The Lush Life (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 8) Read Free

sizzle.
    “I’d like to know what we’re dealing with,” I said.
    “Do you think she’ll tell us the truth?” asked Martha.
    “I sure hope so,” I replied, then chuckled. “And to think I thought I’d be bored once I finished my last mystery.”
    “Bored never seems to come into the equation where we’re concerned, does it?” Martha said.
    “Sam, your grin says you love every minute of intrigue that lands in your lap,” laughed Betty.
    I tried to suppress another chuckle, but failed.
    “And,” added Hazel, “as long as you have us, your top-notch sleuthing team backing you up, you’re golden.”
    But as I considered Mona’s unexpected and suspicious arrival, I began to feel itchy. Like people get who ignore all the warnings about its hazards, but still walk right through poison ivy. Why turn back? I was already exposed.
    I had stepped into it, but the question was, into what?

 
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Fact From Fiction
     
    Our eyes traveled back and forth across the beautifully-set, flower-laden, and candlelit table, as Mona glossed over how Teddy and she met: an online dating site. Mona recited in a less-than-wordy explanation how she input her dream-date material. I gave Teddy the once-over. Her description of him had fit perfectly, which I found highly dubious. Mr. too-good-to-be-true Teddy and the ever-shrewd and savvy Mona were an unlikely pair: a beyond-believable match.
    “Teddy, what caught your interest in Mona?” I probed.
    “I wrote online I was an avid art enthusiast, and to my surprise, Mona replied she was just as passionate about art, and so was her sister, who had an impressive art collection. And here I thought witty Mona was just another pretty face, but after discovering our mutual interest, my world tilted.”
    ‘My world tilted?’ What idiot’s date guide did he read?
    “ Aww , Teddy,” said Mona, blushing.
    Oh, please...
    Martha had to look away for fear of cracking up.
    My BS meter was off the scale. He was Mona’s match alright: both experts in the con market. Was that her reason for latching onto him? Okay, I admit his good looks could stop traffic. But other than that, what was this really about?
    With Mona, trust me, something was always going on in the background. I was still lost in my musings of the, ‘how-they-got-together angle’ when Teddy turned my way and kept glancing back and forth between Mona and me.
    “I’m having a hard time seeing any kind of resemblance between you and your twin sister, Mona.”
    “Sam and I are fraternal twins, that’s why,” said Mona.
    I swear, I almost spit out my wine. Fraternal...twins?
    Mona quickly added, “Hard to believe, huh?”
    Martha jerked Mona’s way. “Takes a leap of faith...”
    Hazel coughed into her napkin to mask her laugh.
    Betty took a gulp of her wine, not daring to speak.
    Then I realized I hadn’t let my crew in on the lie Mona had spun about us being related and turned to explain.
    “...Uh, you remember me saying how different we were, being sisters and fraternal twins, too, don’t you?” I said, subtly winking, trying not to blow Mona’s mounting lies and still trying to figure out what she had up her sleeve.
    Snarky Martha eyed Mona’s full figure. “Must have been a tight fit for your Momma. I feel her pain.”
    Mona glared at Martha. “You’re such a jokester.”
    “True,” said Martha. “That’s what keeps me going.”
    “What? You’re imagination or your sense of humor?”
    “Where you’re concerned, both!” she said, grinning.
    Teddy checked his image on a silver bowl on the table.
    “Overreacting is unhealthy, Mona. It causes wrinkles.”
    Martha laughed. “Ah, Teddy offers intriguing advice.”
    Smoothing down his hair, he turned back to Martha.
    “...Yeah, I’m just full of intrigue.”
    Silence. Obviously, his focus was elsewhere: on himself.
    “He sure is full of something,” whispered Martha.
    “Are you familiar with my mystery series, Teddy?”
    “I guess