Free A Novel Murder by Ginger Simpson Page B

breath and decided not to lie. “As much as I appreciate the offer, Nay, I…well, I sort of have a date.”
    “A date!” Naomi’s brows shot upward.
    “Yeah. I really didn’t want to accept his offer, but I’m meeting the bouncer for a drink.”
    “Are you crazy?” Do you even know the man?” She picked up her glass and sipped.
    “Well, yes and no to both questions. This case has me bordered on insanity, and I met Louis when I…or Private Investigator, Alicia Keys, stopped in to pose some questions about the Austin case.”
    “Isn’t Alicia Keys your favorite singer?” I’m confused.” Nay sat her glass on the table and massaged the bridge of her nose.
    “Well…I had to come up with an alias and her name was the first one I thought of. If I introduced my true self, no one would have been willing to talk with me.”
    “And…no one questioned your choice?”
    “No, and I was surprised.”
    “I’m more into country tunes, and even I know Alicia Keys is famous for something. And you say these people work in an establishment where they play music ?”
    “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure they bump and grind to other singers more suitable for their sexual display.” She laughed.
    “So, back to this Louis guy…tell me again why you accepted his offer for a drink. Saying no never occurred to you?”
    Michelle’s cell phone sounded from her purse. “Hold that thought. I have to get that.” She went into the bedroom and returned with her phone to her ear. “ What ?”
    The shock in her voice moved Nay to the edge of her seat. She drew her shoulders up and held up her hands, emphasizing her curiosity.
    “Are you sure?” Shell rolled her eyes.
    “Okay, I guess I can’t argue with that. I’ll be right in…oh wait, maybe I should go ahead with my plans for tonight. This might be the perfect opportunity to pick up on a clue or two.” Sadness tugged at her heart for the victim of the latest crime. Someone had finally reported Michelle’s vision. “Okay, right. Be careful and get a lead, would ya?”
    She clicked off, and sagged back on the sofa, staring down at the phone clutched between her hands.
    “Well, are you going to tell me what happened?” Naomi’s question drew Shell from her dismay.
    “I guess I won’t be talking to Persia tonight like I planned…the gal who works at Kitty Katz. It appears she is the latest victim.” Michelle drained her glass in one long gulp and put it back on the table.
    “But, didn’t you say something about eye color?”
    “I did. I swear Persia had blue eyes and the vic had brown, but Tony say’s the person who called in the murder, identified her as Bernadette O’Shea.”
    “But…”
    “Persia told me how much she disliked being called Bernadette because it wasn’t sexy enough. What are the chances? I’ll know more when Tony calls back.”
    “Oh, wow. This just keeps getting more and more interesting doesn’t it?” Nay fluttered the fingers of one hand against the other.
    “ Interesting ? Women are dying. I’d say tragic is a little more descriptive, wouldn’t you?”
    “I suppose if I knew them, I’d feel more of a connection, but my emotions are different than yours. You’re an author, too, so you have a much wider vocabulary than I do, I suppose…and speaking of, how’s the latest novel coming?”
    “I’m stalled. I don’t know if I’ve explained my writing style to you, but I don’t plot ahead. I depend on my characters to lead me and I’ve hit the wall with this one. Don’t even have the title yet, but that came at the end of the first one.” She dug in her pocket and produced a twenty. “Before I forget, here’s the money for the wine, like I promised.”
    “That’s too much.” Nay pushed her hand away.
    “Consider it partial payment for next time.” She took her friend’s hand, plopped the bill in her palm, then closed her first over it.
    Nay moved to the counter, found and held a stopper over the half-full bottle.