discussing
this with Mr. Netterville,” Willa finished.
Mrs. Netterville took a dainty sip from her
cup, put it down and then stood. “I apologize for making a scene.
But f Ms. Landry thinks she can take my husband, she’s in for a hot
mess of trouble. She doesn’t deserve such loyal friends. You girls
should consider if she’s worth your time.”
“Oh I have, trust me,” Willa mumbled low as
she stood. “By the way, why did you think MiMi would be here?”
“I Googled her and read news stories, you
know when her fiancé was murdered over a year ago. They mentioned
you and her, how you helped solve the case. The stories made it
sound like you were sisters almost, and that she helped in other
investigations at Crown Protection.”
“Yeah,” Willa said dryly. “MiMi gave some
colorful interviews.”
“Goodness, I’m hosting the alumni chapter of
my sorority for lunch. I should get going. I apologize for causing
a commotion at your place of business.” Mrs. Netterville walked to
the door.
Willa and Kay followed her. They kept up a
steady stream of niceties as they guided Mrs. Netterville on her
way. Both were eager to get her out before her mood swung back to
Mrs. Screaming Jealous Wife Threatening Legal Action. When they
returned, Jazz sat calmly finishing off the smooth expensive blend
Willa preferred. When her sister came back and shut the door, Jazz
put down her empty cup.
“You need to cut expenses and stop paying
fifteen dollars for a bag of Colombia Supremo. MiMi says this place
is bleeding cash.” Jazz leaned back in the chair.
“That was a gift from a client, and I seldom
give a crap about what MiMi says. We’re not bleeding cash if it’s
any of your business, or hers; which it isn’t.” Willa gazed at Jazz
with one eyebrow lifted. “You dragged yourself out of bed and got
all made up this early for nothing.”
“I had errands to run, and I just happened
to be...” Jazz’s voiced trailed off at the look on Willa’s face.
“Oh hell, why even try. Look, MiMi isn’t a complete idiot when it
comes to money. She’s right. Some of that money is mine, hers, and
yours. We earned it.”
“I’m not chasing after laundered drug
money,” Willa broke in before Jazz could go on. “I’m not following
any advice from MiMi. Did you just see what kind of trouble she
causes? She shows up and shit hits the fan..”
“Just listen a minute.”
“Okay.” Willa moved the tray of cups back to
the side table. Then she poured a fresh serving of the gourmet brew
and sat down in her leather executive chair. “I need a good
laugh.”
“That’s the spirit, sis. Keep an open mind,”
Jazz drawled. She heaved a sigh. “Okay, so MiMi has, let’s call
them challenges.”
Willa snorted. “Yeah, let’s.”
“But in this case she’s on the target. My
place is doing okay. I break even and pay myself a small amount
every month. Lucky I don’t pay a mortgage or rent.” Jazz slumped
back in her chair. “Owning a business is a butt whipping every damn
day.”
“Who you tellin’?” Willa retorted. “Have a
donut. One of my employees brought them in fresh this morning.”
Jazz looked at the open box of glazed fried
temptation. “No, thanks. I better keep my figure in case I end up
dancing at somebody else’s club soon.”
“Wait, are you holding back?” Willa frowned
at Jazz and put down her cup. “I’ve got savings, so if you’re about
to have serious money problems--”
“You know I don’t roll like that. I’ve been
taking care of me one way or the other for a long time. Besides,
you’ve got kids.” Jazz looked away from the sadness that flittered
across Willa’s face. “Anyway, I’m not saying I’m about to be on the
street”
“Are you sure?” Willa went into mother hen
mode as she left her chair and sat next to Jazz.
“Yeah, it’s just... I need the cash. Maybe
I’ll ditch the dancers, and just have the restaurant. Or I could
buy in a nicer part of town. I don’t
this with Mr. Netterville,” Willa finished.
Mrs. Netterville took a dainty sip from her
cup, put it down and then stood. “I apologize for making a scene.
But f Ms. Landry thinks she can take my husband, she’s in for a hot
mess of trouble. She doesn’t deserve such loyal friends. You girls
should consider if she’s worth your time.”
“Oh I have, trust me,” Willa mumbled low as
she stood. “By the way, why did you think MiMi would be here?”
“I Googled her and read news stories, you
know when her fiancé was murdered over a year ago. They mentioned
you and her, how you helped solve the case. The stories made it
sound like you were sisters almost, and that she helped in other
investigations at Crown Protection.”
“Yeah,” Willa said dryly. “MiMi gave some
colorful interviews.”
“Goodness, I’m hosting the alumni chapter of
my sorority for lunch. I should get going. I apologize for causing
a commotion at your place of business.” Mrs. Netterville walked to
the door.
Willa and Kay followed her. They kept up a
steady stream of niceties as they guided Mrs. Netterville on her
way. Both were eager to get her out before her mood swung back to
Mrs. Screaming Jealous Wife Threatening Legal Action. When they
returned, Jazz sat calmly finishing off the smooth expensive blend
Willa preferred. When her sister came back and shut the door, Jazz
put down her empty cup.
“You need to cut expenses and stop paying
fifteen dollars for a bag of Colombia Supremo. MiMi says this place
is bleeding cash.” Jazz leaned back in the chair.
“That was a gift from a client, and I seldom
give a crap about what MiMi says. We’re not bleeding cash if it’s
any of your business, or hers; which it isn’t.” Willa gazed at Jazz
with one eyebrow lifted. “You dragged yourself out of bed and got
all made up this early for nothing.”
“I had errands to run, and I just happened
to be...” Jazz’s voiced trailed off at the look on Willa’s face.
“Oh hell, why even try. Look, MiMi isn’t a complete idiot when it
comes to money. She’s right. Some of that money is mine, hers, and
yours. We earned it.”
“I’m not chasing after laundered drug
money,” Willa broke in before Jazz could go on. “I’m not following
any advice from MiMi. Did you just see what kind of trouble she
causes? She shows up and shit hits the fan..”
“Just listen a minute.”
“Okay.” Willa moved the tray of cups back to
the side table. Then she poured a fresh serving of the gourmet brew
and sat down in her leather executive chair. “I need a good
laugh.”
“That’s the spirit, sis. Keep an open mind,”
Jazz drawled. She heaved a sigh. “Okay, so MiMi has, let’s call
them challenges.”
Willa snorted. “Yeah, let’s.”
“But in this case she’s on the target. My
place is doing okay. I break even and pay myself a small amount
every month. Lucky I don’t pay a mortgage or rent.” Jazz slumped
back in her chair. “Owning a business is a butt whipping every damn
day.”
“Who you tellin’?” Willa retorted. “Have a
donut. One of my employees brought them in fresh this morning.”
Jazz looked at the open box of glazed fried
temptation. “No, thanks. I better keep my figure in case I end up
dancing at somebody else’s club soon.”
“Wait, are you holding back?” Willa frowned
at Jazz and put down her cup. “I’ve got savings, so if you’re about
to have serious money problems--”
“You know I don’t roll like that. I’ve been
taking care of me one way or the other for a long time. Besides,
you’ve got kids.” Jazz looked away from the sadness that flittered
across Willa’s face. “Anyway, I’m not saying I’m about to be on the
street”
“Are you sure?” Willa went into mother hen
mode as she left her chair and sat next to Jazz.
“Yeah, it’s just... I need the cash. Maybe
I’ll ditch the dancers, and just have the restaurant. Or I could
buy in a nicer part of town. I don’t
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