Read Louisiana Longshot (A Miss Fortune Mystery, Book 1) for Free Online Page B

coffee and hurried upstairs to find something suitable for God and running. The coolest, thinnest fabric I could find in my assortment of girly wear was a turquoise cotton dress with no sleeves and a skirt that sorta branched out. I figured that would allow air to pass as well as provide plenty of leg room for sprinting, although I doubted the actual need given the apparent median age of the town.
    Despite the fact that I was lean and not overly endowed, I tossed on a bra, figuring I’d burst into flames if I walked into church without one. Underwear was a given as you never knew when you might have to go into a fast drop and roll. Flashing people on Main Street was illegal most everywhere. In Sinful, it might get you the death penalty.
    I hopped into the bathroom, filled my hands with cold water and splashed it on my face. That was normally the extent of my morning routine, but before I could turn and dash out, I remembered that I was supposed to be acting like a girl. I sighed and walked back into the bedroom to retrieve the bag of makeup I’d left on the desk the night before when I’d unpacked.  
    As I started to walk back into the bathroom, I saw a woman in the bathroom mirror.  
    My hand swept to my hip, reaching for the weapon that wasn’t there, and a second later, I realized how fortunate that was. The woman in the mirror was me.
    I stepped in front of the mirror and turned my head from side to side, watching the long blond extensions bounce across my shoulders. The high, narrow cheekbones that had made me look gaunt with a shaved head now looked exotic. The turquoise dress seemed to make my matching eyes glow, especially with the mass of blond framing it. Good Lord. I was actually pretty.
    Like Mom.
    The thought ripped through me before I could stop it. I dropped the makeup bag on the floor and clutched the bathroom counter with both hands, staring down at the sink. I hadn’t thought about her in years - hadn’t allowed myself to. Memories of my mother were the one thing that crippled me, and weakness in my line of work could get you killed.
    But I’m not working right now.
    That was true, but it didn’t mean I shouldn’t be on alert. I took a deep breath and shook my head, trying to clear the warring arguments. Gertie was waiting downstairs to take me to church. Thoughts about my mom always led to thoughts of my father. And those thoughts had no place in a church.  
    I picked the makeup bag up from the floor and pulled out a pale pink lipstick, grabbed my tennis shoes, then hurried out of the room, applying the lipstick as I walked. That was as good as it was getting. I couldn’t look at that face—my mother’s face—any longer.  
    “Sleeveless dresses aren’t illegal in church, are they?” I asked Gertie as I stepped into the kitchen.
    “Heavens, no. We’re devout, but we’re not barbarians. The humidity here is nothing to sneeze at.”
    Gertie handed me an enormous tapestry handbag that looked a lot like her own and I dropped tennis shoes and Tic Tacs inside. “Do I need anything else?”
    “Looks good to me. If you’re ready, let’s get going. I want to make sure we get the back pew.”
    I nodded and followed Gertie outside. I glanced around, but didn’t see a vehicle. “We’re walking?”
    “I had a bit of a fender bender,” Gertie said. “Wasn’t my fault, of course. It was a really stupid place to put a stop sign.”
    “Ah,” I said, figuring I was better off without the details.
    “Anyway, I’m supposed to get my car back this week.” Gertie looked over at me. “Marge has a Jeep, you know.”
    “Really? That’s great. I didn’t know if I’d have a vehicle while I was here.”
    Gertie nodded. “The battery’s dead because it hasn’t been used, but Walter, who owns the general store, ordered one for it last week.”
    “Cool.”
    Since Marge’s house was only two blocks from Main Street, it didn’t take long to arrive at church. I was amused to see that both