Love Can Be Murder

cheating heart, to the sound of enthusiastic cheers. The force dislodged the little car from his hand, sending it crashing to the floor, crumpling the front end. Groans and chortles chorused around the room, then everyone applauded heartily.
    "A prick for a prick!" Liz shouted.
    Penny took a little bow, flushed with the exhilaration of retaliation—even if it was meaningless. Then unbidden, Jules's words of warning came back to her about voodoo not being for amateurs. Staring down at the mortally wounded doll, Penny experienced a blip of panic: She didn't truly wish Deke harm.
    Although she wouldn't lose sleep if the thieving bastard came down with his own bad case of heartache.

Chapter Ten

    Allow everything to ferment...

    "I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH for coming," Penny said, hugging Liz, then Wendy. They had stayed behind for farewell drinks. Everyone else had left Caskey's in various stages of inebriation and celebration to enjoy the festival that was still going strong. "It was wonderful to see you both."
    "I wish we could stay longer," Wendy said, "but I have to be back tomorrow to get ready for an exhibit. Maybe we can all get together during the holidays."
    "Liz,” Penny said, “we can have lunch when I come to the city to see Gloria Dalton. I invited her to come tonight, but she said she had a commitment."
    Liz lifted her hands. "I've tried to get to know Gloria, but she's so private. I've heard that her house is like a fortress." Then she scowled. "I can't believe that on top of everything else, Deke hid assets during the divorce." She nodded to Penny's bag of gag gifts. "You should have torn the head off of that voodoo doll!"
    At Liz's vicious tone, Penny laughed nervously. "Were you the one who brought it?"
    "No, but it was brilliant. That man deserves to be taught a lesson."
    Wendy nodded fervently. "He can't get away with this."
    Touched that her friends were so angry on her behalf, Penny set her jaw. She was definitely going to call B.J. and begin laying her plan of attack against Deke and Sheena. ( Lay being the operative word.) "Don't worry—I have plans for Deke. He's going to regret screwing me over." She stood and grabbed the table to steady herself.
    Liz frowned. "Are you sure you're okay to walk home? Maybe you should get some coffee first?"
    "No, I'm just across the square," Penny said, then inhaled deeply before turning toward the exit. "I'll be fine." Besides, if she sobered up, she might not make that phone call.
    "You're going to feel like hell tomorrow," Wendy said.
    Penny winced and put her hand to her head. "I think I will go to the ladies' room before I leave."
    "Want us to wait?" Wendy asked.
    "No, go ahead. Drive safely."
    They embraced again, then the women left the bar. Penny watched them, her chest squeezing with fondness. But as she watched, Liz wheeled on Wendy and said something sharp, her expression angry, her finger accusing. Wendy seemed to shrink under the verbal attack before responding. Then Wendy strode ahead, her body language jerky. Liz glared after her before following.
    Penny frowned at the exchange, wondering what they were arguing about—Wendy's mystery friend? Penny's predicament? Liz's ability to drive home? Then Penny dismissed it; the two women had always bickered, but they'd somehow managed to stay friends.
    In the ladies' room, she wet a paper towel and dabbed at her neck and forehead. Her reflection in the mirror was fuzzily attractive—she finally understood the concept of "beer glasses." But her hands were covered with the damnable glitter from her makeup. Everything she touched sparkled...and B.J. didn't seem like the kind of guy who would appreciate waking up tomorrow with sparkles on his—
    "Granola Girl—I thought that was you."
    Penny looked up to see Sheena standing next to her, her hip cocked and her neck hitched in an unnatural position, a huge python-skin bag over her shoulder. “Hello, Sheena.”
    The woman snapped her gum. "Did Deke get ahold of you?"
    Penny sighed and tossed the soggy paper towel in the trash. "I don't know what you mean."
    Snap, snap, cock, hitch. "He's lookin' for somethin' in the house and thought you might know where it is."
    "What's he lookin'—I mean looking —for?"
    "Search me," she said with a shrug.
    "Considering how few clothes you're wearing, that wouldn't take long."
    Sheena narrowed her eyes. "He's been tryin' to reach you. He seemed kinda worried, so you should give him a call at our home."
    At their