Free Flea Market Fatal by Brianna Bates Page A

about?”
    “About you, actually.”
    Loretta’s eyes went wide like she hadn’t been expecting that answer. Missy smirked, happy to get under her skin.
    “Liar,” Loretta said.
    Missy nodded. “It’s true. He told me all about you.”
    Loretta looked back over her shoulder at Gordon, who was sitting behind the steering wheel. He perked up when their eyes met. Missy wondered what the look was supposed to mean.
    “You’re full of shit, Melissa DeMeanor.”
    Missy didn’t know why Loretta was so upset, but she didn’t want to waste this opportunity. “He apologized for backing out of the deal with my father. He told me how he should never have listened to you, and that he did it for all the wrong reasons.”
    Loretta’s arms were shaking.
    Missy smiled. “Now get the hell off my property, before I file a restraining order against you .”
    The shaking spread to Loretta’s whole body. Missy watched her, smile on her lips, as Loretta finally turned and stalked back to the car. She slammed the door and Gordon reversed out of the driveway before Loretta could even get buckled in. Cody started barking again as the car sped away.

Chapter Thirteen
     
    The next morning Missy woke early. While she’d been asleep, Cody had snuck onto the bed with her, and now the blanket was covered in red dog hair.
    “Cody, you and I are going to have to have a talk. When all the late craziness is over.”
    Cody responded with a thump of her tail against the mattress.
    Missy took a quick shower. She really needed to wash her hair but that was such a process and she didn’t have the time. Coming out of the shower, she examined her full profile in the mirror on the back of her door. God, she really needed to get to the gym but that would have to wait.
    Her capris felt tighter than usual as she pulled them on. It was probably the stress of the last few days. She remembered finals week in college. Even though she’d barely eaten and studied around the clock for her exams, she never lost any weight. Stress could add pounds.
    Missy pulled her hair back into a ponytail yet again and headed out the door. She really needed to see Mom and take Cody to the vet. She hoped to get both things done before she had to be at work at ten.
    Daphne Roberts was sitting on her porch when Missy pulled up. They had graduated the same year in high school and run in completely different circles, but these days they were good, if not close, friends. Daphne had gone to veterinarian school in Ohio, earning her medical degree before coming back to Grove City about five years ago to take over Dr. Sleeper’s old practice.
    Missy parked in her gravel driveway and hopped out, Cody in tow. The Irish setter raced to see Daphne like they were old friends.
    “Well, hello, Cody.” Daphne crouched so her face was just about even with Cody’s, and she petted the dog. “Glad to see you’re in good hands.”
    Daphne stood to greet Missy. She wore a t-shirt and scrubs and looked like she’d lost some weight recently. Missy couldn’t help but feel envious and almost wanted to ask her if she was on a diet, but she had more important things to worry about.
    Like exonerating her mother.
    Missy gave Daphne a hug. “Thanks for seeing us on short notice, it means a lot.”
    Daphne smiled. “It’s the least I could do. I’m so sorry to hear about your mother.”
    “Yeah…” Missy didn’t really know what to say. Twenty-four hours ago she would have sworn Mom wouldn’t have been capable of hurting anybody. But after her own near-assault yesterday, she wasn’t so sure. If pushed hard enough, people were really capable of anything. But it still didn’t make sense for Mom to wait twenty years to murder Albert when it was Loretta that she really blamed.
    Daphne squeezed her shoulder. “Everything will be okay. Your mother is the nicest woman in the world.”
    Missy smiled but said nothing.
    “Now let’s get Cody inside, okay?”
    Missy and Cody followed Daphne inside