Free Rear-View Murder: A Gemma Stone Cozy Mystery by Willow Monroe Page B

considered to be the most bewitching and mysterious of gems. They believed it was capable of providing great luck and was called the Queen of Gems for a while.” Holly paused and then read further. “Then it fell from grace and became linked with rumors, misfortunes and mysterious fatalities. Very bad luck.”
    Holly stopped reading and looked up at Gemma. Gemma nodded slightly, the irony of that last sentence hitting home.
    “In the metaphysical world, opal acts as a prism within the aura. It enkindles optimism, enthusiasm and creativity, and allows for the release of inhibitions inspiring love and passion.”
    Holly read silently for a few moments while Gemma digested what she’d just heard.
    “Green opals have the ability to filter information and reorient the mind, giving meaning to everyday life. Green opals activate the heart chakra, the energy of family and health, prosperity and abundance. It’s also a stone of protection for mothers to be and a seductive stone, evoking passion and eroticism.”
    “Well, it didn’t protect this mother to be,” Gemma muttered, holding the ring in her palm.
    “If she was a mother to be,” Holly reminded her. “And after seeing those women today, I don’t think anything could have protected her.”
    “You’re probably right,” Gemma said and stifled a yawn.
    “Let’s get some sleep and hit the jewelry stores in the morning,” Holly suggested. “A green opal with fire - those flashes of color - is incredibly rare. Most green opals are opaque.”
    “Maybe they can tell us something about the ring, then,” Gemma said as she pulled the covers back and climbed into bed. “We might be able to find out where it was purchased.”
    “Uh-huh,” Holly said, turning off the light.
    “And who purchased it.”
    “Maybe.”
    “Which might lead us to who killed Opal Sparrow.”
    “Go to sleep, Sherlock Holmes,” Holly said.

Chapter Ten
    G emma was dreaming. She was in the forest again, running as fast as she could on slippery wet leaves and undergrowth. She dodged low hanging branches, glancing over her shoulder from time to time. The dark, shadowy figure was back there. She could hear him grunting and moaning in the darkness. She couldn’t tell if he was gaining on her or not, but he was relentless.
    The blue Honda appeared, bringing Gemma to a skidding stop. The trunk was open again and this time Opal’s face appeared in the back window. Not a skeleton face but the pretty face framed by golden curls in the photograph. And then her hand appeared, half skeleton, half rotting flesh and she pointed at something behind Gemma.
    Gemma turned.
    The squawking alarm on her cell brought her wide awake and she reached over to shut it off.
    In the next bed, Holly groaned and covered her head with her pillows.
    “Sorry,” Gemma whispered and settled back into the covers. Gray dawn was just lightening the window and she lay there wondering about the dream. Did it have some meaning or was it just her subconscious working over time?
    Her gaze landed on Opal’s ring lying on the night stand. Every time she spotted it she looked for the fire and it was always there, no matter what the light. She picked it up and cradled it in her hand, wishing the ring could talk. She wondered about Opal’s family and hoped they were starting to heal. She wondered about the women on the streets they had talked to the day before. Gemma certainly hoped they were safe, at least temporarily. And what about Opal’s killer? He was out there somewhere and she hoped and prayed he wasn’t stalking another victim.
    Unable to sit still any longer, Gemma tiptoed to the bathroom. After her shower, she dressed in one of her favorite outfits, a brightly colored knee length skirt and a soft, sleeveless V-neck sweater that complimented the colors in the skirt. She did what she could to tame her wild curls and then dabbed on a bit of make-up.
    “Do you ever sleep?” Holly asked when she came back into the