miss fortune mystery (ff) - sinfully delicious (3 page)

I pulled the black ski cap down over my forehead. The three of us stood in Fortunes living room, decked out in our frequently used, totally black, up-to-no-good gear.

“Let’s go over the plan again.” Ida Bell said.

“We take Fortune’s new boat down the bayou and dock behind Francine’s. Café.” Fortune began. “Once there, we enter the café through the back door with the key Francine gave us.”

“I’ll take up post in the shadows beside the main entrance. Ida Bell will be hidden behind Francine’s desk in the office, and Fortune will be camped out in the shadows near the rear entrance.” I added.

“Right.” Ida Bell continued. “Then we wait. Once the thief enters the office, Gertie and Fortune will lock the entrances. At that point I will flick on the light and make myself known. From you two will make yourselves known and hopefully whoever it is will give in without a fight.”

“But if they do, you have your pepper spray don’t you?” Fortune asked.

Ida Bell nodded and patted her pocket.

“Then let’s get this show on the road.”

                                                                      * * * *

The boat ride to Francine’s lasted all of three minutes and was shockingly accident free. We docked behind the café and using the full moon as a spotlight, made our way to the back door.

The already open back door.

Fortune looked back at us and shook her head, then placed her finger over her mouth.

We eased the door open and I said a silent thank you that the hinges didn’t squeak. The three of us tiptoed in and saw a light coming from beneath the office door.

Someone was definitely inside and from the rustling noises coming from within, it was obvious that our thief was looking for the recipe.

Fortune waved her finger in the air, directing us to take up positions at the entrances. She stayed by the office door.

Once in place we gave her a thumbs up.

She didn’t really need to kick the door in or draw her gun, but I think Fortune had been feeling a little constricted and needed to let out some aggression. Especially since I’d smashed her nose only hours before.

Her foot slammed into the door and it flew open, hitting the wall behind it.

“Don’t move!” Fortune yelled.

There was a loud squeal followed the sound of a crash. Ida Bell and I hurried to the office and flanked Fortune on both sides.

“Who the hell are you?” Ida Bell asked the tall, thin redhead standing with her hands in the air and a frozen look of fear on her face.

“C-Cathy.” She sputtered.

Fortune put her gun away and asked. “The Cathy that Francine just hired?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“You’re the one who stole the recipe? Why?”

She dropped her hands and shook her head. “I never intended to hurt Francine, I swear, but I’m in college. My parents died six month back and ever since then I’ve been struggling to pay my tuition. Two men from New Orleans came in a couple of days ago and asked about the recipe. I told them that I didn’t know anything about it, but they made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. If I don’t pay the college within the next two weeks, I’ll have to quit. So, I followed Francine to the door of her office, watched her key in the safe combination, and then hurried back out front. When we were busy this morning, I snuck in and took the recipe.”

We all exchanged glances.  “That’s one hell of a reason to steal the recipe.” I admitted.

“Yes, but it doesn’t make it right.” Ida Bell said.

“I care about Francine and this town, but my entire future rides on me finishing college. I didn’t know what else to so.” Cathy said.

Ida Bell shook her head. “Where’s the recipe that you took this morning?”

“The fake? It’s right here.” She pulled a tattered brown card from her front pocket.

I reached out and took it. “This isn’t really a fake. We lied. We spread word that it was a fake in order to catch you.”

She looked completely defeated.

“I’ll call Carter.” Fortune left the room.

“What will happen to me?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out.” I said.

Chapter Five

The next morning came faster than we’d have liked. After our mid-night rendezvous with Cathy the Pudding Thief, we were all dragging, but the promise of Francine’s pudding had us up and headed into town before seven o’clock.

Sinful was decorated in all the usual fall colors, and booths lined the sidewalks and down the center of the main street.

We spotted Francine standing outside of her café with a huge grin on her face, and a table full of banana pudding in front of her, and made our way over.

“I can’t thank you gals enough!” she came around the table and crushed each of us in a bear hug.

“A bowl of that pudding is thanks enough.” I said and grabbed a bowl before it was all gone.

“What’s going to happen to Cathy?” Ida Bell asked.

“Well,” Francine sighed. “After Carter picked her up he called me down to the station. I talked to Cathy and she told me the reason why she stole my recipe. I felt bad for the girl. I asked myself what I would’ve done in her position. Any one of us would sit right here and say that we wouldn’t have done what she did, but the truth is, we don’t really know what we’d do until we’re in that position.”

“So, you just let her go?” I asked around a spoon full of pudding.

“Not necessarily. Carter and I worked out a type of community service, and I’m going to see what I can do to help her come up with the money to stay in college.”

“I can’t say I’d be as forgiving. You’re a good person, Francine.” Fortune said. 

We turned away from Francine’s table.

“If only every situation that cropped up in Sinful was that easy to solve.” Ida Bell said.

I nodded. “We wouldn’t be so tired all the time.”

“Speak for yourself. I’m not tired all the time, and you wouldn’t be either if you’d get yourself in shape.”

“It looks like our good sheriff could use a swift rescue.” Fortune interrupted our bickering. 

We spotted the good sheriff trying to get away from an obviously complaining Celia, and I laughed.

“Well, let’s give the man a hand before another situation pops up, but by the way Celia’s complaining, it looks like it might already have.”

We were a rag tag team, Fortune, Ida Bell, and I, but I don’t know what I’d do without my partners in crime.

                                                                                    The End.

About the Author

Anna Snow began writing as soon as she could hold a pen and hasn't stopped since.

(Before writing as Anna Snow, she published several books as Chastity Bush)
She loves life, and can think of nothing she enjoys more than spending time with her family and friends. 
She loves archery, reading, writing, kitties, spending time outdoors, and did I mention kitties? *Big grin*

Anna also loves to hear from her fans and answers all correspondence she receives.  

You can reach her at:

[email protected]

http://www.annasnow.info

http://www.facebook.com/authorannasnow

Enjoy a sneak peek at Anna’s upcoming contemporary romance Bubblegum Blonde.

Chapter One

It’s entirely possible to have both boobs and a brain.

I knew five years ago when I stepped into the role of private investigator that I would encounter a handful of the opposite sex who would disagree. I just never thought a handful would turn into ninety-nine percent.

They took one look at my ample chest, full lips, and blond hair and laughed. Apparently the ability to do ones job is now based on hair color.

I must have missed the memo.

But despite then occasional sexism and chuckles, I’ve done pretty well for myself. My P.I. firm is one of the most respected in the city and I have the client list to prove it. A list that included the wife of the cheating politician I was currently watching on surveillance tapes via my computer monitor.

“Barb, there’s someone here to see you.”

I glanced up from the screen I’d been staring at for what felt like a century and spotted Kelly closing the office door behind her. She was my assistant, a great girl, and my all time best friend. We’d met when I first opened the business and had been so close an industrial sized crowbar couldn’t pry us apart ever since. She didn’t take crap from anyone, but gave none either. She sported a number of tattoos, loved the color black, and was amazingly pretty with her own set of full lips, high cheekbones, and long, black hair.