Blackmoore Sisters 01-Dead Wrong by Leighann Dobbs Page A

leather-bound books.  
    “She’s probably in the kitchen,” she said continuing forward.
    In the kitchen they found Celeste dressed in yoga pants and a stretchy top, running what looked like grass through the juicer into a small glass.
    “Oh, hi,” Celeste smiled at them. “Want some?”  
    She held up the glass full of murky green goo and the three of them shook their heads.
    “Celeste, you remember Jake Cooper? He’s helping us figure out who framed me,” Morgan said.
    Celeste eyed Jake suspiciously, then nodded a greeting.
    Fiona slipped the jewelry out of her pocket. “Celeste, do you know what this is?”
    Celeste leaned over and took a quick look at the item. “Sure, its a nose ring.”
    “Nose ring?” Fiona stared at the ring as Celeste handed it back. “Really? It looks too big.”
    “It’s not for the side, it goes in the middle—in your septum.”
    “Eww, in the middle of your nose?   Like a bull? That seems like it would hurt.” Fiona wrinkled her brow at the piece of jewelry.
    “Who wears those?   I don’t see too many people with a nose ring like that around town.”
    “Mostly young kids.”
    “Yeah, a few of my friends from High School have them,” Jolene said from the doorway. “Personally I think they are gross.”
    “What would it be doing in the woods?”
    “The kids spend a lot of time in there, drinking and avoiding the police. It might not have anything to do with Prudence’s murder, especially since we didn’t find it near the scene. Maybe some kid just lost it while they were partying,” Jake said.
    “That could happen, but it’s actually pretty hard to get those things out.” Jolene came closer to take a look at the ring.
    Fiona put it on the counter. “Okay, well this may or may not be a clue. So now where does that leave us?”
    “We don’t have much, an old scarf and a nose ring. I’m not sure how any of those point to our main suspects—Berta, Josiah and Ed.” Morgan raised her eyebrows and looked at the others. “It doesn’t look promising.”
    “Actually, it’s even worse.” Jake said. The girls swiveled their heads in his direction and he continued. “I checked with the hospital and Berta did sprain her wrist last week, so I don’t think she would have physically been able to strangle Prudence. Plus she was at the hairdresser at the time of death. Josiah’s deck hand verifies they were out fishing that day and two other lobstermen also saw his boat off the point at the time of the murder. Ed’s alibi with Cutty Marine checks out too. So, looks like none of them could have done it.”
    Fiona felt her stomach drop. She stared at Jake incredulously.  
    “Well, if Berta didn’t do it, Josiah didn’t do it and Ed didn’t do it, then who the hell did?”

Chapter Twenty One

    Anastasia LePage fluttered into Sticks and Stones in a flurry of chiffon and gemstones.  
    “I do hope you girls can help me.”  
    She stared over her magenta bifocals, aiming her gaze first at Morgan and then Fiona.
    “Of course we can, Annie.” Fiona smiled at their eccentric customer. The wealthy octogenarian had discovered Sticks and Stones on a vacation to Noquitt several years ago. Being a true believer in the healing power of herbs and crystals, she usually made many purchases a year. Fiona and Morgan were happy to give her exactly what she needed.
    “What is it you need?” Morgan came around to the other side of the counter and pulled out a chair, motioning for Anastasia to sit.
    “Well, as you girls know, I’m getting on in years. I’ll be eighty-two in December.” She winked at Fiona. “And I’m just dying to have a great-grandchild.”
    Fiona raised an eyebrow at her. “How can we help?”
    “My granddaughter’s been married for two years and I’m very disappointed that she hasn’t produced a child.” Anastasia leaned closer toward the girls and lowered her voice. “I’m afraid she might need some help.”
    At the perplexed look on the