Ooh! This was where her favorite summer Coach purse had been hiding. Although she hadn’t lost her taste for high-end handbags, she could no longer afford to indulge in buying them so she was especially happy to find this one. As she lifted out the pistachio-green bag, she caressed the soft leather. Gently setting it aside, she peered into the box to see if there was anything else at the bottom and gave a victorious whoop.
Sitting on top of a pile of old Gourmet magazines was Kipp’s book. She picked up the tattered volume, flipped it open, and saw:
Al Aaraaf,
Tamerlane,
and
Minor Poems
By Edgar A. Poe
Clearly it was old, but was it really as valuable as Kipp obviously thought? Dani checked her watch.
Shoot! She was going to be late if she didn’t stop right this second. And tardiness was no way to impress a new client. Particularly one who had made it clear that she didn’t usually hire people from brochures left at her front door and that this was a trial run.
Dani hurried down from the attic, tossed her find on the dresser, then hesitated. Feeling a little silly, she went back and tucked the slim volume into a package of tampons and hid the box in her underwear drawer. Rushing into the shower, she decided that although she planned to give the book to Kipp no matter what it was worth, she’d definitely Google the title before she handed it over.
• • •
The dinner party had gone smoothly and Dani got home at a reasonable hour. But as she walked up the stairs to her suite, the last couple of days’ frantic pace finally caught up with her. Pulling off her clothes, she stumbled over to the bed and collapsed facedown on top of the covers. It was a good thing that she didn’t sell lunches on the weekends because she fell asleep without setting her alarm.
Dani woke to the sound of Elvis Presley’s “Little Sister” and fumbled for her cell phone. It wasn’t on the nightstand, or the dresser, or the floor. Still fuzzy from the deep sleep she’d been enjoying, she finally found the device in the pocket of her discarded pants.
Dani fumbled to answer the phone and swiped across Ivy’s picture. “What?”
“Are you all right?” The volume of Ivy’s voice was just as shade below a shout.
“I’m fine.” Dani squinted at the sun pouring through her windows. What time was it? “Why? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“That’s what we want to know,” Ivy said. “It’s nearly noon. You never sleep that late. And Dr. Dingleberry has already been here twice pounding on the door and demanding to speak to you.”
“Dingleberry?” Dani repeated. Where did Ivy come up with that stuff?
“You know, the poop hanging off an animal’s butt,” Ivy explained.
“Got it.” Dani trudged into the bathroom and turned on the water. “After I shower, I’ll text Kipp to come over. Keep the door locked.”
As Dani shampooed her hair, she hummed Katrina and the Waves’ “Walking on Sunshine.” Everything was finally going in the right direction. Mikeloff had his killer and no longer had an excuse to harass her. Today she’d hand over the Poe book to Kipp and get him out of her life for good. And she had a date tonight.
Okay. Not exactly a date. A thank-you. But she was having dinner with a ridiculously handsome man, and yes, she was cooking it, but it was just the two of them and he didn’t have a girlfriend. And despite both their efforts to ignore it, there was unquestionably chemistry between them.
After she was dressed, Dani reached for her phone to text Kipp but paused. She had a vague memory of Spencer telling her that he wanted to be with her when she gave the book to Kipp. But she didn’t want Spencer to get the idea she was a helpless little lady he could boss around.
Dani picked up her cell, then hesitated. Still, she had no desire to be alone with Kipp. He’d been acting crazy and having an armed head of security witness the exchange couldn’t hurt. Even kickass female heads of state had bodyguards.
After a quick conversation with Spencer, who assured her that he could be at the mansion by five thirty, Dani messaged Kipp with the time. He demanded an earlier meeting, but she texted, 5:30 or never.
A string of profanity followed, then a single word appeared on her screen: fine.
Her mood slightly dimmed, Dani ventured downstairs to figure out tonight’s menu. Once she knew what she was serving Spencer, she’d head out to Meijer. Grocery shopping always cheered her up.
Ivy, Tippi, and Starr had straightened out the downstairs. Everything was back on its shelf or in its drawer. The ripped cushions had been sewn shut and turned over so the damage wasn’t visible and anything broken had been thrown away. Dani thanked the girls and gave them each a hug, then made them lunch. They were all going out for the evening, and with a wink and a grin, they assured Dani that they wouldn’t be home until well after midnight.
How they had found out she was having dinner with Spencer was a mystery. Did they have the mansion bugged?
While they ate, Dani went through her cookbooks and made a list. She’d been tempted to go with Thai red curry shrimp, but Ivy assured her that Spencer was more of a meat-and-potatoes guy, so she decided on chili-lime steak with roasted veggies and cheesy sliced baked potatoes.
