deeds” column. I worked on the chewy bagel as I trudged through the kiln-like air, sweat beads gathering at my hairline and separating to race down my neck. I pulled my V-necked T-shirt from my chest and peered down at the rivulet forming between my A-cups.
“I wouldn’t hold my breath, darlin’. If they haven’t grown yet, it doesn’t do any good to water ’em.”
“Hi, Kennie.”
“And didn’t I tell you to stop by my house? I have a business deal that I know you’re going to want to get in on.”
I thought back to our conversation in the library and realized she had in fact invited me to her house, but I had been too distracted by the petition to react properly. Visions of topless octogenarians, pre-assembled penis enlargement devices, and a walkie-talkie-sex service scuttled through my brain, and all the apprehension I should have felt the first time she mentioned a “business deal” came at me like a swarm of mosquitoes. “Why don’t you just tell me what it is right now? I’ve got a minute.”
“Nope. You’ve gotta see the demo model at my house.”
Jesus. It was the penis enlargement device. I was sure of it. “I’m not much of an entrepreneur.”
“I just want to know if I can display one in the library. Once you see it, you’ll want one for yourself, and who knows? You might decide to invest. I tell you, it’s gonna be big.”
What a great motto, I thought to myself. And if I could blow off Kennie just a couple more times, I’d be able to make it out of Battle Lake without ever seeing her latest “business proposition.” “I’ll come over tomorrow morning, ’kay? I have to open up the Fortune for Sid and Nancy, and then I’ll stop by before I open the library.” There wouldn’t be time, but she didn’t need to know that.
“You won’t be sorry, darlin’!” She wiggled her fingers at me and marched off in the other direction, the spangles on her sequined tank top catching the sun and turning her into a strolling disco ball. The brightness was probably for the best, as her blinding shirt made it nearly impossible to see her Daisy Dukes, or, on Kennie, ill-fitting denim underwear. I could fool myself that it was a trick of the glare on my eyes and not the outline of a terrifically deep butt crack showcased in distressed, acid-washed denim that I saw as she disappeared around the corner by the bank.
I entered the cool interior of 4Ts and made my way around the milling shoppers. I recognized Kaitlyn near the front window, the well-proportioned blonde teenager from my first visit. The short, bubble-nosed brunette behind the counter must be Lydia. I made my way over to her and prepared to tell a little white lie.
“Hi, are you Lydia?”
She smiled at me. Her eyeteeth were unusually skinny, giving her mouth a quirky, friendly appearance despite the haunted look in her eyes. “Yup. Can I help you?”
“I’m Mira James. Lucy worked for me at the library. I wanted to say I was sorry about her death. I heard you two were good friends.”
Her upper lip quivered. “Yeah.”
“Did she make it to cheerleading practice the day before, um, before she was found?”
“Yeah. She was there. Like I told the police, it was like any other practice.”
“Did she seem in a strange mood, or leave with anyone you hadn’t seen before?”
“She was happy Lucy, just like usual. And she left alone. Everyone else there was part of the squad. People used to come watch us practice, until the coach made them stop.” Big warm tears were collecting at the corner of her eyes. “Do you think they’ll find out who killed her?”
“I hope so.” I thought of the terror Lucy must have been in before she was shot. Who took her? Why? I changed the subject before I started to cry myself. “I’m looking for Annika. Is she here?” I knew she wouldn’t be, but it seemed the most natural way to bring her into the conversation.
“No, it’s her day off. She should be here tomorrow,
“I wouldn’t hold my breath, darlin’. If they haven’t grown yet, it doesn’t do any good to water ’em.”
“Hi, Kennie.”
“And didn’t I tell you to stop by my house? I have a business deal that I know you’re going to want to get in on.”
I thought back to our conversation in the library and realized she had in fact invited me to her house, but I had been too distracted by the petition to react properly. Visions of topless octogenarians, pre-assembled penis enlargement devices, and a walkie-talkie-sex service scuttled through my brain, and all the apprehension I should have felt the first time she mentioned a “business deal” came at me like a swarm of mosquitoes. “Why don’t you just tell me what it is right now? I’ve got a minute.”
“Nope. You’ve gotta see the demo model at my house.”
Jesus. It was the penis enlargement device. I was sure of it. “I’m not much of an entrepreneur.”
“I just want to know if I can display one in the library. Once you see it, you’ll want one for yourself, and who knows? You might decide to invest. I tell you, it’s gonna be big.”
What a great motto, I thought to myself. And if I could blow off Kennie just a couple more times, I’d be able to make it out of Battle Lake without ever seeing her latest “business proposition.” “I’ll come over tomorrow morning, ’kay? I have to open up the Fortune for Sid and Nancy, and then I’ll stop by before I open the library.” There wouldn’t be time, but she didn’t need to know that.
“You won’t be sorry, darlin’!” She wiggled her fingers at me and marched off in the other direction, the spangles on her sequined tank top catching the sun and turning her into a strolling disco ball. The brightness was probably for the best, as her blinding shirt made it nearly impossible to see her Daisy Dukes, or, on Kennie, ill-fitting denim underwear. I could fool myself that it was a trick of the glare on my eyes and not the outline of a terrifically deep butt crack showcased in distressed, acid-washed denim that I saw as she disappeared around the corner by the bank.
I entered the cool interior of 4Ts and made my way around the milling shoppers. I recognized Kaitlyn near the front window, the well-proportioned blonde teenager from my first visit. The short, bubble-nosed brunette behind the counter must be Lydia. I made my way over to her and prepared to tell a little white lie.
“Hi, are you Lydia?”
She smiled at me. Her eyeteeth were unusually skinny, giving her mouth a quirky, friendly appearance despite the haunted look in her eyes. “Yup. Can I help you?”
“I’m Mira James. Lucy worked for me at the library. I wanted to say I was sorry about her death. I heard you two were good friends.”
Her upper lip quivered. “Yeah.”
“Did she make it to cheerleading practice the day before, um, before she was found?”
“Yeah. She was there. Like I told the police, it was like any other practice.”
“Did she seem in a strange mood, or leave with anyone you hadn’t seen before?”
“She was happy Lucy, just like usual. And she left alone. Everyone else there was part of the squad. People used to come watch us practice, until the coach made them stop.” Big warm tears were collecting at the corner of her eyes. “Do you think they’ll find out who killed her?”
“I hope so.” I thought of the terror Lucy must have been in before she was shot. Who took her? Why? I changed the subject before I started to cry myself. “I’m looking for Annika. Is she here?” I knew she wouldn’t be, but it seemed the most natural way to bring her into the conversation.
“No, it’s her day off. She should be here tomorrow,
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