Free 2 Bodies for the Price of 1 by Stephanie Bond Page B

thought about E. Jones.
    A couple of under-employed body movers lusting after beautiful, independent women. They were both way out of their league.
    “Something bold. ” Cooper thought out loud.
    “And fast,” Wesley said, thinking of Peter Ashford, Detective Jack Terry, and Carlotta’s current state of mind. “Before she does something that we’ll both regret.”
    10
    W ednesday afternoon on her break, Carlotta headed toward the general manager’s office with a stone of dread in her stomach. The sight of Patricia Alexander coming out of Lindy’s office further soured her mood.
    “Hello, Carlotta,” the blonde said primly.
    “Hi, Patricia.”
    The woman reached forward and patted Carlotta’s arm. “I hope you know that we’re all pulling for you in your time of crisis.”
    “Excuse me?”
    Patricia lowered her voice. “I know your family history—my mother was in the Junior League with your mother. And then you were caught up in all that scandal with the Angela Ashford murder.” She shuddered. “All that stress was bound to catch up with you sooner or later. I’m sure that’s why your sales have fallen off a cliff.” Her waxy lips drew back in a false self-deprecating smile. “I was just lucky enough to be working here when it happened.”
    Carlotta returned an equally disingenuous smile. Her hands practically shook from wanting to slug the obnoxious woman, but instead of saying all the vile things that burned her tongue, she simply sidestepped Patricia as if she were a piece of furniture in her path and proceeded to Lindy’s office. After a few calming breaths, she knocked on the door.
    Lindy looked up from a paper-strewn desk and removed her glasses. “Come in, Carlotta. Sit down.”
    Carlotta took a seat opposite her boss, her gaze riveted to her cell phone lying on the desk. Her fingers itched to snatch it up to see if her father had called again.
    Lindy scrutinized her for a few seconds, then sighed. “I don’t quite know what to do with you, Carlotta. In the space of a few weeks you’ve gone from being the associate with the highest sales to being the associate with the highest maintenance.”
    “I’ve been dealing with some things in my personal life,” Carlotta murmured, feeling moist around her hairline.
    “I know,” Lindy said, nodding. “Angela Ashford’s death was a terrible tragedy. I’m sorry you were implicated and I’m relieved that the murderer was apprehended. I feel bad for you, Carlotta, but it’s caused a lot of upheaval around here too. And it doesn’t give you license to break the rules. You know that having a cell phone on the sales floor is strictly prohibited—and one of my pet peeves.”
    “Yes, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”
    Lindy’s mouth flattened into a line. “I’m afraid I also have to mention the overdue balance on your store account. This isn’t something that I normally concern myself with, but the amount is excessive.”
    A flush started at her collarbone and worked its way up. “I’m a little behind on my bills.”
    “Unfortunately, your company credit card has been suspended until you can reduce the outstanding balance.”
    Carlotta could only nod in mortification. She hadn’t bought anything on her employee discount in a long time—okay, a week or so—but she’d really been cutting back. She hadn’t bought those new Chip & Pepper jeans that she’d wanted so badly, nor the Diane von Furstenberg satin wrap dress that would be the singularly perfect dress for an awards dinner and ceremony—if she ever needed it. But apparently the finance charges on her account were compounding faster than the speed of light.
    Lindy clasped her hands together. “And I understand that a detective has been coming to see you here?
    The detective who apprehended the shoplifter?”
    “Yes, but he wasn’t here on business. He was shopping for a suit.”
    “So you don’t have any outstanding issues with the police