Page 7 of Deadly Designs

Aja Blue’s employees were gathered around Sara Lea’sdesk when she entered with Jay on her heels. “What’s up?”

“Take a look at this,” Darwin said, pointing to acardboard box. “It just arrived.”

Aja Blue stepped forward and peered inside. Her gutclenched. Someone had altered a Ken doll with garish makeup, flashyclothes, and feathers. If that wasn’t disturbing enough, they’dtied a noose around his neck. Jay gasped.

“Who was it addressed to?”

“Aja Blue Designs,” Sara Lea answered.

“We need to call the police.”

Jay would be upset, but she didn’t care. The sickohad stepped up their threats. This needed to be documented. Textmessages were one thing. A desecrated doll was next level.

“I’m outtie. See ya.” Jay slipped on his glasses andheaded for the door.

“Jay, I drove you today,” she reminded him.

“I’ll call an Uber,” he said over his shoulderwithout turning around.

“Jay, you need to stay and talk to the cops.”

Short of hog-tying him to the copy machine—which wastempting—she couldn’t stop him from leaving. She jogged outside tosee that he had indeed gone, and rather quickly because there wasno sign of him.

A headache that had been brewing all day rushedforward as she dealt with the cops. They took the information downbut didn’t seem to plan on investigating. They mumbled things aboutworkloads, staff shortages, and various other excuses. She’dexpected better.

After sending everyone home for the day, she closedthe office and drove to her condo. When her cell phone rang, she’djust poured her favorite Pinot Noir into a glass. She didn’trecognize the number and almost let it go to voicemail, but afterthe events of the day, something told her to answer.

“Hello?”

There was silence on the other end, but she couldhear breathing, then a dial tone.

Aja Blue took the phone from her ear and stared atit. That was strange. On a hunch, she tapped the number andredialed. She’d been trying to contact her former costar andfriend, Polly Deeken, for months but had run into one dead endafter another. Polly was sadly under the influence of herdomineering boyfriend. Aja Blue had left messages for hereverywhere, wanting to make sure she was okay, but Polly haddropped off the face of the earth.

“Aguas Tranquilas Resort and Spa. My name is Inez.How may I help you today?”

“Inez, could you please ring the room for eitherPolly Deeken or Dirk Haines?”

“Certainly. One moment, please.” After a pause, Inezreturned. “I’m sorry. I don’t have anyone registered under thosenames.”

“What about Starla Hart?”

“Not for that one either.”

“Thank you for looking. Can you tell me where you’relocated?”

“Absolutely. We’re in Sedona, Arizona.”

Aja Blue thanked her again and disconnected. Had itbeen Polly reaching out to her? Maybe she was afraid Dirk wouldoverhear, so she disconnected. It could’ve been a prank callrelated to the threats Jay had received. Perhaps it was simply awrong number, and they hung up when they didn’t recognize hervoice.

Something told her it was Polly.

Making a snap decision, Aja Blue called the airlineand booked a flight to Arizona. Then she left messages for Sara Leaand Jay. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do when she’drecently landed a monumental client, but Jay could handle thingswhile she was out of the office for a few days. She had a friend torescue.

Chapter One

Aja Blue LaLonde was beingfollowed. She was sure of it. The only question was, why? Shedidn’t owe money to any unsavory characters. She wasn’t in troublewith the Internal Revenue Service. All her bills were paid, and shehad no debt. No skeletons hung in her closet, nor were there anyenemies she knew of. She was about as vanilla as you could get.

Was it because of Jay and his tormentors? Polly andDirk?

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