Foods, Fools and a Dead Psychic by Maria Swan (read a book .TXT) 📗

gave me a side-glance, shook her head, but I think it was because of her desk’s state of disarray. I quickly retreated into the neutral zone and located Kassandra’s Another Day in Paradise mug. I filled it to the brim with coffee, managed to put together some large pieces of broken bagels, then carried it all to her desk. She looked rested and not sick, at least not in obvious ways.

“Guess what?” she said.

Talk about multitasking. She sipped coffee, munched on stale bagels, redirected phone calls and still tried to maintain a conversation. Wow!

“I think I know how the cops found out it was my bra.”

“You serious? How?”

“Crap, one pissed-off blonde heading this way.”

I heard the clapping of heels before I saw Celine. Made a quick turn around and went back into my Switzerland-safe-zone. Celine must have not received the note about kitchen neutrality. She flew in, minus the broom, and demanded a clean mug.

“For Tristan,” she added with a smug smile. I pointed to the stash on the counter and exited as fast as I could. I barely made it back to my cubicle when I heard a commotion, a crash and an ear piercing shriek. Celine had accidentally dropped the coffee. I peeked at the scene, along with every other agent in the bullpen. The blonde was so angry, she kicked the broken pieces of china around and hissed crazy stuff like “magic potion, what now- no fair.” No one moved, knowing her nature. She would have probably retaliated against anyone brave enough to volunteer to help her clean up the mess.

Celine’s mother and Tristan Dumont, however, did come out of the glass box to check on the ruckus. The blonde’s expression changed and she threw herself against the object of her — affection — landing on his chest in spite of the cool Mr. Dumont showing signs of clear panic while fending off the body-to-body warfare. The whole scene was so comical I didn’t even feel a bit jealous, just a whole lot of sadness for all of us involved, willingly or not.

FOUR

BY THE TIME I parked my Fiat in the office parking lot, it was past one o’clock and my stomach gurgled loudly. I had bypassed two of my favorite fast food places in order to do lunch with Kassandra, I didn’t care where. Today the main item on my menu was pure gossip. Before getting out of the car I scouted the surroundings, checking for familiar cars I wished to avoid. Okay, not the cars, the drivers. Celine’s blue Sebring convertible, gone. Sunny’s Cadillac, nope, not there. Tristan Dumont’s white Land Rover. Get a grip Monica, the Land Rover? Smashed to smithereens when a semi fell on it with you two in it... remember? I had no idea what kind of car he drove now. Better yet, I didn’t even know if he was driving. Deep breath Monica and march right in there. I did. Kassandra gave me an exaggerated hand wave and kept talking on the phone. I nodded, walked directly to my cubicle where I dropped my briefcase and proceeded to look for Kay.

Kay was one of the senior agents and had her own little private office. She had also mentored me since the first day I received my license. All that with Sunny’s blessing, of course. I wanted to discuss with Kay this new referral I received thanks to Brenda’s connections. The couple selling the patio home had already purchased in the Scottsdale retirement resort where Brenda worked as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. They took their time, aware it would be their last move, I imagine. Every object, down to the furniture, artwork and rugs had to be itemized. Keep or dump? The shedding now complete, it was time to list their place for sale. This property was in a very nice neighborhood, but the home needed updating. Also, it was in a community that was age restricted, 55 or older. I had no doubt Kay would know exactly how I should handle it.

“Normally I would suggest waiting until after the new year to list. People aren’t looking to buy weeks before Christmas,” she said. “But with the age restriction factored in and the fact that it would be the only active listing in such a sought-after area, I say go for it. Snowbirds will be flocking in fleeing the harsh winter back East. They may come to visit relatives and who knows? Decide to stay. You need to stage a little, get great pics, some twilight scenes, and since there is a man-made lake on the spot, make sure it gets included in at least a few photos. Create a sense of romance. Never too old for that. Do you know who to hire for the photo shoot?”

I nodded, “Yes, I’ve been using all the people you recommended from day one. I’m very happy with them. Is it okay if I show you some comps and some of the numbers I’m coming up with? No, not this instant. I’ve only been inside the home once. Maybe after I meet the photographer. That usually gives me a chance to see every angle, every nook through the fresh eye of a professional.”

Kay nodded her head, obviously pleased and I was happy about that. I headed back to my cubicle where I kept my info but before I turned the corner Kay called out to me, “Hey Monica, I hear Colter Cadillac is having a very nice clearance sale.”

Ouch. I didn’t turn around, didn’t stop walking. I raised my hand above my head and waved to let her know I heard her. I listened to her amused laugh chasing me as I walked away. Cadillac, right! Who did she think I was? Tristan Dumont? Back in my cubicle, I looked at everything that sold in my client’s neighborhood in the last four months. It wasn’t much and everything moved fast. Good. The new year was shaping up to be good as far as real