Read Behind the Seams for Free Online

began to figure that Robyn was the woman Nell had been talking about to her aunt.
    Robyn eyed her darkly. “Not that I have to explain anything to you, but our audience usually behaves. But these two,” she said, gesturing toward us. I belatedly realized that by coming with Adele, I was considered as naughty as she was.
    For the first time, Nell looked at Adele and me long enough to register our identities. I suppose Nell thought she was already in enough trouble with Robyn and didn’t need the added burden of admitting that she knew us because she regarded us as if we were complete strangers. I had to nudge Adele and give her my best impression of CeeCee’s cease-and-desist look to keep her from saying anything.
    No wonder Nell had been crying on her aunt’s shoulder about this woman. I was sure if she made this much of an issue about a possibly lukewarm latte, she was just looking to hassle Nell.
    Finally Robyn took the coffee cup from the holder and looked at the empty spots around it. “Did you forget my sweetener?”
    Nell appeared flustered and embarrassed as she rushed out through the door.
    Robyn’s mouth seemed stuck in an angry expression, and I thought of telling her that being so upset wasn’t good for her health, but reconsidered, realizing she would probably just get angrier at the comment. She leaned back in the hard chair, pulled out her iPhone and began flipping through things. Adele had taken to staring at her and I was going to nudge her to try to get her to stop, but Adele spoke first.
    “I knew you looked familiar. I’ve seen you in the café of Shedd and Royal.”
    The woman barely nodded and Adele continued. “You know I could probably get you some coupons for free lattes. Bob would make sure they were hot.” Adele leaned closer and held up the rows of double crochets hanging off her hook. “I scratch your back. You scratch mine.” She punctuated it with a wink. “You’d be doing your boss a favor by putting on a show dedicated to crochet. She bites her nails, she’s always trying some new diet, and I heard her say she wanted to learn how to meditate.” Adele held the hook higher, and the stitched yarn swung back and forth. “All the answers are right before your eyes.”
    Robyn responded with a dismissive shrug and a roll of her eyes. Adele got that crazed look again and I had to restrain her. Luckily Nell’s return distracted Adele. Nell took something out of her denim shirt pocket. I hadn’t noticed before, but there was a tiny darker blue motif made out of crochet thread sewn onto the pocket. CeeCee must have made it for her.
    Robyn snatched the packet with an impatient groan and added the contents to her cup. She gave the drink a quick stir and picked it up.
    I didn’t realize it at first, but I was already cringing, expecting some kind of outburst since the coffee drink couldn’t possibly still be hot.
    Robyn put the drink to her lips and finally drank some. She appeared hostile as she turned to Nell. “It’s cold,” Robyn barked as she pushed the cup toward Nell. “Go and get me . . .” Her voice trailed off as the cup fell from her hand. It hit the floor and splattered, making a large beige puddle on the charcoal gray carpet. When I looked up, I was shocked to see foam coming out of Robyn’s mouth, and then she began to convulse.
    Nell seemed frozen in her spot as the producer fell forward out of the chair and onto the floor.
    I grabbed Robyn’s iPhone and dialed 911.

CHAPTER 4
    I’D NEVER BEFORE SEEN ANYBODY DIE RIGHT IN front of my eyes. The three of us stood around helplessly trying to figure out what to do as Robyn lay writhing on the floor. Adele got disgruntled with our inactivity, and with her pink pom-poms flying, leaned over the woman and tried to at least raise her shoulders. I bent down to help. It was a horrific sight as Robyn thrashed around and kept slipping from our grasp. The convulsing went on for a few minutes, and then abruptly Robyn was stone