by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
From A Deathly Rattle Chapter One The Strike To Do: Attend the strike. Buy more prenatal vitamins. Figure out plan for new nursery. Land a new client. Exercise. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marina Drive is hands-down one of my favorite views of all of San Francisco. Today, the bridge was majestic, its towers bright and clear against the backdrop of blue water. The morning fog had burned off early, leaving the air smelling like spring. Mom turned off Marina Drive and down the narrow street toward the theater that had staged her most recent play. She parked in the lot outside the theater and stole a glance at me. “I feel sad. I hate that the play closed. It was so much fun.” I nodded. “I know. You played the role perfectly, completely over-the-top.” Mom laughed. “It wasn’t that bad of a play, do you think, Kate?” I smirked. She knew exactly what I thought. “If the director put on the play that Vicente had actually written, then it probably wouldn’t have been so bad,” I said. The director had torn the original script apart and made it into the embarrassment we’d all had to sit through the past week. Vicente had written a drama, and the director turned it into a comedy. He’d even gone as far as to add a ridiculous melodramatic musical number. “I swear, it was almost as though the director intentionally tried to make the play as terrible as possible. If that was his goal, he succeeded.” Mom winced. “Geez, Kate. Why don’t you tell me how you really...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? Did you miss Chapter Two? Did you miss part one of Chapter Three? From A Deathly Rattle Chapter Three Continued … “Although,” I continued, “she did pee through her diaper last night, so I get to wash all her sheets today. But that’s not why I called, either. I got the measuring tape out, and Jim, I don’t know how we’re going to fit two more baby beds in this room. Even if we move the dresser and the little bookshelf out, it’s going to be a really tight fit. I don’t know if we’ll even luck out and find two more cribs the size of Laurie’s. And, you watch—we’ll blink and Laurie’s going to need a toddler bed.” “That’s at least a year away,” Jim said in a reassuring voice. “But, you’re right. I was actually looking at that the other day. And you worked so hard on that nursery, babe. I’d hate to see it all covered up by cribs.” “But what are we going to do?” I eased myself down to lie on the floor. “It’s not like we have a spare room.” “What would you think about converting the garage?” he asked. “Oh,” I said, thinking. “Can we afford a renovation like that right now?” “I ran a few numbers, and it seems like it.” Laurie grabbed a chunk of my hair and tugged. I winced and disentangled her fingers from my hair. “I mean, that would make the driveway a little cluttered . . . but honestly, that’s probably our best bet, if we can make it work in the budget.”...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? Did you miss part one of Chapter Two? From A Deathly Rattle Chapter Three The Nursery To Do: Attend the strike. Buy more prenatal vitamins. Figure out plan for new nursery. Land a new client. Exercise. Call Deb. Call Barramendi—get copies of VD’s latest cases. A wave of nausea washed over me as I shuffled down the hall toward my wailing daughter’s room. I rubbed my bleary eyes. It was definitely too early for this. “Morning,” I sang as I came up to her crib, that gurgling sensation still churning in my stomach. No wonder she was crying—she had peed through her diaper. “Oh no,” I crooned. I lifted her up out of the crib and set her on the changing table. “Won’t a fresh, dry diaper feel better?” But even after I got her changed, she was fussy. “Breakfast time?” I asked. I picked her up and sank down in the rocking chair to breastfeed. Her cries faded to whimpers and then calmed. While I rocked her and tried not to think about my topsy-turvy stomach, I scanned the small bedroom that doubled as my office. We’d need another crib when the babies were born. Possibly two. Maybe we could let the twins sleep together for a month, but then it’d be best to get them used to their own space. Or should we start out with two more cribs right away? How the heck were we going to fit two more cribs in here? My desk took up a fair amount of space, but even if I moved it into the...