Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: Blinded By The Trees

The couple stopped. "What?" the man asked in a surly voice turning in Johanna's direction. He was unshaven and his eyes were bloodshot. His companion clinging tightly to his side looked timidly at them. She was mousy looking, thin and probably not much past her teens.

"We're looking for someone who lives on this street and we were wondering if you could give us directions."

"Who?" the man asked in an unfriendly tone of voice.

Johanna kept her foot near the gas pedal as she chatted. "We want to pay our condolences to Brenda and Clyde Burrows."

The timid woman who'd been silently observing them finally spoke. "They're probably down at Micki's Tavern. That's where they usually are."

"But their son—"

"It don't matter," the man broke in. "They didn't give a damn about that kid." He leaned in the window. Johanna could smell the stale whiskey on his breath. She recoiled. "I hope they're not close friends of yours or you'll be insulted by what I'm going to say. This neighborhood was bad enough before that trash moved in here." He scratched his stubbly chin. "They live in the apartment across from ours. The beatings that kid took would make your skin crawl."

"Did you ever call the sheriff or police?" Frankie asked.

The man threw his head back and laughed revealing two missing bottom teeth. "Now that's a good one."

"Well, thank you for your help. We'll check the bar," Johanna said.

The man shrugged as he took the woman's arm and resumed walking.

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Other Woman

Frankie's shoulders slumped. Why wasn't Johanna demanding that Gretchen leave? A cold clamminess overtook her. "Johanna, I'd like to talk to you in private, please," Frankie said in a low voice. She tightly clasped her trembling hands.

Johanna hesitated. "In a minute, Frankie." She kept her eyes glued on Gretchen. "I'm waiting, Gretchen."

"Now!" Frankie demanded not caring how she looked to Gracelyn and Gretchen. She couldn't take any more of this humiliation. She quickly exited the room avoiding eye contact with Gretchen and Gracelyn, but felt their eyes boring into her back as she stiffly walked through the door toward her bedroom. Johanna had let Gretchen and her mother make a fool out of her and it left her hurt, confused, and so very afraid. Frankie choked back a sob that had bubbled up in her throat.

Frankie heard Johanna's quick footsteps following her to their bedroom. Once inside, Frankie whirled on her. "Is this the woman who caused you to leave California? Is Gretchen your ex-lover?" Her body shook convulsively. "Dammit, Johanna, answer me."

Johanna lowered her eyes. "Yes, but please let me explain."

Frankie hurried to the closet and pulled out a suitcase. "Don't bother. I get the picture. At least it explains your mother's odd behavior."

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Saturday's Excerpt – Partners: The Wrong Corpse

Frankie parked the car as far as she could off the shoulder of the road obscuring it from view by overgrown brush. She turned off the engine. "Now we wait."

Johanna patted Frankie's knee. "Let's make ourselves comfortable. This could be a long night." She settled back in her seat.

"I'm glad we got out of the office at a decent hour so you were able to cook that fantastic dinner. I love when you cook."

Frankie grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Don't forget it's your turn to cook tomorrow night. I'm thinking I may be in the mood for something hot and spicy, like Mexican."

"Then afterwards maybe we'll get a chance to go for that moonlight swim we've been aiming for all summer, before the nice weather disappears." She sighed deeply. "In a couple of weeks it's going to be too chilly to swim at night."

Frankie ran her tongue seductively over her lips. "I can't wait to see your naked body shimmering in the moonlight. Remember last summer, making love in the pool and on the deck?"

"Stop or we're going to end up in the backseat," Johanna warned.

"And that's a bad thing?" She cocked an eye.

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Saturday's Excerpt – The Three Of Us

"You're getting married?" Deborah asked, shocked.

"Yes, Mom. Please be happy for me. Now I know why the other relationships never worked out. Lily is the woman I am meant to be with for the rest of my life. We have so much in common. She's incredible."

Caroline's announcement threw her off guard. "Of course, I'm happy for you, honey. It's just that your news about getting married has taken me by surprise. Give me a minute to let it sink in," she said with a smile and then realized Caroline couldn't see her facial expressions. "I am thrilled for you, honey," she said mustering as much excited emotion as she could force into her voice.

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