by Diana Orgain | Jul 10, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? From Prams and Poison Chapter Two The next day, Mom was practically glowing when she arrived for babysitting duty. She hung her purse on a hook on the wall and danced to the couch to take Laurie from me. When Mom was this excited about something, it usually meant trouble—that she’d bought something for Laurie that she loved but knew I would secretly hate, or that she’d gotten deeply invested in another one of her projects, which almost always involved meddling with something. I eyed her suspiciously. “What are you so excited about?” She planted a big kiss on Laurie’s chubby cheek. “Oh, I just had a perfectly lovely date with Hank yesterday. We went to Pier 39 to watch the sea lions!” Yup. Trouble. But I kept my face pleasantly neutral and started picking up the toys strewn around the living room. “That sounds like fun.” I didn’t even know where to start with my mom’s love life. She’d been dating two men, who were both crazy about her. They knew about each other—she hadn’t kept it a secret or anything—but it was quickly becoming clear that she was going to have to pick one to settle down with. It was like she was running her own personal finale of The Bache‐ lorette. Hank, an adventurous pharmacist who’d struck it rich on the stock market—Mom had no idea how rich—seemed nice enough. Though I did need to check into an odd claim another PI had made about him that he was part of a nefarious underground gambling ring and had exhibited a violent...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 10, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss part one of Chapter One? From Prams and Poison Chapter One Continued “It’s a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she raved. “A chance to leave my mark on a unique piece of classic San Francisco. I just hope I can do it justice. I’m meeting with the clients tomorrow to look at the house.” “You deserve every bit of this success,” I said firmly. Paws zipped across the dirt patch, kicking a cloud of dust up into my face. A ticklish sensation in my nose overpowered me, and I sneezed. The four-legged troublemaker turned around and jumped up on me, his paws connecting with my shoulders and knocking me off balance. “Paws!” scolded Paula. But I just laughed and sat back up, brushing myself off. “Maybe we should dampen the dirt a little so there’s not so much dust. We’ve got a mister attachment on the hose that should do the job nicely.” Paula made a face but picked her way to the side of the house and gingerly picked up the hose. “Twist it to the left,” I called. She turned on the hose and raced over to the garden, waving the hose in the general direction of the dirt patch. Too late, I realized the mister attachment was lying in the dirt at the side of the house. A stream of water burst from the end of the hose just as I pulled Laurie and Danny away. Paws charged straight for the onslaught of water and tore head‐ first into the mud. Paula shrieked and dropped the hose. “Oh no! Wet dog!” she wailed, running back to...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 3, 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 Rockabye Murder Chapter Three Continued “I said, get out,” Eddie growled. “I won’t say it again.” Monte flipped him the bird, then turned and stalked out of the studio. “Unpleasant business,” muttered a British accent from behind me, and I realized Leo had followed us out. “Yes, very unpleasant,” replied Eddie, scowling in the direction of the door. Then he turned to us, brightening. “Jim and Kate! Dave said you were coming.” “Where is Dave?” Jim asked, wrinkling his nose. Petunia typed something on the computer and said, “He went out to grab some subs for dinner. Monte’s a coward, and Dave intimidates him. He must have been watching the studio, so he could come bother us as soon as Dave left.” This was my opportunity. “What’s been going on with Monte? I take it this isn’t your first run-in.” Jim shifted beside me, and I could tell he was trying to suppress a smirk. He could see right through me. Jack, who was shorter than Eddie and Dave by a full head but looked remarkably like Dave, slumped into one of the lobby chairs. “Monte opened up a dance studio next door, and he wants our space.” “Wants to drive out the competition, more like,” muttered Petunia, re-tucking the flower in her hair. “Our dance instructors are better than his.” Jim stepped over to the window and peered out, no doubt looking to see if Monte was still lurking. “Why would someone open up a dance studio right next to...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 2, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
From Rockabye Murder Chapter One To Do: 1. Land new client. 2. Research the best baby-proofing system. 3. Sign up for prenatal exercise class? 4. Meet contractor who is doing garage reno. I frowned at the batter in the kitchen aid mixer, wasn’t brownie batter supposed to be smooth and thin? Or was that just for brownies out of a box? “Maybe I put in too much flour,” I murmured, shifting my eight-month-old daughter Laurie on my hip. I glanced at the clock. The contractor we’d hired to do the garage renovation was swinging by in ten minutes to take a look at the space. “Ma-ma,” Laurie babbled, and my chest filled with happiness. “That’s the nicest thing anybody’s ever called me, peanuty pie,” I said, tapping her on the nose. Too late, I realized my finger was covered in flour, and now Laurie’s nose had a dusty white streak. “Whoops! Sorry, honey.” I leaned toward the counter and reached for a napkin to dab her clean. With a gurgle of glee, Laurie lurched forward, and I swiftly maneuvered to keep her from sailing out of my arms. “Now, listen—” Laurie’s tiny fingers curled around the edge of the half-empty flour jar, and time seemed to slow down as the plastic tub teetered on the edge of the countertop and tumbled into the air . . . and I couldn’t do anything about it without losing my grip on Laurie. I watched in horror as it flipped upside-down, dumping a veritable mountain of flour. The jar hit the kitchen floor with a thud, belching a cloud of white powder...
