the street.”
“ Anyhow, we’re still looking for whoever hired her,” he said as he chewed.
“One of our IT guys is backtracking the email address for me.
And we’ll be interviewing people who Janie says can corroborate her claim that she was long gone before Ms.
Baylor ended up in the street.”
“But why leave the apology card at the shrine,” Darla wanted to know between nibbles of the chicken wing she’d moved onto, “if she wasn’t the one who pushed Valerie off the curb?”
“Apparently, she felt like she’d enticed Ms.
Baylor out into the street with her protest, and that none of this would have happened if she hadn’t been outside marching around.”
Baylor out into the street with her protest, and that none of this would have happened if she hadn’t been outside marching around.”
“But what about that whole pushed-versus-fell thing?”
Jake chimed in.
“The witness statements were pretty iffy, and your YouTube clip didn’t exactly resolve the question.
If it was a push, and your girl didn’t do it, you’re gonna have to line up some more suspects.”
Jake chimed in.
“The witness statements were pretty iffy, and your YouTube clip didn’t exactly resolve the question.
If it was a push, and your girl didn’t do it, you’re gonna have to line up some more suspects.”
“Yeah, thanks for pointing that out, Detective Martelli.
I might not be an old warhorse like you, but I know how to do my job.”
I might not be an old warhorse like you, but I know how to do my job.”
“Just sayin’,” Jake countered with a shrug, ignoring the age jibe.
“By the way, I finally called Roy in Traffic this afternoon about the Shrine That Took Over Crawford Avenue.
It was bad enough today with all the rubberneckers, but tomorrow’s rush hour is gonna be a beast.
He said he’d send someone out for a couple of hours during peak drive time to keep things moving.”
“By the way, I finally called Roy in Traffic this afternoon about the Shrine That Took Over Crawford Avenue.
It was bad enough today with all the rubberneckers, but tomorrow’s rush hour is gonna be a beast.
He said he’d send someone out for a couple of hours during peak drive time to keep things moving.”
Darla slid a piece of pizza onto her plate while Jake and Reese continued debating the merits of tax dollars being spent to accommodate public nuisances like the shrine.
Once she’d finished off her slice, she waited for a lull in the conversation to announce, “Oh, I almost forgot.
Something peculiar happened after we got back from chasing down Janie.”
Once she’d finished off her slice, she waited for a lull in the conversation to announce, “Oh, I almost forgot.
Something peculiar happened after we got back from chasing down Janie.”
She went on to describe how she’d found Hamlet and the books, and how she had first thought an intruder had been responsible for the neatly stacked piles of volumes.
Feeling somewhat proud, she detailed how she’d searched the apartment and then checked in with Mary Ann before finally concluding that Hamlet had been the culprit after all.
The only thing she left out was Mary Ann’s poltergeist joke.
She didn’t need Jake and Reese to think she was losing it.
Feeling somewhat proud, she detailed how she’d searched the apartment and then checked in with Mary Ann before finally concluding that Hamlet had been the culprit after all.
The only thing she left out was Mary Ann’s poltergeist joke.
She didn’t need Jake and Reese to think she was losing it.
Even before she had finished her story, however, both Jake and Reese rounded on her with equal sternness.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“Why didn’t you call Jake?”
Jake, in particular, appeared upset, pushing back from the table and giving Darla a dark look.
“Rule number one, kid.
You come home and it looks like someone’s broken into your place, you get your butt right out again and call 9-1-1—or me—but you don’t play cop.
Better safe than sorry applies in spades here.”
“Rule number one, kid.
You come home and it looks like someone’s broken into your place, you get your butt right out again and call 9-1-1—or me—but you don’t play cop.
Better safe than sorry applies in spades here.”
“But it wasn’t a break-in after all,” Darla defended herself.
Jake shook her head.
“This time, maybe not.
But if it really had been a B and E, and you’d found the perp hiding in the back room, we might have had two dead bodies in two days.
And for the record, just because Hamlet wasn’t raising hell wouldn’t necessarily mean that the bad guy took off.
It could have been someone he knew, and that person could have still been there.”
“This time, maybe not.
But if it really had been a B and E, and you’d found the perp hiding in the back room, we might have had two dead bodies in two days.
And for the record, just because Hamlet wasn’t raising hell wouldn’t necessarily mean that the bad guy took off.
It could have been someone he knew, and that person could have still been there.”
Darla hadn’t considered that last.
Nodding soberly, she held up both hands in surrender.
Nodding soberly, she held up both hands in surrender.
“Okay, I get it.
Bad decision.
I promise next time Hamlet strikes that I’ll drag Jake up to see his handiwork.”
Bad decision.
I promise next time Hamlet strikes that I’ll drag Jake up to see his handiwork.”
She paused for a deep breath.
One revelation down and another to go.
Might as well get it all out into the open.
One revelation down and another to go.
Might as well get it all out into the open.
“Oh, and there’s a Part Two to what happened this afternoon after y’all left,” she added in a bright tone.
“While I was talking to Mary Ann, she mentioned seeing a woman mixing with Valerie’s fans.
It turned out to be the van driver, Marnie Jennings, handing out Bible tracts to the goth kids and scaring the bejeebers out of them with her lectures on how Valerie Baylor is burning in hell right now.”
“While I was talking to Mary Ann, she mentioned seeing a woman mixing with Valerie’s fans.
It turned out to be the van driver, Marnie Jennings, handing out Bible tracts to the goth kids and scaring the bejeebers out of them with her lectures on how Valerie Baylor is burning in hell right now.”
