Catching Sam: Book 2 of 5: The MacDonald Brothers by Emily Matthews (best mystery novels of all time TXT) 📗

she hedged. “How about we go look at the silent auction items?” She led Beckie to the back of the room, where they perused all the extravagant trips and gift baskets. The prices were already way out of their price range, but it was fun to look. Lunch with the Seahawks quarterback, a trip for two to Hawaii, an afternoon being catered to on someone’s yacht, and a diamond necklace were just some of the donated items.

“You gonna bid on anything?” Beckie whispered.

“Uh, no. I’d love to be able to help, but I’ll never be able to outbid these folks.”

“Hey, look at this. Lunch with Mr. MacDonald is on this one,” she exclaimed. “That’s so cool of him to donate his time.”

“What? Let me see.” Annie moved to check the list and saw that the bid was already at ten thousand dollars. Geez, Louise. While she was gawking, Sam’s elegant, superhuman date glided over to where they were standing.

“Is this where I purchase Sam MacDonald?” she asked haughtily, looking down her nose at them.

“Oh, yes. Excuse us,” Annie said as she inched a little to her right, pretending to look at the next bidding sheet.

“I know what I’d do with him for an afternoon,” said the woman with a slight slur. “And it wouldn’t be lunch, if you know what I mean.” She snickered as she made her bid. Annie resisted the urge to mark her territory and tell her just how unbelievable it would be. She knew she had no right to be jealous, but the green juice coursed through her veins anyway.

Annie glanced at the paper and saw that the woman’s name was Stephanie and that she’d bid twenty thousand dollars—ten thousand more than the previous bid.

“That should do it,” Stephanie said, dropping the pen. “Let’s see someone top that.”

She walked away without waiting for a response or even looking at them.

Once she was out of sight, Annie picked up the pen and wrote an even higher number.

“What are you doing?” Beckie asked, horrified. “I thought you couldn’t afford this.”

“Oh, I have no intention of winning,” Annie said with a smirk. “I’ll just up the bid a little to make her pay more.”

Beckie looked scandalized.

“People do it all the time,” Annie said. “It’s how to make more money.”

Beckie looked down at the paper and gasped. “A little more?” she exclaimed. “You call ten thousand dollars a little more?”

“She looks like she can afford it. And besides, it’s for a good cause. Shall we head to the restroom before dinner starts?” Beckie nodded and followed Annie out to the lobby.

The ladies’ room was the most elegant Annie had ever seen. Thick carpet lined a sitting room the size of her living room. An ornate chandelier hung majestically above several plush chairs. They walked through the room to the stalls.

Afterward, an attendant squirted soap directly into their hands and handed them a towel after they washed. It probably made patrons feel fawned over, but Annie couldn’t help but think it was also a sneaky way to make sure everyone used soap.

She reapplied her lipstick and smoothed her hair. She’d had it styled into an elegant up-do which apparently required no less than ten thousand bobby pins. Most of which were poking her in the head.

She was putting her lipstick back in her purse when Sam’s date entered. She stumbled a little over the threshold but caught herself before falling.

“Oops.” She giggled to herself. She swayed a little as she walked over to one of the mirrors and dabbed at her makeup. Annie watched her glance over both shoulders before taking a silver flask out of her clutch and throwing back a swig. Apparently, Annie and Beckie weren’t significant enough to hide from.

Annie and Beckie hustled out and, in their hurry, almost ran into Sam, who was waiting dutifully outside the door.

“Oh, hey.” Annie feigned casualness. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Sam leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. She supposed that was how all rich people greeted each other so no one would think twice about it. He seemed to linger and squeezed her arm.

“You both look lovely,” he said sincerely.

“Oh, Mr. MacDonald. I’m so glad we ran into you. I wanted to thank you for the tickets. I haven’t seen my mother this excited for anything in a very long time. It was all she could talk about all week. And she’s already made a new friend.”

“I’m glad,” Sam said. “Where are you seated? Did you get a good table?”

“Oh, yes. We’re off to the side but close to the front,” Beckie said. “We saw that you are one of the auction items too. That’s very generous of you to donate your time.”

“That was all Phillip. I’m hoping I go to someone who has a meaningful purpose.” He glanced at Annie and raised both eyebrows.

“I think your date has made plans already,” Annie said.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

Stephanie exited the restroom and joined them. She was sucking on a breath mint, but the underlying smell of booze was unmistakable.

“Sam, thanks for waiting. You’re a doll,” she cooed as she ran a hand up and down his arm possessively.

Sam shot Annie a look of irritation.

It was all Annie could do not to push her away and shout, He’s mine, you lush. She was jealous but had no right to be, so she excused herself and Beckie and made her way back to the table.

“You look so beautiful tonight, Beckie. There’s something different about you.” Annie squinted as if she could figure it out by looking harder.

Beckie blushed but smiled brightly. “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything, but I’ve met someone,” she whispered. “A man.”

“That’s fantastic!” Annie exclaimed. “Tell me all about it.”

Beckie told her all about John, who was in finance and worked in their building. They’d only had coffee and spoken a few times on the phone, but he was very interested in her and especially her work.

“I’m thrilled for you, Beckie. He must be a smart man.”