Free Strung Out to Die by Tonya Kappes Page B

see my best friend,” I confirmed.
    Was it that unreasonable to want to go? Did Ginger really think I could’ve killed Doug?
    “All Cheri is saying, is that it might not be the right time to show up if you haven’t talked to her yet.” Bernadine rearranged the silver and Bali beads on her board for the umpteenth time.
    “You don’t think I killed Doug?” I placed my hand on my chest.
    It’s a question I didn’t think I had to ask my friends, but evidently, I couldn’t be sure. Why would they even be here if they thought I was the killer?
    “Why would I kill him?” I begged for an explanation. “And if I did, why would I leave him here? Give me a little more credit, would you”
    I had to admit that I’d killed Sean in my mind quite a few times, but I’ve never left him anywhere that would make me the suspect.
    Agnes sat straight up and chimed in. “Well, if Doug was dead, Sean would get more work and your alimony would be paid up and on time.”
    I was floored. My mouth automatically shot open and then closed. I had called the impromptu meeting to pick Marlene’s brain, not for my friends to accuse me of murder.

Chapter Ten
     
    “Don’t move,” Cheri said suddenly. “I swear I just saw someone looking in the window.” She had turned as white as a sheet and she was visibly trembling.
    She was pointing towards the front windows with the hand that was holding her bracelet. Her hand was shaking so much that we could hear the beads clicking together.
    Right away, we all turned to look out the windows.
    “I said not to look.” Cheri picked up her pliers as if she was going to stab someone.
    “Are you sure you saw someone?” Agnes squinted as if she could really see out into the dark night.
    I had to give her an “A” for effort to fit in.
    “Always be aware of your surroundings.” Cheri said as she walked cat-like toward the window. “Eek!”
    When a shadow popped up and looked in the window, Cheri’s pliers went flying through the air and she ran in the opposite direction. No words were spoken as Bernadine, Flora, Marlene, and I frantically raced to the storage room, leaving Agnes behind.
    “Get Agnes,” I said through gritted teeth to Marlene. “You’re supposed to be taking care of her.”
    “Call the cops!” Flora screamed at the top of her lungs.
    We all turned and stared at her in disbelief. The one time we needed her to have her phone, and she didn’t have it planted between her ear and shoulder.
    “What?” She pulled back from our huddle in confusion.
    “Where is your phone?” I asked.
    “I left it on the table.” Flora pointed, and we all looked into the shop.
    Agnes was still trying her hardest to string one of those big wooden beads on a shoestring, oblivious to what was going on.
    “I left mine on the table, too,” Marlene said, chomping away on her gum.
    “Me too.” Cheri confirmed.
    “Mine is in my purse, hanging on the chair,” Bernadine said through chattering teeth.
    “Somebody get the door.” Agnes yelled over her shoulder. “Where’d you gals go?”
    Agnes got up before we could stop her and had the door unlocked and wide open.
    “Sorry, we’re closed.” Agnes came face to face with the peeping tom.
    She went to shut the door, but it was pushed back open by the other person. We drew in a breath as we heard footsteps that weren’t Agnes’. We held our collective breath in anticipation of what was about to happen.
    “I’m looking for the Divorced Divas’ group,” A woman said as she stepped into the light. “I heard they held their meetings here.”
    We walked back into the shop when we were convinced the five-foot woman with her brown hair styled in a bob wasn’t going to open fire.
    “Yes, we do meet here.” I walked up behind Agnes.
    “Now you all come out.” Agnes shook her head and walked away. “Chickens.”
    “With a murderer on the loose, you can never be too sure.” Cheri picked her pliers up and then put them back down on the bead