The announcement had just about the effect that she anticipated.
Reese choked on his beer, while Jake missed her mouth completely with her pizza slice and dumped half the toppings into her lap.
Reese choked on his beer, while Jake missed her mouth completely with her pizza slice and dumped half the toppings into her lap.
“That’s pretty damn cold,” Reese said with a shake of his head when he could speak again.
“You run over someone and kill them, and then hang out at the accident scene talking smack like that?
She’s lucky those kids didn’t take her apart.”
“You run over someone and kill them, and then hang out at the accident scene talking smack like that?
She’s lucky those kids didn’t take her apart.”
“Yeah, well, I doubt she was running around with a name tag on,” Jake countered, muttering a few choice words as she scrubbed tomato sauce off her jeans.
“Now, don’t tell me, Darla .
.
.
while I was sitting all snug and clueless down here, you went outside and had a chat with her, didn’t you?”
“Now, don’t tell me, Darla .
.
.
while I was sitting all snug and clueless down here, you went outside and had a chat with her, didn’t you?”
“I was only out there a few minutes.
I rescued some boy she was trying to save, basically told her what a jerk she was, and loaned her a thousand dollars so she could fix her van and leave town.”
I rescued some boy she was trying to save, basically told her what a jerk she was, and loaned her a thousand dollars so she could fix her van and leave town.”
She mumbled that last in a rush, but Jake didn’t miss a word.
She shoved her chair back from the table and stared at Darla.
She shoved her chair back from the table and stared at Darla.
“You loaned her a grand, just like that?
What, so you two are BFF’s now?”
What, so you two are BFF’s now?”
“I wasn’t doing it to be nice,” came Darla’s defensive reply.
“She and her friends were going to be stuck here until her church could raise the money for the van repairs.
I was just trying to get her out of town before anything else happened.”
“She and her friends were going to be stuck here until her church could raise the money for the van repairs.
I was just trying to get her out of town before anything else happened.”
“Like running over one of the most famous authors of the decade?”
was Jake’s ironic response.
Reese’s reply, however, was even more stinging.
was Jake’s ironic response.
Reese’s reply, however, was even more stinging.
“Hate to tell you this, but someone might think you were paying off this Marnie to leave town.
A little hint, Darla: it just doesn’t look good, handing over that kind of cash after an incident like this.”
A little hint, Darla: it just doesn’t look good, handing over that kind of cash after an incident like this.”
“It was a personal check,” she countered.
“ And why would I need to pay her off?”
“ And why would I need to pay her off?”
Reese merely quirked a brow, but it was enough for Darla to realize just where his thoughts were headed.
Her redhead’s temper flared from zero to volcanic as she leaped from her chair and stared him down.
Her redhead’s temper flared from zero to volcanic as she leaped from her chair and stared him down.
“Oh my God, don’t tell me you think Marnie and I were in cahoots, that we planned to kill Valerie Baylor together!”
She shot a look at Jake, who promptly raised her hands as if to ward off a similar accusation.
“Calm down, kid, I know you’re in the clear,” Jake hurried to assure her.
Turning a stern look on Reese, she added, “And Mr.
Detective over here does, too.
But as for Princess Wackaloon .
.
.”
Turning a stern look on Reese, she added, “And Mr.
Detective over here does, too.
But as for Princess Wackaloon .
.
.”
She trailed off with a shrug and then added, “Yeah, yeah .
.
.
I know it was an accident, but I have a sneaky feeling your buddy Marnie isn’t as sorry as she acts.”
.
.
I know it was an accident, but I have a sneaky feeling your buddy Marnie isn’t as sorry as she acts.”
“Now, that’s not fair, Jake.
In her own narrow-minded way, she really
is
devastated by what happened,” Darla shot back, a bit surprised to find herself taking Marnie’s side.
No doubt it was one of those reflexive support-your-homegirl things.
In her own narrow-minded way, she really
is
devastated by what happened,” Darla shot back, a bit surprised to find herself taking Marnie’s side.
No doubt it was one of those reflexive support-your-homegirl things.
Jake must have picked up on that vibe.
“Jeez, kid, just because she knows your sister doesn’t mean you owe her a damn thing.
Have you forgotten that letter she sent, trying to blackmail you into cancelling the Valerie Baylor autographing?”
Have you forgotten that letter she sent, trying to blackmail you into cancelling the Valerie Baylor autographing?”
“Letter?”
Reese interjected before Darla could answer.
His gaze whipped between her and Jake.
“What letter?
And what the hell did Jake mean about the Jennings woman knowing your sister?”
Reese interjected before Darla could answer.
His gaze whipped between her and Jake.
“What letter?
And what the hell did Jake mean about the Jennings woman knowing your sister?”
Jake raised her brows.
“You didn’t mention any of this to Reese when you gave your statement?”
“You didn’t mention any of this to Reese when you gave your statement?”
“I guess it kind of slipped my mind?”
Still offended by Reese’s earlier unspoken accusation, Darla gave him a defiant look.
When her questioning tone didn’t buy her a pass from either of them, she went on, “All right, I was tired, and I figured the cop handling things outside would share with Reese.
It didn’t seem that important anymore, especially once they decided not to charge Marnie with anything.”
When her questioning tone didn’t buy her a pass from either of them, she went on, “All right, I was tired, and I figured the cop handling things outside would share with Reese.
It didn’t seem that important anymore, especially once they decided not to charge Marnie with anything.”
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