The Grim Reader

by Kate Carlisle

  “Sounds very high powered and important.”

  “That’s me.”

  I laughed. “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll see you in a few days and I plan to stay all weekend.”

  “Oh, good. I’m so glad.”

  Gabriel came over and wrapped his arm around her. They started to walk away, but then she turned. “By the way, Brooklyn. I’ll be checking in with Keith at the dojo. Don’t blow him off or I’ll track you down and hurt you.”

  She was smiling as she said it, but there was a glimmer of danger in her eyes.

  “You’re scaring me.”

  She grinned. “Then my work here is done.”

  * * *

  • • •

  Derek and I made it home within minutes and walked up the hill to check on my mom and dad. Mom was already in bed, fast asleep. Dad had the alarm set for midnight and planned to get up, as promised, every two hours to check on Mom. I told him to call me if he needed anything.

  “I’m right down the street, remember? I can walk up here in less than two minutes.”

  “I wish you were always there,” he said sentimentally.

  I hugged him. “Me too, Dad,” I whispered.

  Derek and I walked down the hill to Abraham’s house and were greeted at the kitchen door by Charlie who wound her way in and out and around our ankles.

  “She missed us,” I said, and stooped down to pet her soft fur and give her scratches between her ears. She purred and rubbed her head against my hands, wanting more. I loved this special little cat so much, especially because she’d been a gift from Derek.

  “We were gone quite a while.” Derek picked her up in his arms and carried her up to bed with us.

  Once in bed, Derek asked me what I planned to do tomorrow. “I’ve done the preliminary examination of Clyde’s book and tomorrow I’ll get started on repair.” But the uncertainty around the book’s ownership caused me to frown. “And the three of us were going to go talk to Clyde at some point, too. But now there’s Mom to worry about so I don’t know.” I sighed. “But I’ll still try and start the actual work on the book tomorrow.”

  “Do you think your mother will be up for another committee meeting tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely,” I said with certainty. “With so much going on, she won’t miss it. And that means that someone needs to go with her.” I thought about it. “Preferably two people.”

  “I agree,” Derek said, rearranging his pillow so he could sit up in bed. “She’s somehow become the target of someone’s rage.”

  “I’m looking at Jacob Banyan, but whoever it is, they’re ruthless and desperate.” I felt those familiar chills returning to my spine. “And that describes him perfectly. I think it describes Saffron Bergeron, too, but that’s only because she’s so cranky and stupid.” I blew out a breath. “Anyway, if Mom is going to the meeting tomorrow, I’m going with her.”

  “And I’ll be with you, too,” Derek said.

  “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Saffron has a missing button on that jacket she wore today.”

  “A missing button,” he mused. “Remind me to take a look at the jacket the next time she wears it. I’ll be able to tell if the button we found is hers.”

  “Okay, good.”

  He thought for a moment. “They’re going to have to decide what to do about the missing money.”

  I leaned my head against his arm. “There are a lot of wealthy people here in the valley. Someone will have to step up and cover the cash that Lawson stole.”

  “You do think he stole the money.”

  “Don’t you?”

  He nodded. “I don’t see how it could be anyone else. Lawson was in complete charge of the finances—which was clearly a mistake.”

  “I know Mom blames herself, but it’s not her fault for believing that Lawson was trustworthy. And she was in charge of a thousand other agenda items. She should’ve been able to count on him.”

  “I don’t want to forget anything,” Derek said, “so tomorrow morning over breakfast, let’s write out this agenda of ours.”

  “Okay. I need to work on the book and someone needs to stick close to Mom.” I frowned. “I would prefer if it were you and me. Or Gabriel. Or my brothers. I know our dads are willing, but I worry about them, too. And Robin is out of the question for now. I don’t want anything to upset her.”

  He sighed. “And my mother would put up a fight if we told her she wasn’t up to the task.”

  “So we won’t say anything to anyone. We’ll just make sure that Mom is well protected while there’s a vicious maniac out to kill her.” I reached for my purse and pulled out a small notepad and a pen.

  “What are you doing?”

  “We might as well start writing it down now.” I jotted down the items we’d already covered. “Oh. I want to stop by Clyde’s tomorrow and find out where he really got that book.” I added a new item to our list.

  “Your mother is our first priority,” Derek said. “But we can try to stop by Clyde’s at some point.”

  “Sounds good. Her meeting doesn’t start until two thirty.”

  “That’ll work.”

  I rested my head back on his shoulder. “I love you.”

  He leaned against me. “And I love you, darling.”

  “Thank you for caring about the people I love.”

  “It isn’t difficult. I love them, too.”

  “I know, and it’s the best thing about you.”

  He frowned at me. “Have you forgotten my manly arms?”

  “Never. Those are right at the top of my list.”

  “I’d like to take a look at that list.”

  I laughed. “Oh, I just remembered, I want to stop by and watch the play rehearsal one of these nights. I’d like to get a look at Shandi Patrick and see how she interacts with the others.”

  Derek nodded. “Let’s do that tomorrow night.”

  “You want to go with me?”

  “Of course.”

  I beamed at him. “You’re the best. Maybe we could have dinner at Umbria afterward.”

