Ghost of a Gamble (Granny Apples Mystery) by Sue Ann Jaffarian

Dolly’s.
    “Is that Dolly?” She pointed at one of the photos she recognized as a duplicate of one back at Dolly’s house.
    “Yes, and that’s Aunt Madeline with her.” Megan pointed to a statuesque brunette standing next to Dolly. “They’ve known each other forever. They were both showgirls back in the sixties.” Megan laughed. “Although Aunt Madeline is very roly-poly these days while Dolly has pretty much kept her figure.”
    “I’m a friend of Dolly’s son, Milo. Does Madeline have any children?”
    Megan shook her head. “No. Aunt Madeline never married.” She looked at Emma with curiosity. “So you know Dolly’s son, the famous psychic?”
    “Yes, quite well. In fact, he’s engaged to my best friend.”
    “Dolly talks about him sometimes. She claims he can see and talk to ghosts. Is that true?”
    Emma smiled. First Suzanne Foster, now Megan. Dolly believed in Milo more than Milo knew. “Yes, it is true. He’s amazing. Do you believe in the paranormal, Megan?”
    Megan blew out some air and twisted her mouth in a thoughtful knot before answering. “I’m not sure. I know a lot of the people that come in here to see Dolly do and they believe she can see their future. Madeline’s told me that The Raven’s Craft pulls in more money than the bead shop does.”
    Almost as if she’d conjured up proof of her words, two young women walked into the store. One was dressed in a strapless sundress. The other in shorts and a low-cut knit top. Both wore high-heeled sandals, heavy makeup, and were holding large plastic cups.
    “May I help you?” asked Megan.
    The one in the dress answered, “We were told there’s a pretty good fortune-teller here.”
    “Yes,” Megan replied. “But Madam Dolly won’t be in until about six thirty. Would you like to make an appointment?” She picked up a small calendar from the counter behind her. “That way you won’t have to wait.”
    The two women consulted each other with raised eyebrows and whispers before the one who’d spoken earlier answered, “No thanks. We’ll check out the other one.” Without another word, they left.
    “The other one?” Emma asked.
    “Yeah.” Megan rolled her eyes. “She came in about a year ago with a fancy painted wagon. It’s parked at the other end of Fremont in front of an Indian souvenir shop.” She knitted her brows. “Fremont Street didn’t need two fortune-tellers, but Laura convinced the powers that be it did and got her business license.”
    “Her name is Laura?”
    “She bills herself as Lady Laura, but her full name is Laura Crawford. She’s young for a fortune-teller, not much older than I am. I think that was part of her pitch. She probably told them Dolly was getting too old and didn’t attract the younger tourists.”
    “Has her presence impacted Dolly’s business much?”
    Megan shrugged. “I’m not sure. Dolly has her regulars, mostly locals, and she does get a lot of tourists, but Laura gets a lot of hype with that wagon and she works longer hours. Personally, I think she’s kind of weird.”
    Suddenly, Emma wanted to see the Lady Laura.
    She smiled at Megan. “Thanks for your help, Megan. When Dolly comes in, tell her I’ll be back later tonight. I’m going to walk around a bit and get something to drink.”
    “Okay, I will. And thanks for the purchase. I hope your daughter and her friend enjoy the earrings.”

• CHAPTER SEVEN •

    A S soon as Emma left the store, Granny Apples popped up, startling her. Collecting herself, Emma inserted her cell phone earpiece. She always did that in public so people passing by would think she was speaking on the phone instead of into thin air, or to a spirit. “She’s not in yet, Granny. Dinner with Milo and Tracy must have run later than planned.”
    “No, it didn’t.” Granny told her with a raised eyebrow. “I went to Milo’s presentation. He did an excellent job, by the way, but Dolly made some excuse to wiggle out of dinner and took off