Angora Alibi Read Online Free Page A

some improvements.
     He offered to cover those costs, too.”
    “So, Sam, when are you going to pull out your wallet?” Cass asked. “How about a new
     school for baby Perry?”
    Their laughter was drowned out by Willow, once again taking the microphone as she
     encouraged people to fill their plates at the gourmet food stations, enjoy the music
     and dancing, and above all, bid on the many treasurers awaiting signatures at the
     auction tables.
    Izzy dropped her purse at the table. “While all of you are enjoying your alcoholic
     beverages, I’m going to indulge myself in other ways. I’m going shopping.”
    “I’m right behind you,” Cass said, dropping a lacy wrap on a chair back and asking
     Danny to fill a plate for her.
    They walked across the room, passed the veranda where Cass’ brother, Pete, and his
     Fractured Fish band were warming up. Brightly decorated banners—courtesy of Canary
     Cove artists—hung from fish line above the auction tables, designating the auction
     categories.
    “Jewelry,” Izzy read, heading toward a white-clothed table with tiered displays.
    Willow was already there. “You have to see this,” she said, waving them over. “This
     came in late today, just as we were finishing the setup.”
    It was a platinum necklace—two gold hearts the size of pretzels hanging from the chain.
     Roped around the hearts, binding them together, was a string of sparkling sapphires,
     diamonds, and rubies.
    Izzy gasped. “Good grief.”
    “It’s big,” Cass said, touching the hearts with the tip of her finger.
    Nell walked up and looked over Cass’ shoulder. “My. It’s certainly large,” she said,
     moving in for a closer look. She frowned. “It looks familiar.”
    “It’d be difficult to forget,” Izzy said. “But it’s not exactly your taste, Aunt Nell.”
    Nell laughed. No, it wasn’t. It looked expensive. In fact, it shouted that fact for
     all to see. Nell’s taste in jewelry ran to far more simple items.
    “Are those stones real?” Izzy asked Willow.
    “Real as you and me. At least that’s what the papers accompanying it read.”
    “It must weigh a ton,” Cass said.
    Tamara Danvers walked up behind them. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? I could look at it
     all night.”
    “Beautiful . . . and big,” Cass repeated. “Very big.”
    But Tamara ignored the teasing. Her eyes grew large as she examined the clear, perfect
     diamonds, the rubies and sapphires circling the hearts. She leaned closer to the velvet
     display.
    Izzy looked at the card describing the gems. “It was an anonymous donation.”
    Anonymous
. Nell looked more closely at the hearts. “Someone was generous to part with this.”
    Tamara couldn’t take her eyes off the necklace. “I have a bracelet and earrings with
     jewels slightly bigger, more expensive, but it would go beautifully together. It’s
     very nice.”
    “And big,” Willow whispered to Cass behind Tamara’s back.
    Tamara touched it gingerly, almost as if a diamond would explode before her eyes.
     Then she pressed a finger to her throat, as if feeling the necklace hanging there,
     measuring it, touching her skin. “Franklin will want something to celebrate our news.
     This might be just the thing.” Her smile was coy. She wrote down his name.
    They waited for a moment to make sure of the good news being celebrated.
    Tamara touched her abdomen lightly. “The heir,” she said, then scribbled a bid behind
     his name. “People say it’s too early to be telling people, but I can’t seem to keep
     the news private.”
    “Good news can be like that,” Nell said. She smiled at the numbers Tamara had scribbled
     on the bid sheet. “Franklin is very generous.”
    “Yes, he is. He spoils me, especially now that we have a baby coming.”
    “The necklace will look great on you,” Izzy said. “Not too many people could wear
     a piece of jewelry like that—but you can, with your height and figure.”
    “And these new breasts that