by Diana Orgain | Jul 2, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? Did you miss Chapter Two? From Rockabye Murder Chapter Three Petunia wants to marry Dave? “Oh,” I said, momentarily confused. “How long have you been dating?” She glanced down at the floor and bit her lip. “A year. I know that doesn’t sound like very long, but I’m about to turn thirty, and I really want kids, and . . . I let my last boyfriend string me along for five years before I accepted that he was never going to commit.” “I’m sorry.” “I don’t need him to propose right away.” She looked up and met my gaze. “Although I’d be thrilled if he did. I love him. I’m in love with him.” A giddy smile flashed across her face. “I just need to know that he’s eventually going to commit, you know? That history isn’t going to repeat itself.” “Have you talked to Dave about your feelings?” I asked. “I think so. Maybe I should have said it more directly—” “Petunia, darling,” said an older gentleman from the doorway. “How are you?” Older or not, his British accent and neatly pressed suit no doubt made most women swoon. I glanced down at my jeans. Yup. Definitely underdressed. “That’s Leo,” said Petunia, smoothing her floral skirt. “He’s the dance instructor for your lesson.” She shifted from foot to foot and whispered, “I’m sorry. I feel like I shouldn’t have asked you. You won’t tell Dave, will you? I don’t want him to feel pressured into something he isn’t ready for.” I promised I wouldn’t breathe a word, and a moment later, Jim returned....
by Diana Orgain | Jul 2, 2021 | Maternal Instincts Mysteries, Sneak Peek, Uncategorized
Did you miss Chapter One? Did you miss part one of Chapter Two? From Rockabye Murder Chapter Two Continued Kenny arrived just as I finished putting on my mascara “Kate, can I order—” “Pizza money is on the counter,” I said with a grin. Kenny, who’d just turned eighteen, lived to raid our fridge and to devour any pizza we would buy him. His folks still hadn’t given up trying to make him a vegan. He flipped his pink hair—the tips used to be purple but now they were blue— and gave me two thumbs up before scooping up Laurie. I stared at his hair. The tips were blue on one side, but on the other . . . “Did you shave half your head?” He groaned. “Don’t remind me.” Blinking a few times, I asked, “Why did you shave half your head? I mean, it looks great—edgy and artistic, and all that. But you don’t seem happy about it.” “I got a bird stuck in it,” he mumbled. “You got a what stuck in it?” He sat down with Laurie and started to play peek-a-boo. “So, I took Siena—you know, the one with the nose ring—on a date to the zoo.” Ah, yes, Kenny had been quite enthusiastic about Nose Ring, as I’d taken to calling her in my head. He’d met her a couple of weeks ago while busking with his tuba at Fisherman’s Wharf. He covered his eyes. “We went into the aviary. Peekaboo!” He opened his hands and peeked out at Laurie. “Oh no.” I grimaced. “Oh yes.” He covered his eyes again. “Anyway, we...
