Carol leaned against the counter and fanned herself with the book. “Let me get this straight. You’ve never seen her in person and you’ve never even heard her voice?”
Zing cleaned the glass cases and listened intently.
“So? Lots of famous people are that way. Ever since Dove became an author, she’s become very introverted and reclusive. Fame was forced upon her. She didn’t choose it, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” Carol said. “Fame and fortune is a real bitch.”
“Jealous much?” Nell retorted. She stalked back to the office. As soon as the door shut behind her, Carol made a perfect rim shot with the book into the trash barrel.
“Why did you do that? Don’t you want to read it?” Zing asked.
“Uh, no. It’s garbage.”
“How do you know?”
“I’ve tried to read a couple of her other books. I highly doubt she suddenly improved.”
“Do you mind if I read it?” Zing asked.
“Knock yourself out.”
“I think that would hurt. I stubbed my toe and that really hurt. I can’t imagine my head.” Zing fished the book out of the trash can. She dusted the flour off the cover.
“We’ve got to find this Dove woman and expose her for what she is,” Carol said. “Something is definitely hinky with the whole thing.”
“What do we do?”
“I don’t know yet. I have to think on it,” Carol said.
“I’ll ask Miracle to help us.”
“Couldn’t hurt,” Carol said. “How is she, anyway?”
“She wants me to invite you over for dinner tonight.”
“Really?” Carol looked excited by the invitation.
“Will you come, please? We can talk about a plan over dinner. Then we’ll have three heads.”
“Three heads?”
“Three heads are better than one,” Zing said.
“I believe the saying goes: two heads are better than one.”
“I know that. But if two is better, then three must be better by another third. I was good in math class.”
“Angels take math class?”
“Who do you think invented calculators?”
Carol laughed. It was the first time Zing had ever heard her laugh. It was a wonderful laugh, the kind that resonated from deep within and made everyone around her smile.
“So, what should I wear?” Carol asked.
“I don’t think it matters,” Zing said. “Miracle said she thought you were hot.” She touched Carol’s arm. “You don’t feel so hot to me.”
Carol turned crimson. “All right, I’ll come for dinner. But on one condition: no spaghetti.”
“What’s wrong with spaghetti?”
“It’s messy and I always get it on my shirt. I don’t know why people think going to an Italian restaurant on a first date is a good idea.”
“Okay, I’ll tell her. No spaghetti.”
There was a knock on the front door. Homeless Tom stood on the other side of the glass. He waved at them. Zing opened the door and said, “Hi, Homeless Tom. I’ve got sixteen donuts for you today. But no ice cream. Sorry.” She handed him the donut box.
“Thank you, Zing,” Tom said.
“Here’s looking at you, kid,” she said back with her best Bogart lisp.
“My favorite movie!” He cleared his through and recited, “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
“I’d be honored to be your friend,” Zing said truthfully.
Tom smiled and tipped his hat at her. “Well, I must be on my way. I must round up the usual suspects and give them their breakfast.”
“Yeah, those donuts aren’t going to eat themselves. See you tomorrow,” Zing said. She watched him amble down the sidewalk humming the tune to “As Time Goes By.” She shut and locked the door.
“Why’d you give him your donuts?” Carol asked. “You worked hard for those.”
“So he has more to give out. He has a lot of friends.”
“Hmmm. You’re starting to grow on me,” Carol said. She turned and walked back to the kitchen before Zing could reply.
Chapter Six
“How do I look?” Miracle asked, twirling around. She was wearing a pair of tight jeans that she ironed to have a razor-sharp crease down the front of the legs, and a pink and purple cowgirl shirt with a paisley pattern. Her boots were a dyed pink ostrich skin. Somehow, it all worked on her.
Zing applauded Miracle’s spin-about and said, “You look great!”
“Yeah, but will Carol think I’m sexy?”
“I think you are, but Carol is cranky so I don’t know what she’ll think. Thinking for other people seems dangerous,” Zing said then added, “I try not to do it.”