Checkered Crime: A Laurel London Mystery by tonya kappes

putting my ball back in the ball rack.
    “Better luck next time.” Sharon Fasa winked before she blew on her knuckles and pretended to polish them off on her shoulder.
    “Did you see Trixie Turner with that foil on her head?” One of the other blue-hairs shook her head. “Crazy.”
    “Ignore them.” Gia rushed over and grabbed me before I could go all ape shit on them. “Old people think they can say whatever they want. They are the crazy ones.”
    “I want to beat them.” My blood pressure rose as I tried to keep it together. “Do not ask anyone else to join our team. Got it?” I jerked away and headed toward Shelia to return my shoes.
    “Yeah. Fine,” Gia called after me.
    I put my shoes on the counter for Sheila and tried to get the hell out of Lucky Strikes. I didn’t want to be interrogated by Derek. I didn’t want to fight with old women. And I certainly didn’t want to talk to Jax Jackson.
    Poor Derek had an off game. He had several gutters, which I hadn’t seen him do since we used to sneak out of the orphanage and sneak into Lucky Strikes in the middle of the night and play a couple rounds.
    Derek didn’t seem to care because he looked pretty content watching Jax’s every move. Alex and Adam were pretty good bowlers. Carmine and Gia not so much, but Gia was my best friend and Carmine was her appendage. Jax Jackson didn’t do so bad either, every frame he either had a strike or a spare. Too bad he’s only here for the details of the festival. I hated to admit that the team could use him. He could be the extra member.
    “Come on.” Derek tilted his head toward his truck. He fiddled with his keys. “I’ll give you a lift.”
    “Nah. It’s a beautiful night.” I ran my hand down his arm. “Thanks but it’ll be good to walk off some of the beer calories.”
    “Suit yourself.” Derek glanced around. The door swung open and Jax walked out. “You sure?”
    “Yeah.” I found it cute in a big brother kind of way that he was looking out for me. I waved bye to him after he jumped into the truck and sped off.
    The parking lot was thinning out. I walked faster. Not that I was scared, but I could feel the stare of Jax Jackson.
    “Hold up!” Jax yelled.
    I ignored him until he jogged up next to me.
    “You can drive me back to the Windmill.” Jax assumed I was his taxi service while in town.
    “I don’t think so.” I flung my bag over my shoulder and continued to walk outside. “Besides I walked.”
    The stars dotted the night sky. The temperature was perfect for a nice walk. It made me happy that I had chosen to walk instead of drive.
    Gia and Carmine beeped when they drove up with the top down in their red Jeep Wrangler. Gia was lucky. Her parents gave her whatever she wanted. The Jeep was a present when she and Carmine had gotten married along with a house.
    “You want to grab a beer from Benny?” Gia asked me and Jax.
    I could see excitement at the prospect of something going on between me and Jax.
    “No thanks. I’m tired.” I waved her off and didn’t even wait for Jax to answer.
    “Call you tomorrow!” Gia screamed out, grabbing the rollover bar when Carmine peeled out of the parking lot.
    “Wow!” Jax gasped and stood right in the middle of the parking lot as cars tried to pass him.
    “Get out of the way.” I shook my head and continued to walk. “You’re going to get killed.”
    “Look at that sky.” He rushed up next to me.
    The smell of his cologne circled my head making me dizzy. I bet it was some high-dollar fancy New York City department store cologne. Definitely nothing they sold in the locked counter behind the make-up department at K-Mart.
    I took a few quick breaths to keep me grounded.
    “What?” I looked up thinking the stars were falling or something.
    “I have never seen stars like that,” he said. “Beautiful,” he whispered so low, I barely heard him.
    The moonlight dripped down on Jax like the night was meant for him. In the light, his hazel