When I hear the tapping of her finger on the sensitive microphone, I know it is, in fact, on. “Well, first of all, I’d like to remind everyone to stop into Bella’s Bakery this Saturday. I’ll be introducing a brand-new pastry called Lou Lou’s Pecan Crisp.”
Oh, shit. She named a treat after me? I know I’m blushing. Plus, what a clever way to promote herself. She’s a smart cookie.
“Get there early. Trust me, they’re delicious.”
“Thank you, Bella,” Bill Schumacher says, beaming at her.
“All right. What I plan to do, if this show does what you think it’s going to do….”
“It will,” someone in the audience shouts.
“Right.” Bella nods. “I’m going to make cookies with each of the signs. Sugar, I believe, with royal icing. I’m also thinking shortbread, but I’ll work out the details soon.”
“Great idea,” Bill Schumacher says loudly. “What a clever idea.”
It’s notthatclever.
“Wonderful. Thank you, Bella.” Kitty hits the hammer once. “Next.”
By the time Bella sits next to me, we’ve already heard one idea from Joe, the owner and bartender of Brother’s Place. He’s going to make signature cocktails for each sign. Different vodka drinks that will each be a different color and flavor.
Sounds yummy.
Leaning over, I whisper to Bella, “You could have warned me you were going up there.”
“And spoil the surprise?” I get her smile. “Your expression was worth it.”
“And could Bill Schumacher be any more in love with you?”
“Stop. He is not.”
“He is.” I lean in closer. “And one Sheriff Finn Manning.”
A rare blush creeps over her cheeks. “Stop. He is definitelynotinterested.”
“He is.”
“Shh.” She slaps my arm. “Mona’s up there.”
The room has gone completely silent. Sure, Mona is a massive pain the ass to almost everyone in this room, but she’s not the type to go up in front of everyone and give suggestions about ways we can gouge the Zodiac Hills tourists.
Oh, wait. Yes, she is.
“What I’m going to do is offer these yahoos a place to stay using that bed-and-breakfast application thing. According to my research, I have the potential to make three times more on my rental properties than I do now.”
She certainly has a lot of rental properties.
“What about the tenants you currently have living in these properties?” That was asked by Sherry Waters, a tenant of Mona’s that currently lives in one of her bungalows. Hers is on Chatham Street.
Mona shrugs. “Sounds like a personal problem to me.”
“You can’t—” Sherry starts to say.
Mona holds up her hand to stop Sherry. “I can. Read your rental agreement.” Mona smirks. “The small print.”
This certainly turns the meeting from something entertaining into something else completely. The room is in an uproar, mainly because a good number of people in attendance live in one of Mona’s houses. Kitty tries to calm the crowd down with her hammer, but it’s not working this time. People are standing up now, pointing at Desdemona Keres, but she doesn’t seem to care. Hell, I think she’s enjoying it.
“I’ll see you in court.” That’s something I hear from my left.