Dani didn’t want to spend too much time away from the table, so she went with raspberry fool for dessert. Raspberry-infused whipped cream with the shortbread cookies leftover from the birthday party and fresh fruit could be put together in just a few minutes.
With the simple menu, Dani’s trip to the grocery store and prep time was minimal, which left her with a couple of hours to primp. What did one wear for a dinner that wasn’t a date but maybe could be?
After trying and discarding most of her clothes, Dani was frustrated. What was it about hanging something in the closet for a while that made it shrink two sizes?
Finally, Dani found a pair of white jeans that cupped her bottom nicely and a sleeveless tangerine knit shirt that only felt a teeny bit small. At least her wedge sandals still fit. Dani vowed to stop tasting everything she cooked, dig out her Fitbit, and sign up for a Piloxing class—a combo of Pilates, boxing, and dance.
After pulling her hair to the side and loosely braiding it, Dani added simple gold hoop earrings and the floating heart necklace that Kelsey had given her for her birthday. Gazing into the mirror, she was satisfied that she looked casual but pulled together.
She still had a half hour before Kipp and Spencer were due, so she booted up her laptop and typed Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems into the Google search bar. When she heard chimes twenty minutes later, she was still reading. Tucking her computer under her arm, she flew down the stairs and into the foyer.
Happy it was Spencer standing on the porch, she flung open the front door and said, “You’ve got to see this.”
“Okay.” Spencer blinked in surprise. “You look really nice, by the way.”
“Thanks.” Leading Spencer into the kitchen, Dani put her laptop on the table, flipped up the lid, and pointed as she read, “The last-known copy sold of Edgar Allan Poe’s Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems was purchased for $120,000.”
“I take it that’s the book your ex is after?” Spencer asked, setting down a six-pack of a local microbrew beside the computer.
“Yes.” She handed him a ziplock bag with the book inside. “But this one is in pretty rough shape, and I don’t think it’s a first edition, so who knows if it’s worth anything like that amount.”
As Spencer opened his mouth to speak, the doorbell rang and he said, “Might as well get this over with.”
“Yep.”
“You sure you want to hand over something that might be worth over a hundred grand?”
“It’s his.” Dani shrugged. “He would have never given it to me if he had any idea it was this valuable. And the giver has to know the price of the gift and still fre
ely give it for it to really be a present.”
“I doubt the good doctor has any idea what something is worth until he’s already lost it.” Spencer ran his knuckle down her cheek.
“You could be right.” Dani stepped closer, but as doorbell rang again, she sighed and turned away. “I need to get better at recognizing that myself.”
Chapter 23
When Dani opened the door for her ex and saw that he wasn’t alone, she was relieved that Spencer was with her. The Incredible Hulk standing next to Kipp hadn’t been there when she’d looked out the window a second ago. Had the behemoth been in her blind spot or had the guy deliberately kept out of sight?
Dani’s ex started to push his way into the foyer but rocked to a standstill when he spotted Spencer. The hulk on his heels evidently didn’t get the memo that the Kipp train was stopping because he continued forward, ramming into the good doctor, who face-planted on the marble floor.
Dani put up her hand to hide her grin at the Hulk doing a pirouette to avoid joining Kipp on the ground. He didn’t seem the type who would see the humor in his own embarrassment and she didn’t want to provoke him.
“What’s he doing here?” Speaking at the same time, Kipp pointed at Spencer and Spencer pointed to the Hulk, who had regained his footing and glowered down at Dani’s ex.
“Spencer is my guest,” Dani said frostily. “And I don’t appreciate you bringing a stranger into my house without asking.”
“Why is he with you again?” Even from his prone position, Kipp managed to maintain his condescending attitude. “Is he your new boyfriend?”
Before Dani could answer, Spencer moved her behind him and crossed his arms. “You didn’t answer my question. Who is your shadow, and why is he here?”
“He’s my cousin. The one who was promised the book.” Kipp rambled on and on. “He’s here for a short visit and has to leave tonight and…”
“Interesting.” Dani frowned. Providing excessive detail was a sign of lying.
Kipp struggled to his feet and demanded, “Give me the damn thing and we’ll get out of your hair.”
“You’ve always referred to your cousin as ‘she,’ which I assumed meant a woman.” Dani glanced appraisingly at the Incredible Hulk. “And unless you’re going to tell me this person is female…”
“Fine, he’s my cousin’s husband,” Kipp said quickly. “You always were such a suspicious bit—” He cut himself off, appearing to come to the realization that insulting Dani was not in his best interest. Sulking, he said, “Satisfied?”
“Whatever.” Dani shrugged. “But I don’t think it’s worth what you think.”
“What do you mean?” Kipp squeaked, his pupils dilating. “I told you, it’s just sentimental value.”
