Arson Takes a Dare: The Third Marisa Adair Mystery Adventure (Marisa Adair Mysteries Book 3) by Jada Ryker Page A
Authors: Jada Ryker
Ads: Link
a research paper on me for your advanced degree?”
Althea raised her hands. “You see, Marisa—”
“You did, didn’t you?” Marisa rose. Diana firmly pushed her down into her seat. Marisa put her head down in her arms. Alex gently rubbed her back.
Diana shook her head in sorrow. “Mrs. Flaxton, you need to give more thought to the concept of honor.”
Althea started. “How did you know I was writing a story about honor?”
Diana floated to Marisa and pulled her friend to her feet. She gently turned the sobbing woman to face her. She raised the arrow.
“Lieutenant, I’m not touching my gun.” Landis’ voice rose in excitement. “But that psycho is going to stab Wanda, I mean Miss Adair!”
The dancer used the point of the arrow to carefully trace a heart shape on the left side of Marisa’s heaving chest. “You opened your heart to Althea. Her betrayal has broken your already bruised heart.”
Landis reached up and grasped Diana’s ankle.
Diana swayed and then caught her balance on the edge of the stage. She kicked out, freeing her ankle. The officer stumbled backward. She launched herself into the air. She landed on the officer, carrying him to the floor under her. She straddled his midsection. She savagely raised her arms above her head, the arrow pointing downward at his heart. “Do not interfere in my affairs again, puny human!”
Dreamus lunged.
He was too late. The arrow hit the officer’s straining chest.
Landis screamed.
“Stop that caterwauling. It’s a fake arrow.” Diana brought the arrow to the officer’s horrified face. “It retracts when it hits a solid surface. You’re fine.” She rolled off the officer.
“Diana, that was a dangerous move.” Dreamus admonished her. “What if my officer had pulled his weapon and shot you in what he thought was self-defense?”
Diana reached into the folds of her cloak. “I stole his gun from his holster.”
Landis pulled himself to his feet. “But you had both hands on the arrow… And you got my gun… Wow! Can I get your phone number? Oh, wait, I bet I can find it online.”
* * * * *
“What a draining Sunday evening.” Marisa unlocked her kitchen door. Alex, Dreamus, and Tara followed her into the house.
“I can’t believe Diana used Machiavellian techniques to lure all of us to the club.” Alex pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “I know she meant well. But rather than Althea offering up a heartfelt apology, she actually incriminated herself further.”
“Diana seems to have literally and figuratively bowled over the fresh and youthful Officer Landis.” Tara laughed as she leaned against the counter.
“It may have been mutual.” Dreamus crossed the kitchen to the table. “I think if he hadn’t asked to walk her to her car, she would’ve been forced to make up a lurker in the shadows.”
“Dreamus, watch out.” Tara cautioned. “Your foot is close to Laithe’s tail.”
The lieutenant slid his foot away from the orange cat. He stared around the room. “What a homey kitchen, Marisa. I hadn’t been further than the living room. The slate floor is nice, and the granite counters are well crafted.”
In spite of her mental and physical exhaustion, Marisa smiled at the envy in the lawman’s voice. “Thank you. When I moved in, I had to practically gut the kitchen and start over. It was a labor of blood, sweat, and tears.”
“It paid off. What an unusual cat.” The lawman stared at the feline.
Marisa locked the door. “Alex and Tara have already met Laithe.”
“I have never seen a cat with long, slender legs like a rabbit, an extra-long tail, and pointy ears.” Dreamus leaned over to pat him.
“Laithe is my Abyssinian cat,” Marisa said. “He’s an Egyptian breed.”
Alex laughed. “And he has a very mischievous personality.”
Marisa bent over to scoop up Laithe. She snuggled him close to her body, his paws on her shoulders. He rubbed his triangular face against hers and purred. She
Althea raised her hands. “You see, Marisa—”
“You did, didn’t you?” Marisa rose. Diana firmly pushed her down into her seat. Marisa put her head down in her arms. Alex gently rubbed her back.
Diana shook her head in sorrow. “Mrs. Flaxton, you need to give more thought to the concept of honor.”
Althea started. “How did you know I was writing a story about honor?”
Diana floated to Marisa and pulled her friend to her feet. She gently turned the sobbing woman to face her. She raised the arrow.
“Lieutenant, I’m not touching my gun.” Landis’ voice rose in excitement. “But that psycho is going to stab Wanda, I mean Miss Adair!”
The dancer used the point of the arrow to carefully trace a heart shape on the left side of Marisa’s heaving chest. “You opened your heart to Althea. Her betrayal has broken your already bruised heart.”
Landis reached up and grasped Diana’s ankle.
Diana swayed and then caught her balance on the edge of the stage. She kicked out, freeing her ankle. The officer stumbled backward. She launched herself into the air. She landed on the officer, carrying him to the floor under her. She straddled his midsection. She savagely raised her arms above her head, the arrow pointing downward at his heart. “Do not interfere in my affairs again, puny human!”
Dreamus lunged.
He was too late. The arrow hit the officer’s straining chest.
Landis screamed.
“Stop that caterwauling. It’s a fake arrow.” Diana brought the arrow to the officer’s horrified face. “It retracts when it hits a solid surface. You’re fine.” She rolled off the officer.
“Diana, that was a dangerous move.” Dreamus admonished her. “What if my officer had pulled his weapon and shot you in what he thought was self-defense?”
Diana reached into the folds of her cloak. “I stole his gun from his holster.”
Landis pulled himself to his feet. “But you had both hands on the arrow… And you got my gun… Wow! Can I get your phone number? Oh, wait, I bet I can find it online.”
* * * * *
“What a draining Sunday evening.” Marisa unlocked her kitchen door. Alex, Dreamus, and Tara followed her into the house.
“I can’t believe Diana used Machiavellian techniques to lure all of us to the club.” Alex pulled out a chair at the kitchen table. “I know she meant well. But rather than Althea offering up a heartfelt apology, she actually incriminated herself further.”
“Diana seems to have literally and figuratively bowled over the fresh and youthful Officer Landis.” Tara laughed as she leaned against the counter.
“It may have been mutual.” Dreamus crossed the kitchen to the table. “I think if he hadn’t asked to walk her to her car, she would’ve been forced to make up a lurker in the shadows.”
“Dreamus, watch out.” Tara cautioned. “Your foot is close to Laithe’s tail.”
The lieutenant slid his foot away from the orange cat. He stared around the room. “What a homey kitchen, Marisa. I hadn’t been further than the living room. The slate floor is nice, and the granite counters are well crafted.”
In spite of her mental and physical exhaustion, Marisa smiled at the envy in the lawman’s voice. “Thank you. When I moved in, I had to practically gut the kitchen and start over. It was a labor of blood, sweat, and tears.”
“It paid off. What an unusual cat.” The lawman stared at the feline.
Marisa locked the door. “Alex and Tara have already met Laithe.”
“I have never seen a cat with long, slender legs like a rabbit, an extra-long tail, and pointy ears.” Dreamus leaned over to pat him.
“Laithe is my Abyssinian cat,” Marisa said. “He’s an Egyptian breed.”
Alex laughed. “And he has a very mischievous personality.”
Marisa bent over to scoop up Laithe. She snuggled him close to her body, his paws on her shoulders. He rubbed his triangular face against hers and purred. She
Similar Books
