Designed to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Page A

her question. Getting into a verbal war with Darlene kept us here longer. I, for one, did not want to be here any longer than necessary. And I had a bad feeling I was already pushing those proverbial moments. I went over to the table Belinda used and started going through the box of supplies. We never got around to doing the class so nothing should be gone.
    There were pieces of the kit missing. A few of the tins, distressing ink pens, and also the special hammer Belinda insisted we have on hand. She didn’t want to bring hers to the store, but had no problem taking any of the store’s items home. Had Belinda been trying to return the items? Being accused of stealing product wouldn’t look good for her on top of the accusation of stealing layouts.
    No. Steve and I would have found something on her, unless the murderer took the items when they left. But why? Belinda stealing, or returning stolen merchandise, was a good reason for her to come in the middle of the night. She wouldn’t want to walk into the store during business hours and give us the stuff she pilfered. Though I’m sure she’d have done it by accident, I mean it had gotten wild and crazy.
    How did Belinda expect to get into the store? Did she plan on breaking and entering or had she borrowed a key from someone? I had mine. I doubted my grandmothers would’ve loaned out theirs.
    Sierra? Possible.
    I shuddered, envisioning how that conversation would turn out. Maybe I’d get Darlene to ask her. She wanted to do more than just crawl around on the ground.
    No. Absolutely not. Asking Darlene to question Sierra meant we were working together on Belinda’s murder. Partnering with Darlene wasn’t on my agenda.
    I glanced over at Darlene who crawled around on the ground, shining a small flashlight she had attached to her key ring. The only person I knew who’d been angry enough to attack Belinda was currently in the store with me.
    Was Darlene looking for something that would prove her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt? Or had she planned on leaving something to give the police another suspect?
    Darlene must have felt my suspicious gaze because she stopped scuttling around and turned her head to look at me. She frowned. “I didn’t do it.”
    My famous words to Ted repeated back to me. “I didn’t accuse you.”
    “You’re not saying it but I can see it.”
    “You can see it?” I was intrigued. “Really? How?”
    Darlene rolled her eyes. “Because you aren’t as unreadable as you believe you are. Everyone knows how you feel about Steve...and Detective Roget.”
    “I like them so what.”
    “Give it up, Faith. It’s more than like. You have the hots for both of them.” Darlene stood and grinned at me. “Have to say I’m kind of surprised. I didn’t think you had it in you to lust over one guy much less two.”
    “And what does that mean?” I crossed my arms. “I’m not lusting, as you so elegantly put it, over Steve or Ted.”
    A sharp pound on the front door had me yelping and Darlene squealing. Caught. I’d rather deal with the police than Darlene’s interest in my possible romantic choices.
    Not that I was looking...who was I kidding I was seriously thinking about breaking my vow of singlehood. Though, it wasn’t a choice between Steve and Ted. It was a decision of actually wanting to start dating, have a real relationship rather than a heated flirtation with Steve.
    The pounded sounded again. “Police.”
    It was Ted. I hoped Darlene’s excuse worked. “It’s show time.”
    I lifted up the corner of the blind and peered out, double checking that it was in fact Ted. I mean, I could be mistaken about who I heard and I should be safety conscious.
    Ted narrowed his eyes and pointed at the lock. “Open up.”
    “I’m finishing up.”
    “Faith...”
    Ugh...the warning tone. I wasn’t a child needing a good scolding. Just for that, I wouldn’t let him in. “Everything is fine here. You can go about your business.”
    “This is my