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Back Fleeced Save as PDF
Chapters (84)
  1. Acknowledgments
  2. FLEECED
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. 16
  19. 17
  20. 18
  21. 19
  22. 20
  23. 21
  24. 22
  25. 23
  26. 24
  27. 25
  28. 26
  29. 27
  30. 28
  31. 29
  32. 30
  33. 31
  34. 32
  35. 33
  36. 34
  37. 35
  38. 36
  39. 37
  40. 38
  41. 39
  42. 40
  43. 41
  44. 42
  45. 43
  46. 44
  47. 45
  48. 46
  49. 47
  50. 48
  51. 49
  52. 50
  53. 51
  54. 52
  55. 53
  56. 54
  57. 55
  58. 56
  59. 57
  60. 58
  61. 59
  62. 60
  63. 61
  64. 62
  65. 63
  66. 64
  67. 65
  68. 66
  69. 67
  70. 68
  71. 69
  72. 70
  73. 71
  74. 72
  75. 73
  76. 74
  77. 75
  78. 76
  79. 77
  80. 78
  81. 79
  82. 80
  83. 81
  84. About the Author

“What is going to be done with the diamonds now?” Edward asked. “They were both so excited about donating the money to the Settlers’ Club.”

Regan hesitated. This guy sounded on the level. She looked at her watch. It was four-thirty. “I’m not sure,” she said. “Do you think I could drop by your shop?”

“Now?”

“I know it’s late on a Friday, but since the party is tomorrow night, and for the moment I’m handling Nat’s affairs, I’d love to talk to you for a few minutes.”

“Come on over. I’ve got a bottle of schnapps I was going to crack open with Nat and Ben. Maybe we should have a drink in their memory.”

31

That last scene had to be the worst acting I have ever seen, Daphne thought. If this film is released and people know it was filmed at the Settlers’ Club, no one will ever want to come here.

The crew was rearranging the lights and moving the camera so they could shoot from the other side of the room. Daphne was in the bar area, sitting by the actress she was standing in for. Her stage name was Pumpkin Waters. Cute when you’re twenty, Daphne thought, pathetic when you’re sixty. Clearly Pumpkin thought she was superior to Daphne.

“Work much lately?” Daphne asked.

Pumpkin gave her a withering look. “I’m always working.”

“I know how hard it is when you get older in this business. Especially for women.”

With each word, Daphne seemed to irritate Pumpkin more and more.

“It was interesting the way you incorporated those sheep into your dialogue. After you tripped over them, I mean.”

“Could you please leave me alone?” Pumpkin asked. “I’m concentrating.”

On what? Daphne wondered. She stood. “I’m going to go down the hall to Thomas’s office. If they need me, tell them to give me a shout down there.”

Pumpkin merely nodded her head.

Daphne found Thomas sitting at his desk, going over the plans for the anniversary party. As usual, he looked agitated.

“How’s the movie going?” he asked.

“I don’t think it’s going to win any Academy Awards.”

Thomas looked pained. “At least it will pay a few bills around here.”

“Can you use any help for the party tomorrow night?” Daphne asked.

Thomas shook his head. “The kitchen has the menu all planned. Hors d’oeuvres. A lavish buffet. Desserts. Janey is making a special cake.” He picked up the phone. “I’m getting a little worried. I haven’t been able to reach her all afternoon.”

“Maybe she’s out delivering.”

“She had no deliveries today. She was just cooking for the party.”

“I’m sure she’s fine. It’s not even five o’clock. Where’s Regan Reilly?”