  “That’s a lovely idea.”

  “I know,” I said. “Because pasta.”

  “Exactly.”

  I started to make a note to call the restaurant, but suddenly stopped. “Oh wow. We haven’t even been by to see your parents’ new home.”

  He smacked his forehead. “I knew we forgot something. And I’m guilt ridden now that you’ve reminded me.”

  “They’ll understand, won’t they?”

  “Of course,” he said. “But they’ll be happier if we make it over there sometime soon. Let’s do it tomorrow after we see Clyde.”

  “Good idea.” I wrote it down. “And after your parents, we can swing by and pick up Mom for her committee meeting.”

  “The timing should work out perfectly.”

  I gazed at him. “Aren’t you going into San Francisco this week?”

  “I’ll work by phone,” he said. “I don’t want to leave you alone while your mom is in trouble and a murderer is running loose.”

  “Will your office be all right without you?”

  “I’m the boss,” he said in his tough-guy voice. “I say it’s all right.”

  I grinned at him. “Corinne runs the place anyway, doesn’t she?”

  Both eyebrows arched and he got that very-British-so-insulted expression that I was so crazy about. “That’s harsh, darling.”

  I laughed. “I was just teasing.”

  “So was I,” he said with an easy shrug, then kissed the top of my head. “But it’s the truth. Corinne is invaluable.”

  “In more ways than one,” I added.

  Derek’s administrative assistant, Corinne Sterling, was definitely worth her weight in gold. She was truly invaluable, as Derek said, a
nd not just in the office. Only a few months ago, Corinne had been a key player in a real-life spy story when she’d helped unmask a very scary killer who was out to get me.

  Disconcerted by the memory, I mumbled, “Let’s take one killer at a time. Sheesh.” I put my notepad and pen on the nightstand, turned off the lamp, and rolled over to give Derek a soft, warm kiss. “Good night, my love.”

  He pulled me close to him. “Good night, sweetheart. We’ll make everything work tomorrow. And you’re not to worry about your mother. Rebecca will be safe. We’ll see to it.”

  Chapter 10

  Early the next morning, I called my father to make sure Mom was feeling all right.

  “Hey, Punkin’,” Dad said, using the childhood nickname I hated. It had to do with a youthful pumpkin-pie obsession, and I was long over it—sort of. But this moment wasn’t about me. I was actually pleased by the fact that Dad had called me that because it meant he was in an upbeat mood this morning. For that reason alone, I was hopeful.

  “We didn’t get a lot of sleep last night,” he continued, “but your mom’s doing great.”

  “Is she awake yet?”

  “She’s still dozing, but I’m about to wake her up and feed her some breakfast.”

  “You’re the best, Dad.”

  “Yeah. I thought she would need lots of protein to power through the day, so I’m making a breakfast grain bowl.”

  “What in the world?”

  “It’s got a little bit of everything. Quinoa, bacon, some onion, tomato, and kale, then a thick slice of avocado and topped off with a fried egg.”

  “Whoa, that sounds crazy.”

  “It’s good.”

  “Tell Mom we’re sending our love.”

  “You bet, sweetie.”

  “Will you call us if you need anything?”

  “I will. Thank you, honey.” He paused for a moment. “I know she’d love it if you and Derek came over for a visit. I would, too.”

  “We will, absolutely. And I know she’s going to want to go to her meeting this afternoon, so Derek and I can take her and stay with her.”

  “That would be awesome, kiddo.”

  “It’s no problem.”

  He gave a short laugh. “I’d like her to stay home and rest, but you know your mother. So I appreciate you watching out for her.” He sighed. “I’m supposed to be at a meeting out at the winery this afternoon, but I’m going to cancel and go with you guys.”

  “Absolutely not.” It was my mother’s voice, and I could just picture her, standing in the doorway glaring at Dad.

  “Guess I’m busted,” Dad said, and put the phone on speaker.

  Then Mom said, “You need to be there to go over the last-minute details of the harvest. We’re only about six days out.”

  “Your safety means more than some meeting,” Dad insisted. “Austin and Jackson can handle everything. They don’t need me there.”

  “Yes, they do,” Mom said. “You’re the boss.”

  Dad gave a helpless sigh. “The real boss has spoken.”

  “That’s fine, Jim,” Derek said. “We’ll take good care of Rebecca.”

  “We’ll be there around two o’clock to pick you up, Mom,” I said.

  “I’ll be ready.”

  We hung up and I stared at the phone for a long moment. Until Mom interrupted the conversation, Dad had sounded pretty jovial for someone who hadn’t slept well. But that was my dad. He was the most optimistic, loving man I’d ever known and I was so thankful that he was taking care of Mom. Even when she was cantankerous.

  I couldn’t blame her for being grouchy though. I would feel the same way.

  I sniffed and dashed a few tears away, then tried to think good thoughts about Mom’s miraculous escape from what could have been a tragedy while I started the coffee.

  Over a hearty plate of breakfast tacos in the sunny breakfast room, Derek and I revised and refined our agenda items for the day.

  Did we know how to have fun or what?

