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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

“Good point. It’s just that the role in My Super Super was so perfectly suited to the talent and charisma of Cleo Paradise. So perfect she received an Academy Award nomination. I watch that movie over and over. Cleo was hilarious as the nutty superintendent.”

And she wouldn’t let me take her to lunch, Edna thought. I could have used a few laughs. “It sounds like you have a crush on her.”

“Oh …,” Mark said. “What guy wouldn’t?” Nervously he cleared his throat. “Can we get a look at what you’re selling of Cleo’s? I’m sure that folks all over the world who can’t make it to the sale would love a peek …”

“Folks all over the world?” Edna asked.

“Of course. The Internet is the World Wide Web.”

“That doesn’t mean everyone’s watching.”

“You never know, Mrs. Frawley.”

“I should have had operators standing by,” Edna muttered. “Follow me.” She led him into the dining room and pointed at the table.

“Wow!” Peabody cried. “Maybe Cleo does prefer the dark side of life. I’m sure a lot of people will want to get a look at this!”

The dining room table was covered with skulls.

10

Edna’s offspring was a nervous wreck. It’s a good thing I woke up so early this morning, Karen thought as she raced to the gate at San Diego International Airport, where her flight to Newark was already boarding. If I hadn’t had such trouble sleeping last night, I still might not have looked at that e-mail. I’d have slept until eight, pulled on my gym clothes, and gone to a Pilates class. Then I’d have come home and relaxed and read the paper. Then maybe I would have checked my e-mail.

Karen had dragged herself out of bed at 4:30. She’d heard that if you couldn’t sleep, you should get up and do something to get your mind off the fact you had insomnia. For hours she’d tossed and turned, trying to decide whether to follow that advice.

Finally she decided to listen to the experts. She dragged herself out of bed, went into the kitchen, turned on her computer, and read the e-mail from her childhood friend who had seen the ad for the garage sale.

“Your house is sold!” Donna Crumby had written. She had a bakery near where they grew up and was the world’s leading gossip. “I’m so sorry! We had so much fun at your pool parties. Remember those three-legged races?”

Karen was blown away. “No wonder I couldn’t sleep!” she’d growled, slamming her computer mouse down on the counter. “I knew something was brewing. I swear I’m psychic when it comes to my mother!”

A seventh-grade teacher, Karen also taught summer school. The session had ended last week. Since then she’d been relishing her free time. Not anymore.