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? Did you miss part one of Chapter Two? From A Deathly Rattle Chapter Two Continued … “Galigani thinks you should work this case,” Barramendi said. I blinked several times before turning my head toward the sleeping Vicente. “Um . . .” was all I managed to say. I was sensing some hostility from Barramendi, something I wasn’t used to getting from him. He and I had a great track record. I swallowed. “And you don’t think I should?” “It’s not that, Kate,” Barramendi muttered. “You’re just still so new at this.” “Barramendi,” Galigani said, puffing out his chest. “Kate’s batting a thousand. There hasn’t been a case yet she couldn’t solve, and you know it. She worked for you when she first got in this biz, so you know she’s got what it takes. I know with Domingo being your cousin, this is personal for you—” “Which is why I want someone with a bit more experience,” Barramendi said to Galigani. “Like yourself.” I frowned. “You know I can do this, right? I’ve handled a lot of cases since I worked for you last.” “And she’s handled them flawlessly,” Galigani said. “Didn’t a suspect poison her recently?” Barramendi crossed his arms. “Almost flawlessly.” A grin threatened to make its way across Galigani’s face. “She can do it.” Barramendi relented. “I know,” he said, looking at me somewhat apologetically. “He’s family, Kate. I hope you understand—” “I understand,” I said. “And I know you do good work,” he added. “And she won’t be alone,” Galigani said. “I will definitely be helping out. I just can’t take the lead...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? From A Deathly Rattle Chapter Two The following morning, I woke up feeling exceptionally groggy. It took several blinks before the memories of the night came rushing back to me. Vicente Domingo—shot three times. Close to bleeding out. My finger shoved in his artery while Deb did her best to keep him alive. I’d been up late waiting by the phone, and last I heard he was still in surgery with things looking dire. I had only gone home because of Laurie. Otherwise I would have waited at the hospital for better news. Still half asleep, I heard my cell phone ring. “Hello?” I groaned before even answering the phone. Clearly, I was delirious. I grabbed for the phone and answered it, clearing my throat first. “Hello?” I asked, feeling a bit more awake already as I rubbed my eyes. “Kate, it’s Galigani. How soon can you get to the hospital?” he asked, cutting straight to the chase in his typical Galigani fashion. Albert Galigani was not only my friend, boss, and mentor, but he also happened to be my mom’s boyfriend. He hadn’t been at the strike party yesterday because he’d claimed an evening dentist appointment. Personally, I figured he was trying to avoid manual labor. Anyway, Mom and I had called him from the hospital. He also knew Vicente Domingo well. “Um . . . give me twenty minutes,” I said, pulling myself out of bed. My kitten, Whiskers, momentarily complained about my jostling her, but she soon found the warm spot I’d just vacated and snuggled herself into it. “Don’t rub it in,”...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 1, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss part one of Chapter One? From A Deathly Rattle Chapter One Continued… “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, but I could tell he was suppressing a chuckle. Whether the rest of the play was true or not, I knew good and well that line in the play was meant for me. He seemed quite satisfied that I had caught on to that fact. “Yeah, sure,” I said. “You know, Vicente, I may still be a little new at this whole PI thing. But I solved two homicide cases this past month. Doubling my average. Does it make you nervous that this amateur broad is catching up to you?” He smirked again. “You’re actually pretty impressive, Kate. You’ve got gusto. Keep it up, and you might actually turn into some serious competition for me.” And with that, he rose out of his seat, looking like he was headed to the food table. “Ha! With that attitude, I’m never going to direct your play.” He froze and spun around. “You mean I have a chance?” Before I could answer, a woman I recognized as one of the ensemble members of the cast, with dyed-green hair and orange capri pants, swooped down the aisle and grabbed Vicente’s arm. “Where have you been hiding?” she screeched at him. “Amanda!” he said, kissing both her cheeks in his traditional Spanish greeting. He laced an arm through hers, but before heading off, he wagged a finger at me. “To be continued, Kate.” I nodded in agreement and turned my attention to the stage. Mom now had Laurie out of...
