It Doesn’t Pay to be Bad, Book 5 of the Janet Maple Series
Janet Maple couldn’t be happier—she just tied the knot with the man of her dreams and her work
partner, Dennis Walker. Back from their honeymoon, Janet and Dennis are about to settle into
married life, but a simple painting they brought back with them turns out to be much more than a
memento.
Suddenly, Janet and Dennis find themselves in the middle of an international art theft scheme,
tasked to entrap one of the most sought after art criminals in the world. There’s just one
glitch—Janet and Dennis aren’t exactly art buffs. Will the duo have what it takes to get the job
done?
*It Doesn’t Pay to be Bad is book 5 of the Janet Maple Series, but it can be easily read on its
own.*
EXCERPT
Twenty minutes later Janet and Dennis were in the hotel lobby. Janet had called Pierre
before they went downstairs and he already had a car waiting for them.
“Madam, if I may, you look very stylish today,” Pierre complimented Janet on her outfit.
“Thank you, Pierre. The boutique in old town that you recommended turned out to be
fantastic. I love the local designers.” Janet twirled to showcase her navy striped dress, wide-
brimmed straw hat, and red high-heeled sandals.
“Magnificent!” Pierre exclaimed.
“Thank you, Pierre,” Dennis said wryly. “My wife has been raving about your
recommendations our entire stay.”
Pierre lowered his eyes modestly. “I aim to please. There is so much to see in our town,
but alas, there’s always too little time to see it all.”
“Yes,” Dennis said pointedly. “Too little time indeed.”
“My apologies, the car is waiting for you,” Pierre said, quickly catching Dennis’s drift.
“I checked the gallery hours yesterday and they are open until six in the evening on weekdays.
Enjoy your trip, Jeanette.” Pierre bowed, once he’d walked them to the car.
Janet smiled at the French version of her name, by which Pierre had been addressing her
during the entire stay. “Thank you, Pierre. Hopefully we’ll find something to bring back with
“Oh, I think you will. Joyau Gallery is truly a hidden gem of ours—off the beaten path, as
the saying goes. Few tourists know about it, but I thought you would appreciate it.”
“Thank you, Pierre. I’m really looking forward to it,” Janet said.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Janet looked up as an elderly sales clerk emerged from the back room.
“Bonjour,” the sales clerk greeted them. He was short and very thin, looking almost like a
dried up twig. He wore a tailored suit that fit his slight frame almost like a glove, complete with
a bowtie and patent leather shoes.
“Good afternoon.” Janet smiled. “Pardon me, but do you speak English?”
“Of course.” The sales clerk bowed slightly. “But I am very sorry to say that we are
closed.”
“Closed?” Dennis frowned. “But our concierge told us you’d be open. Look, we’re
leaving tomorrow. Couldn’t you make an exception?”
The sales clerk shook his head apologetically. “I am very sorry, but we are taking
inventory. Normally we’d be open, but not today.”
“Are you sure you couldn’t make an exception?” Janet decided to give it a try. “You have
such beautiful paintings here, and I was so hoping to buy a nice seascape for our apartment.”
The clerk’s eyes widened, a worried look coming over his face. “Did you say a seascape,
Madame?”
“Yes.” Janet nodded. “A seascape for our new apartment.”
“Mon dieu! Un Americain looking for a seascape for the new apartment! Red shoes, navy
dress—” he muttered. “Forgive my impertinence. This old head isn’t what it used to be.” He
flung up his hands. “I believe I have exactly what you’re looking for. Let me make sure that we
will not be interrupted.” He hurried to lock the front door. “I will be right back.”
EXCERPT
Twenty minutes later Janet and Dennis were in the hotel lobby. Janet had called Pierre
before they went downstairs and he already had a car waiting for them.
“Madam, if I may, you look very stylish today,” Pierre complimented Janet on her outfit.
“Thank you, Pierre. The boutique in old town that you recommended turned out to be
fantastic. I love the local designers.” Janet twirled to showcase her navy striped dress, wide-
brimmed straw hat, and red high-heeled sandals.
“Magnificent!” Pierre exclaimed.
“Thank you, Pierre,” Dennis said wryly. “My wife has been raving about your
recommendations our entire stay.”
Pierre lowered his eyes modestly. “I aim to please. There is so much to see in our town,
but alas, there’s always too little time to see it all.”
“Yes,” Dennis said pointedly. “Too little time indeed.”
“My apologies, the car is waiting for you,” Pierre said, quickly catching Dennis’s drift.
“I checked the gallery hours yesterday and they are open until six in the evening on weekdays.
Enjoy your trip, Jeanette.” Pierre bowed, once he’d walked them to the car.
Janet smiled at the French version of her name, by which Pierre had been addressing her
during the entire stay. “Thank you, Pierre. Hopefully we’ll find something to bring back with
“Oh, I think you will. Joyau Gallery is truly a hidden gem of ours—off the beaten path, as
the saying goes. Few tourists know about it, but I thought you would appreciate it.”
“Thank you, Pierre. I’m really looking forward to it,” Janet said.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Janet looked up as an elderly sales clerk emerged from the back room.
“Bonjour,” the sales clerk greeted them. He was short and very thin, looking almost like a
dried up twig. He wore a tailored suit that fit his slight frame almost like a glove, complete with
a bowtie and patent leather shoes.
“Good afternoon.” Janet smiled. “Pardon me, but do you speak English?”
“Of course.” The sales clerk bowed slightly. “But I am very sorry to say that we are
closed.”
“Closed?” Dennis frowned. “But our concierge told us you’d be open. Look, we’re
leaving tomorrow. Couldn’t you make an exception?”
The sales clerk shook his head apologetically. “I am very sorry, but we are taking
inventory. Normally we’d be open, but not today.”
“Are you sure you couldn’t make an exception?” Janet decided to give it a try. “You have
such beautiful paintings here, and I was so hoping to buy a nice seascape for our apartment.”
The clerk’s eyes widened, a worried look coming over his face. “Did you say a seascape,
Madame?”
“Yes.” Janet nodded. “A seascape for our new apartment.”
“Mon dieu! Un Americain looking for a seascape for the new apartment! Red shoes, navy
dress—” he muttered. “Forgive my impertinence. This old head isn’t what it used to be.” He
flung up his hands. “I believe I have exactly what you’re looking for. Let me make sure that we
will not be interrupted.” He hurried to lock the front door. “I will be right back.”
AMAZON UNIVERSAL LINK:
Janet Maple Series
Bad Guys Don’t Win
Sinful Business Series
Standalone Contemporary Romance Titles
A Dress in a Window (a short story collection)
More books by Marie:
Marie Astor is New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban cozy mysteries and romantic suspense. Readers have come to love Marie’s sexy and smart woman sleuths, fast-moving plots, and hot male leads.
In her spare time, Marie enjoys being adventurous out-of-doors. She often gets new story ideas while she is hiking up a mountain or trying to avoid bumping into a tree while skiing.
Whether you're looking for a fun read while on vacation or just want to escape reality for a few hours, you'll find it in Marie's fun, light-hearted mysteries.
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