86 Avenue du Goulet (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 3) by Peggy A. Edelheit Page B

vintages. Lately, I preferred life like that too. Straight up. It led to fewer complications.
    …Depending on the circumstances, of course.
    Crystal took another swig. “What happened after that?”
    “Now, how can I explain this? It sort of got ugly.”
    Martha knew that look. “What do you mean, sort of?”
    “Mademoiselle Dominique Forniet showed up.”
    “Hormones and testosterone!” Crystal laughed. “Great!”
    “So, what are you going to do?” Martha asked.
    I shook my head. “Wait, I haven’t finished.”
    “You’re a magnet for trouble, you know that?”
    “Sadly, yes.” I replied, still put out by what happened. “Dominique said she had enough with all the murders and wanted nothing more to do with me or the crazy neighbors. Then Clay turned to me and asked, ‘what murders’?”
    “Well, all hell broke loose and the three of them went at it back and forth about the bones, the villa, and its saga of deaths. Before you knew it, the other two stomped off and I was informed by Clay that he was staying at Martine’s.”
    I looked from Martha to Crystal for a response. They looked at each other and shook their heads, disbelieving.
    Martha’s stare pinned me in place. “Now, why would Martine take in a stranger without asking any questions?”
    I tried to avoid eye contact. “I may have mentioned his name once or twice to her since last year, via Skype.”
    Crystal crossed her arms, saying, “You know, more trouble is brewing, both at this villa and next door.”
    She didn’t have to remind me. “I saw it clearly when Philippe and Clay locked horns. On another matter, as far as the neighbors go, with one exception, Dominique has something in common with her so-called crazy neighbors.”
    “What does she have in common?” Martha asked.
    “An interesting past.”
    “What’s the one exception?” demanded Crystal.
    “You see, she’s now running the family business.”
    Martha chuckled. “Just like a French family vineyard!”
    I smiled. “I’d say drinks are in order. Friday night? I’ll explain her background to all of you then, okay?”
    “You know, there’s a case study,” Martha added, “that said men gossip more than women. Hard to imagine.”
    Crystal laughed. “I guess we have our work cut out for us, don’t we ladies. Well, Friday night it is.”
    Oh, what mischief lurks in the heart of women!
    Taken from Sam’s verse, thus concluding Chapter 48.

 
     
     
    Chapter 49
    Eavesdropping And Dropping In
     
     
    If I were leaning any further over my terrace railing, I’d find myself in one of those garden beds down below. But I was hard-pressed to hear exactly what Martine, Jean and Clay were saying to each other over there. It was early evening and they were having drinks. As far as I was concerned, there was way too much laughing going on for my comfort level, and I was skeptical about what was being tossed back and forth. Clay was dangerous. Period.
    Let me explain another reason why I faltered before with Clay. In the last year, Clay and I ended up at odds with each other when I set out on my own to find out who killed my husband. But, when it was all over, I had second thoughts on a lot of things, including him. That is, after I discovered what really happened to Stephen. When it came right down to it, in the end, I honestly did , and did not , trust Clay or my feelings regarding that whole incident.
    He was restless, sneaky, secretive and dangerous. …And that was my big problem. That was exactly what I found most intriguing about him, especially that last part with him always conveniently catching me off guard in the most ironic situations. I actually missed that.
    Crazy, huh?
    Unexpectedly, Martine looked over at my villa. “Sam!”
    Caught dead in the water! Embarrassed, I waved back.
    “Sam, where were you? I called earlier. Come over.”
    I hesitated. Did I really want this? Yes and no. Sooner or later, I was going to have to suck it up and face him. Besides, I