Wild Goose Chase Read Online Free

don’t hover, you’re making me nervous.”
    “I was ten feet away—you looked like you were having a problem.”
    “I’m fine. This computer is stupid, that’s all,” Kym said.
    “Can I take a look?”
    The program was hanging up, most likely from Kym banging on too many keys. With two swift strokes, I closed it down and brought the program back up.
    “Don’t keep pounding on the keyboard, Kym,” I said. “You’ll confuse things. Do you want me to do this for a while? You can watch me.”
    “No, I can do it.” Her teeth were gritted. She was going to break a cap if she wasn’t careful. That would be my fault, too.
    “Okay,” I said, as the system came back up. I smiled at the waiting customer and entered the password. “Try not to hit two keys at once. Call me when you get frustrated. I’m right here.”
    Kym turned back to the computer with a scowl. I knew she was not trying very hard to learn the system. My job today would be to stay close and make sure she learned. A customer thrust her credit card at Jenn, who was helping Kym finish the sale.
    “Think they can do it?” Ina whispered, as I joined her. “Kym is so resistant. And Jenn will follow her lead.”
    “It’s pretty foolproof. The system is designed so you don’t have to be computer-literate to use it. They’d have to try hard to screw it up.”
    “Don’t underestimate Kym’s determination to stay out of the modern age. Look at our booth, for crying out loud. Did you know she wanted me to wear a snood?” Ina said.
    Whatever a snood was, the idea of wearing one was pissing Ina off. I didn’t want that. I made some soothing noises.
    “I saw you talking with Claire Armstrong earlier,” she said. “What did she want?”
    Ina’s question sounded casual, but her lips were tight. I looked at her face, trying to read her emotions behind the question. Did she dislike Claire? Did she know about Mom selling?
    Before I could ask Ina what she knew about Mom and Claire, we were interrupted by a customer looking for an Indonesian batik. Ina went off with her and two women in matching lime-green Delta Quilters Guild T-shirts requested Lark Gordon’s latest book from me.
    Customers steadily entered the booth. I cut fabric, recommended patterns, and demonstrated notions with Ina and Jenn. I kept a watchful eye on Kym.
    Two hours later, when the first rush of customers ebbed, Kym came down off her stool. She stretched her hands over her head and bent from the waist several times.
    “Been a good morning for sales,” she said. “I’ve taken in probably a thousand dollars.”
    I didn’t dare ask if the computer was making the sales go smoother; she’d never admit if it was. “I can run a report right now if you want to know the exact amount,” I said, heading for the computer.
    Kym shrugged as though she didn’t care. “I’m going to take a break,” she said, her body humming with tension.
    “Okay,” I said. “Jenn, want to go with her? Ina and I can handle things.”
    Kym was already in the aisle. “That’s okay,” she shot back. “I need to be alone for a while.”
    Working at the computer must have stressed her more than I realized. I shrugged at Jenn who glared at me and stalked over to man the cash register.
    “I thought those two went everywhere together,” I whispered to Ina.
    “Usually they do. Maybe Kym has an assignation,” she said with a phony French accent. She clamped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry, I forgot for a moment that she’s married to your brother. I didn’t mean …”
    “No problem. Sometimes I wish she would find another man and let my brother go.”
    I slapped my cheek as Ina giggled. “Did I say that out loud?”
    “Don’t worry, I’ll never tell,” Ina said.
    I straightened the fat quarters that had gotten messy from the morning’s groping. A hoot of laughter came from my left. In the convention center, the atmosphere was like a street fair. Booths of colorful merchandise lined the