The Chain of Lies - By Debra Burroughs Page 0,37

quickly apologized, grabbing a napkin out of the holder in the center of the table.

“It wasn’t that funny.” Emily covered her lips with her fingers to contain a giggle. “At least at the time it wasn’t.” She tore a packet of sugar open and dumped it in her coffee.

“You’ll have to tell me about that some time. Sounds like a scream.” Isabel grabbed a couple of cookies from the plate. “But back to the dead woman—what are your suspicions?”

“Well…” Emily stirred her coffee, “I was planning on talking to you about this later anyway, so I guess now’s as good a time as any. Remember I asked you about the Jade Thai Spa and you were going to check to see if it was one the Feds were watching?”

“Yeah, but I haven’t gotten a response back yet.”

“I think the young dead woman may have something to do with that.”

“You mean the prostitution ring?”

“Yes.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Call it a gut feeling.”

Emily didn’t have any actual evidence pointing to it, but there was something about the dead woman that made her think of the Asian girl in the hotel restroom. “I was hoping we could all put our heads together this afternoon and come up with a way to find out.”

“Like a sting or something?”

“Exactly,” Emily replied, wagging a Nutter Butter at Isabel. “Camille’s brother said he’d done an investigative report on human trafficking, perhaps he can give us some ideas.”

“Maybe, but if the Feds are watching that place, they’ll want to be alerted to anything you’re planning to do so it doesn’t blow up their case.”

“You can be our liaison, Is.” Emily dipped one end of her cookie in her coffee. “You know, a go-between.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Em. We don’t even know if the dead girl had anything to do with the Jade Thai Spa.”

“Not yet, but soon I hope. Then we need to jump on it quick.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Isabel popped another cookie in her mouth.

“Oh, by the way,” Emily softly patted the gun through the fabric, “where should we hide this baby?”

CHAPTER 12

“Hey, y’all!” Maggie called out as she waltzed through the doorway of Camille’s family room, holding a couple of loaded plastic grocery bags in each hand. “Sorry I’m late. Has the game started?”

“Maggie!” Camille squealed, running to her from the kitchen, giving her a big hug. Emily and Isabel weren’t far behind.

“What’s in the bags?” Isabel asked.

“I’ve got four different kinds of chips, that yummy granola from Costco, and I brought my famous chocolate pecan pie—my mama’s recipe.”

“That’s not like you to bring so many carbs, Maggs,” Emily commented, taking a couple of bags off her hands.

“I didn’t say I was gonna eat ’em. They’re for all y’all.”

Peter stepped in and reached for the remaining bags. “Here, let me help you with those,” he offered, taking them from her and marching them into the kitchen.

“Maggie, you remember my brother, Peter?”

“Yes, from the airport.” Maggie leaned on the breakfast bar.

“That was nice of you to think of us, Maggie,” Isabel said as she followed Peter into the open kitchen area. “I’d love to sample your mom’s chocolate pecan pie.”

“Go right ahead,” Maggie replied to Isabel, but her eyes were on Peter. “How long are y’all in town for, Peter?”

“Only another week or two, then I’m headed to Seattle to start a new job. I’ll be a news anchor at one of the television stations there.”

“I adore Seattle. It’s such a great city—so clean, and all those trees.”

“It’s all that rain, I hear. If you’re ever up that way, look me up and I’ll take you out sightseeing.”

“Sounds nice.”

Emily watched Maggie, obviously working to be her usual upbeat self. Not long ago, she had suffered the heartbreaking loss of a relationship with a man she loved. The trip to Hawaii was intended to lift her spirits and help her on the road to recovery. Maybe Peter wasn’t the right man for her, especially with him off to another city soon, but Emily hoped Maggie’s budding friendship with Peter could at least give her a glimpse of a happier future.

A loud cheer roared from the family room where the men were huddled around the big-screen television watching the second quarter of the game. Emily figured BSU must have made a touchdown or some equally exciting play. Within minutes, every man was off the sofa, and like a herd, headed to the dining table which was now covered with Camille’s delectable feast.

“What’s happening?” Maggie asked.

“Halftime,” Colin

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