Free A Dead Sister (Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery) by Anna Burke Page B

in her drunkenness.
    “No, no, wait, what am I thinking? That won’t happen. You have a spa practically in your backyard. You and your mom don’t even have to go outside the gates, do you, to get a massage or a facial? You just get on that little golf cart and ride over to your country club.” She gestured wildly, this time splashing champagne everywhere. She quickly refilled her glass again and drank it like it was water.
    “You know what I think?” Kelly asked, slurring her words. “I think you like taking us along with you so you can throw your money around. You’re just showing off again, like you always do.”
    “Kelly, shut up, you’re drunk. You’re embarrassing yourself and turning this into a downer for us.” Kelly’s head swung loosely in Laura’s direction. She glowered at Laura who had made the comment. Then she turned toward Jennifer Cox who had the temerity to utter a few syllables of agreement.
    “Yeah, Kelly you’re being rude,” was as much as she could get out before Kelly’s glare cut her off.
    Jessica, now past t he initial shock at Kelly’s attack, fought back tears. She was suddenly completely pissed off.
    “Not this again! Kelly Fontana, I have had it. You are a mean, ungrateful bitch. I like doing things with my friends and I’ve got the money to pay for it. So what? I’m sorry it upsets you that I have more money than you do, but that’s the way it is. You can say no when I ask you to go places.” Kelly said nothing but glared sullenly as Jessica went on.
    “If you have to go to work tomorrow, that’s your choice. I tried to talk you into going to college. So did a lot of the rest of us. If you want things to be different, you need to do something different tomorrow. Quit bitching. Get up and go talk to somebody. Make a plan. Do something besides feel sorry for yourself and act like an asshole. That’s not going to change anything, except make me believe our friendship isn’t such a good idea anymore.”
    Kelly’s mouth dropped open. Jessica had never spoken to her in quite that way before. Before Kelly could say anything else, Jessica hit a button on the console and got an immediate reply from the front seat.
    “Yes, is there a problem?” the driver asked.
    “No problem, but a change of plans. We have someone who needs to get home right away. Can you take us to the address on the list for Kelly Fontana, please?”
    “Sure thing, hang on a second. I need to pull over and get my bearings, ok?”
    “No problem, do whatever you need to do.” The driver pulled over, recalculated the route, turned the limo around and had them back on the road again in no time flat.
    Jessica never took her eyes off Kelly, who held her gaze at first, defiantly. She finally dropped her eyes. Kelly mumbled, talking mostly to herself. “I know you don’t approve of me. I have to make a living.” Jessica didn’t say a word. Kelly continued to drink and mutter under her breath, “it’s not my fault what I have to do,” and “you snooty college girls don’t approve, that’s your problem.” When Kelly filled the glass again, she was still talking to herself, but Jessica was done listening. Kelly raised the glass, to no one in particular, before sucking down its contents.
    That gesture signaled the end of the conflict. Several of the other girls ventured a little chit-chat in low voices. Laura gave Jessica a nudge with her foot. When she looked up, Laura gave her a reassuring smile with a nearly undetectable shrug. She was not going to try to fix this. Not tonight, at least.
    When they got to Kelly’s apartment and the driver opened the door, it was as though a wild, caged thing were escaping. Kelly leapt from the limo, grabbing an unopened bottle of champagne as she left. Jessica marveled at how graceful she was. Even while drunk and breaking the hearts of her friends as she fled into the cool desert night air. Kelly did not look back, but wagged the champagne bottle up and down, like a