  “While I was making coffee, I remembered something we need to put on the list.”

  Derek looked up from his tablet where the stock market reports were streaming. “What’s that?”

  “We have to stop by the dojo and sign up for a class or two. Otherwise, Alex will hunt me down.”

  He chuckled. “We can’t have that.”

  “No way. She scares me. In a happy, nonthreatening way, of course.” I took a quick bite of toast, added the dojo sign-up to the agenda, then gave our very full list one more read-through. “You know how we talked last night about Corinne? Well, I kind of wish she was here right now to help us organize our lives.”

  “Don’t be silly, darling. You’re one of the most organized people I know.”

  I smiled. “That’s true. And you’re not too shabby, either.”

  “Ah, but that’s because I have Corinne.”

  “Lucky,” I grumbled.

  “I am, indeed.” He grinned at me, took a sip of coffee, and switched off his tablet. “Not that it wouldn’t be lovely to see Corinne anytime,” he added. “But I know you, and I can handle this. It’s just a matter of scheduling.”

  “That reminds me, did you mention the book festival to her?”

  “The entire office is aware of it,” he said. “And a number of people have confirmed that they’re planning to be here.”

  “That’s so nice. I’ll look forward to seeing them.”

  Most of the people who worked for Derek were terrific and I’d gotten really close to some of them since he and I had been together. I hated to say it, but in the past there had been a few bad apples. Happily, they were gone now. For good.

  “And a couple of them said they’d be bringing books for you to appraise.”

  “That’s fantastic! This is going to be fun.” Part of the reason I’d been given a booth at the festival—ignoring the fact that my mother was co-chair of the event—was my promise to appraise any old books that people brought with them. It was something I’d done before, and I always found it interesting and challenging, especially to do it on the fly, so to speak, since all I would have for research was my tablet and a few reference books.

  I nibbled on a piece of bacon and stared at our list. “We have to switch your parents’ visit with Clyde because he doesn’t open the bookshop until ten.”

  “Ah. Good thinking. Unless you’d rather stay home and work on your book for a few hours this morning. We can always swing by my parents’ place later on.”

  I thought about it, but my mind was pretty much already set. “I’d rather talk to Clyde before I do any more work on the book.” I didn’t say out loud what I was afraid I’d hear from Clyde: that the book had been stolen or had come to him through some other illegal manner. If it was connected to something illegal, it would be evidence. And in that case, I didn’t want to get in the middle of a criminal investigation.

  Besides, I really did want to see Meg and John’s new home and I knew they were anxious to show it off to Derek.

  Derek nodded. “I see your point. So we’ll go by Mum and Dad’s first thing. Let me give them a call.”

  I glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s awfully early.”

  “It’s already seven thirty. They’re usually up at dawn.”

  “I guess you would know best.” I smiled, though the thought of getting up before dawn was a hideous one. Yes, I know. Sunrises are beautiful. Well, so are sunsets and they were more my speed. “My folks are usually up that early, too. Horrifying, isn’t it?”

  He chuckled. “Both of our parents had five or six children to wrangle first thing, so they’re used to those early hours.”

  Derek called his folks, and even though I couldn’t hear the conversation on their side, Derek’s reaction told me that they were clearly thrilled we were coming by.

&
nbsp; “All right, Mum. See you then,” Derek said, and ended the call. He glanced at me. “I’m afraid they might want to feed us.”

  “Oh dear, it would be rude to refuse them.” Because when had I ever in my life refused food? Never. So I stared at my plate. “I’ll just finish my coffee and wrap up this taco. It’ll keep for a while.”

  I moved into the kitchen and began to open drawers, looking for plastic baggies to pack up the food.

  “Probably for the best,” Derek said, mournfully giving up his savory taco.

  “Otherwise we’ll be stuffed.”

  “Undoubtedly. I know she’ll have scones, at least.”

  “I love scones,” I said dreamily. “And butter. And jam.”

  “She’ll have all of that. And Devonshire cream, no doubt.”

  I grinned. “Oh boy. I love your parents.”

  “I do, too, but I had to talk her out of serving a full English breakfast. Guess we’ll find out soon enough if I was successful or not.”

  I groaned. “There’s no way I can scarf down more eggs, along with baked beans and roasted tomatoes and mushrooms and blood sausage and God knows what else.”

  He laughed. “It wouldn’t be quite that bad.”

  “It would be worse,” I muttered. I took another sip of coffee and began to load the dishwasher. “I’m excited to see their house.”

  “Me, too.”

  I turned and looked at him. “You know, we could always stay with them when we come up here.”

  He paused. “Darling, you know how you love your parents but don’t always want to stay in their house with them?”

  I frowned. “Yes.”

  “That’s exactly how I feel about mine.”

  “Oh.” I frowned. “But your parents are awesome and you hardly ever get to see them.”

  “Your parents are awesome, too.”

  “True.” I laughed. “All right, all right. No parents.”

  “On the other hand,” he said, “my parents will only be in Dharma for a few months at a time. We can always stay at their house when they’re not here.”

  “That would be wonderful.” I winced. “Not that I wouldn’t love it if they were here, but . . . do you think they would mind?”