Home > Work > Flame and Fortune (Miss Fortune Mystery, #22)
1 " He looked confused. “Don’t all of you carry guns?” “Yes,” I said. “But we’re prepared to shoot people. Can you shoot someone?” His eyes widened. “God, no! I’m vegan.” “Eating them is optional,” Gertie said. "
― Jana Deleon , Flame and Fortune (Miss Fortune Mystery, #22)
2 " Is this what it’s like for you—you walk in on naked people?” he asked. “The kind of people who you never, ever want to see naked in the first place?” “It happens more often than you’d think,” I said. “No wonder you shoot people and blow up things,” he said. “That is no way to live. "
3 " The only other item was a duffel bag. Inside were some clothes and a couple boxes of rounds—nine millimeter and .45. I wasn’t sure what it said about a man when he traveled with two boxes of ammo and only one change of underwear, but I was pretty sure it was nothing good. "
4 " It was okay though,” Gertie said. “Jeb said she wasn’t a pleasant woman anyway, so we vacuumed the rug and deposited her in the flower bed out front.” “I was beginning to question why we’re friends when you told us about the lights,” I said. “But you sort of redeemed the whole thing with the efficient flower bed disposal part of the story.” “I’m guessing Jeb’s mother might feel differently,” Ida Belle said. "
5 " I’m still not going to be Miss New Year’s Hoochie to be put up for a Swamp Bar vote,” I said. “What I can’t figure is why the two of you thought I’d go along. You know me. Sequins? A dress that barely covers the important parts—and wouldn’t if I bent or, God forbid, sneezed. I’d love to hear where you think I’d put my pistol. And don’t tell me you expect me to leave it at home, because then I’ll assume you don’t even know me.” “Lord no!” “That’s just crazy talk! "
6 " It was always nice to get one over on Celia, but that still wasn’t enough for me to wear sequins and a push-up bra. It was the fact that RJ had been so mean to Ally that she still held a grudge that had me wavering. I hated mean. Deadly, I could appreciate, but mean was just cowardly. "
7 " It wasn’t long ago that I left the CIA and DC, moved to Sinful, adopted a cat, quit my job, acquired a boyfriend, and for Christ’s sake, I just wore a sequined dress and a tiara on a parade float. If there is any more change in my life, I might spontaneously combust. "
8 " I stared at her in dismay. “You expect me to shop, too? Good God. Is the apocalypse happening and I missed the Rider of Death? "
9 " But all the paper wasn’t the best call. Still, there’s only so many things to decorate with, and with the fire extinguishers and volunteers on hand, we figured it would be all right.” “Technically, it was,” I said. “No one died.” Gertie laughed. “The advantage of setting the bar really, really low.” “I’m not so sure that ‘no one died’ is a low bar in Sinful,” I said. "
10 " Carter, who had scratches across his forehead, stepped in front of me and raised an eyebrow. “I’m not going to tell you to hold fire,” he said. “But you have to start with either Gertie or that cat. "