But think of all the colors!Rookie exclaims.And the sparkly bits! Humans love sparkly bits almost as much as they love treats.
Cricket swishes her tail at him.Someone has been rummaging through Hattie’s unmentionables again.
Clarabelle wipes cinnamon sugar from her fingers with a napkin that immediately surrenders to the stickiness. “Well, I’ll be. Edison’s not exactly the fashion capital of Maine, is it?”
“That’s putting it generously,” Peyton says, sounding like she wouldn’t be caught dead in Edison under normal circumstances. “It’s where sophistication goes to die a slow, painful death.”
I study the website more closely. The photos show luxurious displays of lingerie that wouldn’t look out of place in a Parisian boutique, but something about the whole setup feels off. Like putting a tiara on a garbage can and calling it royalty.
“The last place anyone goes looking for high-end anything is somewhere like Edison,” I point out. “Which maybe makes it the perfect place to put it.” I shrug. “I’m obviously not business-minded, but then maybe Vivienne isn’t either. Plus, she’s not from around here. She may not have realized where she was putting down stakes.”
Peggy nods. “Smart thinking, sugar. Plus, rent’s probably cheaper than dirt in Edison. More money for fancy lace and whatnot.”
Peyton pulls out her own phone and starts typing, turning research into an art form. “According to this, Midnight Velour Intimates has been open for six months. Just long enough to establish a customer base but not long enough to attract too much attention.”
“And,” I add, reading over her shoulder, “they specialize incustom consultations for the discerning woman.That could mean anything from personal shopping to... well, things I don’t want to think about while drinking coffee.”
I take another sip of my increasingly delicious latte and consider our options. Edison is not exactly a destination any of us would choose under normal circumstances. It’s where GPS probably apologizes for taking you there. But we don’t really have a choice in the matter.
“I guess we’re going to Edison,” I say.
The words hang in the air like a death sentence. Even the fire seems to dim a little at the prospect.
Peggy claps her hands together, generating enough enthusiasm to light up the entire café. “Road trip! I call shotgun!”
This should be interesting,Cricket notes.Peggy, Clarabelle, Peyton, Hattie, and two pets in a car trip to investigate a lingerie shop in a questionable part of town. What could possibly go wrong?
Everything,Rookie adds cheerfully.But think of the adventure! And maybe they’ll have treats!He glances at the cinnamon roll on Peggy’s plate, and without thinking twice, he snatches it up and takes off for the door.
I don’t even bother reprimanding him. Honestly, he just beat me to it.
I grab my coat. Peyton’s name isn’t going to clear itself.
CHAPTER 11
Downtown Edison smells like broken dreams and cheap cologne, with just a hint of desperation wafting from the pawn shops and check-cashing places that line the cracked sidewalks.
The late afternoon sun struggles to penetrate the urban haze, casting everything in a sepia tone that makes even the graffiti look depressed. Car horns honk in the distance, punctuated by the occasional siren, while Christmas decorations hang limply from streetlights like they’ve given up on spreading holiday cheer in a place that clearly doesn’t want it.
I’m standing outside Midnight Velour Intimates with Cricket’s head poking out of my tote bag like a furry periscope, while Clarabelle holds Rookie’s leash in a grip so firm I half expect the leather to beg for mercy.
“Well, pickle my peaches,” Peggy announces, staring up at the surprisingly ritzy storefront. “This place has more class than I expected.”
The shop window displays silk lingerie arranged with alarming artistic detail. Twinkle lights frame each displaycase, and the gold lettering on the glass door looks like it was painted by a jeweler.
“It’s like finding a diamond in a coal mine,” Clarabelle says as her eyes scan the neighborhood for trouble that she clearly knows how to spot. “A very expensive, very scandalous diamond.”
Peyton adjusts her purse strap like she’s preparing for battle. “Let’s just get this over with. The sooner we find Vivienne Velour, the sooner I can get my life back.”
I don’t understand why we had to come to this questionable town,Cricket complains from the safety of my bag.The scents here are most disturbing. I detect at least seventeen different varieties of poor life decisions.
Are you kidding? Everything smells like adventure!Rookie counters, his tail wagging as he takes in the urban decay with golden retriever optimism.And car exhaust! I love car exhaust!
I offer him a simple smile. I knew he had a thing for Ginger.
My phone buzzes as we’re walking toward Midnight Velour Intimates, and I glance down to see our murder club group chat exploding with the enthusiasm worthy of a celebrity scandal.
Murder Club Group Chat
