BooksBarbecue
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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

“Then let’s hear it.”

“You know it irks me that Cleo Paradise has never appreciated you.”

“Yes, son, I do.”

“As your son, it breaks my heart that you’re making yourself sick over it. Breaks it into tiny pieces.”

“Thank you.” Ronnie leaned down and pulled a bottle of vodka out of the fridge.

“Well, every day I look online to see if there is something new about her.”

“I often do the same.”

“Did you look today?”

“No. I’ve been too busy. I’ve had much too much to do.”

“Well, she moved out of that house in Jersey.”

“Yeah, so?”

“She left a note saying she was off to do a big movie.”

Ronnie sprang up from his seat. “A big movie! She’s still under contract with me.”

“That’s why this news couldn’t wait. I couldn’t find anything about any movie she’s doing. The woman whose house she rented is having a garage sale today. Cleo left some of her stuff there and the woman is selling it.”

“Cleo was thrifty. She made me account for every penny. Why would she leave things behind?”

“Beats me.”

“Does this woman know where Cleo went to do this big movie?”

“I don’t know. You want to go have a talk with this lady?”

“Yes, I do.”

“You can get away?”

“Yes, I can.”

“I figured as much. Come on downstairs. I’m right outside.”

Ronnie hung up the phone. He took Cleo’s picture, slammed it facedown on his desk, took one more gulp of vodka, then ran out the door.

12

Four attractive, young, apron-wearing women were stationed on Edna’s front lawn, ready to collect her garage sale guests’ money. Two security guards were standing near the gate where Scott’s fiancée was giving out tickets. She was blond and pretty, and wholesome as apple pie. But she wasn’t wearing an engagement ring.

Nora was introducing herself. “Hello, I’m a friend of Edna Frawley’s daughter, Karen. Karen asked me to stop by and speak with Edna. Is she here?”

“Yes, she is. What is your name?”

“Nora Regan Reilly.”

“The writer?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, I love your books. My sister and I read them all the time.”

“Thank you.”

I don’t believe this, Regan thought. “My name is Jillian.”

“Pleased to meet you, Jillian. And this is my daughter, Regan.”

Jillian shook both their hands then called out to one of the girls on the lawn. “Dawn, would you bring these ladies inside to meet Mrs. Frawley? This is Nora Regan Reilly …”

I wish Jillian would accompany us, Regan thought. I’d love to ask her a few casual questions.

“Come on, ladies,” Dawn called out cheerfully. They followed her up the steps and into the house. “Mrs. Frawley!” she yelled. “Mrs. Frawley!!!”

“Honey, please, shush,” Edna yelled back. “I’m doing an interview that’s live on the Internet.”