a little while.”
T he sun was shining brightly and the sidewalks were already dry when Piper and Kathy came out of the bridal shop.
“Before we go get something to eat, want to stop at the Women’s Exchange?” asked Kathy. “There’s a mirror I’ve had my eye on, and I think this is the day that the price reduces. That is, if it’s still there.”
“Great,” said Piper. “I love that place. I’ll look in the book section to find something to read while I’m here.”
The long, low building was covered in pink stucco. The parking lot in front was full, and they had to wait for a space to open up. They watched from the car as workmen unloaded a truckful of furniture.
“I hardly buy anything new anymore,” said Kathy. “I always check here first. Sooner or later I usually find just what I want, or something even better than I had in mind. It’s saving Dan and me a ton of money while we’re setting up our place.”
When they got inside, Kathy steered Piper through the other shoppers to the rear of the store. “What do you think?” she asked, pointing to the mirror hanging on the wall.
Piper considered it. “I like the shape. Is the frame hand-painted?”
Kathy nodded as she checked the price tag. “I could wait a few weeks and the price would come down even more,” she said. “But I don’t want to take the chance that somebody else will buy it.”
“Go for it,” said Piper.
Kathy gestured for one of the male workers to take the mirror down.
“It will be up at the front desk when you’re ready to check out,” he said.
They wandered through the aisles. While Kathy browsed in the china-and-glassware section, Piper selected Tina Fey’s autobiography and two paperback novels from the shelves at the other side of the store. She spotted a necklace she admired in the jewelry department.
“Would you like to try it on?” asked the white-haired woman behind the counter.
“Yes. Thank you,” said Piper.
“It looks good on you,” said the woman as Piper fastened the strand around her neck. “The turquoise brings out the green of your eyes.”
As Piper observed herself in the mirror, Kathy walked up beside her.
“Hi, Mrs. Golubock!” she said, recognizing her mother’s neighbor. “I forgot that you work here on Tuesdays.”
“Hello, Kathy.” The older woman smiled. “Nice to see you. How are the wedding plans coming?”
“They’re coming,” said Kathy. “In fact, this is my cousin Piper, my maid of honor. She just came down from New Jersey yesterday.”
“Nice to meet you, Piper,” said Mrs. Golubock. Piper shook the frail, manicured hand the woman offered.
Golubock. Golubock. Piper tried to remember where she’d heard the name. Last night at dinner. This was the woman who’d seen a man carrying what she thought was a woman’s body into the vegetation near the condo.
Piper looked at Kathy and waited for her cousin to bring up the subject. But Kathy steered the conversation to the wedding and her hopes that the weather would be good on Saturday.
Finally Piper took off the necklace. “I’m going to think about it,” she said, ever conscious of her tight budget.
As Piper returned the necklace to Mrs. Golubock, the woman closed her eyes, wobbled forward, and collapsed to the floor.
Chapter 19
D r. Robbins pulled the last sheet off the prescription pad. As usual, he’d been going through them quickly this morning. Some were for patients he’d had for a long time, and some were for recent referrals. It was gratifying to see how word spread when patients were satisfied.
He opened his desk drawer, looking for another pad. Finding none, Dr. Robbins immediately picked up the phone to call out to the reception desk.
“Umiko, I’m out of scrips,” he said in exasperation. “You have to order some more, fast.”
“I’ll be right there, Cryder dear,” answered Umiko.
Almost instantly there was a soft knock, and then the doctor’s door opened. Umiko stood there
Marissa Dobson
Alan F. Troop
Donna Grant
John Creasey
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Robert E. Dunn
Barry Petersen
Jenika Snow
Jerry Pournelle, Roland J. Green
Marvin H. Albert