Sweet Mystery Read Online Free Page A

down on the opposite end of the bench. “So
you’ve been busy becoming a star, I hear.”
    “Hardly, but we did okay.”
    “You’re being modest. You always could play a
mean blues guitar.”
    Rae wondered where this conversation was
going. Toya hardly cared about her or her music career. She settled
back against the bench and waited. “Thanks.”
    “I’m sure you have lots of engagements.
Before you leave, tell me when your band will play around here
again. I’d like to see you perform.” Toya started to rise. Her tone
made it clear that she expected Rae to waste no time in leaving
Belle Rose.
    “No problem. Since I’m staying, you’ll get to
see me as often as you like.” Rae grinned at the effect of her
words.
    “Staying?” Toya echoed.
    “Sure, Daddy’s business is still here. I
think it could be successful.”
    Toya’s expression was taut. “Dalcour business
deals have a way of going up in flames. I shouldn’t have to remind
you of that.”
    “Yeah, well, Simon St. Cyr doesn’t think so.
He practically offered me an engraved invitation to do business
with him.”
    “Simon did what?” Toya snapped through
clenched teeth.
    Rae laughed. So, mentioning him touched a
sore spot. “Made it a point to find me. Seems like a real nice
man.” She made the simple words sound suggestive. “I really look
forward to meeting with him.”
    “You stay away from...” Toya’s voice trailed
off when she realized that Rae was enjoying her irritation. “You
never could recognize when you were out of your league.” She
flounced off.
    “See you around, Toya,” Rae called out in a
false tone of friendliness.
    Jamal and Wes appeared on the sidewalk,
carrying several bags of purchases. Wes tried to get Toya’s
attention, but she never looked his way.
    “Let me guess, she wasn’t exactly a pal of
yours back in the old days,” Jamal said.
    Wes gave a low grunt of approval. “My, oh my,
some fine-looking woman.”
    “Wes, the woman is a chainsaw in expensive
leather pumps,” Rae replied. “Toya is ten times more deadly than
both your ex-wives.
    “Ouch!” Wes wore a pained expression at the
mention of the two women who’d pursued him relentlessly for
alimony.
    “Listen, Rae, seems there are a lot of bad
memories here for you. Not to mention bad feeling.” Jamal jerked a
thumb in the direction Toya had taken. “Sure you wanna hang around
here?”
    Toya threw one last glare at them before
getting into her white Acura sedan and slamming the door.
    Rae smiled “Oh yes, I’m looking forward to it
more and more.”
     
     
     

Chapter 2
     
     
    “Look at this place. I don’t know how you
expect to make anything out of this,” Neville said.
    Rae’s older brother had taken several days
off from his job at Bryer Chemical Plant. He’d insisted on helping
Rae, but what he really meant to do was convince her not to operate
the dance hall.
    Rae gazed around at the dilapidated juke
joint that her father had operated for over twenty-five years. She
had to admit it looked pretty run down in the light of day. The
weather-beaten, cypress-wood planks that made up the outer walls
were broken in several places. One end of the roof sagged where a
corner post leaned crookedly.
    “It’s not so bad. We had some good times in
here.” Andrew put up a weak defense. Even he grimaced when they
walked inside.
    “How long since it was open for business?”
Rae pushed a broken chair from her path. The only light came from
the one of two windows since the electricity was turned off.
    “At least three years.” Andrew ran a hand
along one wall. “Poor Daddy.”
    “Even when he had it open, Daddy had to work
to support himself.” Neville was not feeling sentimental about the
dance hall. “Then he had to stop just about everything when he went
on disability. Not a thriving business.”
    “When we was kids, this place would jump.
Remember how we’d sneak over here and listen to the music?” Andrew
ignored Neville’s