“Forget it, moron,” the Hulk growled. “The chick knows that the book ain’t for no cousin.” He scowled at Dani. “But she also better know that trying to keep it wouldn’t be good for her health.”
“Are you threatening her?” Spencer snarled, pushing Dani farther away from the men. He swiftly bent over and unholstered his weapon. “Because if anything happens to her, you’ll answer to me.”
“Cool your jets, Romeo.” The Hulk held out his palm. “Juliet hands over the book, we leave, and neither of you ever has to see us again.”
Spencer looked down at Dani and asked, “If you’re sure you want to give it to him, go get it and let’s get rid of the trash.”
“I’m sure.” Dani turned and jogged down the hallway, snatched the book from the kitchen, and hurried back to the foyer. “Here.”
Kipp reached for the bag, but the Incredible Hulk snatched the Ziploc before he got a grip on the plastic. Tucking the book under his arm, the Hulk took a pair of white cotton gloves from his pocket.
As he stuffed his huge fingers into gloves so big that they had to be a special-order item, Dani bit her lips to stop the giggles that threatened to erupt from her throat. The incongruity of a man who looked like a mutant version of Mickey Mouse delicately turning the pages of a thin volume of poetry that almost disappeared in his gigantic mitts was nearly enough for her to lose it completely.
Attempting to regain her self-control, she examined Kipp. Sweat was pouring from his forehead and he looked as if he wanted to be anywhere else.
“Since we all agree that there’s no cousin,” Dani said thoughtfully, “what took you so long to ask for the book back from me?”
“I needed some quick cash to, uh…to, uh…help out a friend.” Kipp shot a frightened look at his escort. “So I was going through Mother’s things hoping to find something I could sell when I found a letter offering a hundred thousand dollars if the family’s copy of Edgar Allan Poe’s Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems proved to be a first edition and in good condition.”
“And you recalled giving it to me.” Dani rested a hip on the wall.
“Yeah.” Kipp shrugged. “I remembered that you were a big fan of Poe, and when I couldn’t find the book, I figured it must have been the one you asked for.” He narrowed his eyes. “At first, I thought you’d played me. That you knew it was valuable and had sold it to buy this place. But then I heard you inherited the mansion and you sure never lived like you had a hundred grand, so I decided what the hell, maybe you had no idea of its worth.”
“And you figured why not ask me to return it,” Dani said.
“Well, yeah.” Kipp sidled closer and reached out to her. “You were always so sweet and generous. I knew you wouldn’t mind.”
In a maneuver too fast for Dani really to see and before her ex could touch her, Spencer appeared between her and Kipp and warned, “Stay back.”
“I’ll deal with this.” Dani stepped around Spencer and poked Kipp in the chest with her index finger. “What you mean is that since I was dumb enough not to realize I was the other woman, I’d probably be idiot enough to hand over the book without a fuss.”
“You always did choose to think the worst of me,” Kipp whined.
“Whatever.” Dani crossed her arms. “You’re a big-shot doctor. Why would you need to sell your family’s antiques to get money?”
“I…uh…I,” Kip stuttered again. “I already told you a friend needed it and I was trying to help him out of a bad situation.”
“Liar.” Dani lifted her chin. “You never gave anyone anything. Heck! Most of the time you didn’t even take me out. I cooked dinner and you drank my wine and we watched movies that I paid to stream.”
“You said you were fine with our stay-at-home date nights,” Kipp protested.
“Like I had a choice.” Dani scowled. “Now tell me the truth.”
“Fine. I needed the money for me.” Kipp pouted. “My investments aren’t liquid at this time and rather than taking a loss—”
“He’s in hock up to his ears.” The Hulk had finished with the book, returned it to the ziplock bag, taken off his gloves, and now put a heavy hand on Kipp’s shoulder.
“And you’re the debt collector,” Spencer said. “Who’s your boss?”
“Probably best for you both if I don’t say.” The Hulk grinned revealing several gold teeth, one with a ruby-eyed skull on it. “Especially since this book ain’t worth no hundred grand.”
Kipp gulped. “Maybe you’re wrong. To the right collector—”
“Boss man checked with a couple and they told me what to look for.” The Hulk pushed Kipp toward the door. “If you’re lucky, you’ll get half that and only need to come up with fifty Gs more.”
As Dani watched Kipp being shoved onto the porch, she shouted, “Did you break into my house last night searching for the book?”
“It wasn’t me,” Kipp yelled, giving the ogre behind him a significant look.
“Okay.” For a second Dani was relieved to know it hadn’t been Regina’s murderer or Detective Mikeloff. Then she turned to Spencer and asked, “Shouldn’t w
e do something? What if the guy kills Kipp?”
“You can’t get money from a dead man.” Spencer turned the key in the dead bolt and put the chain in place. “Dr. Dumbass will be fine.”
“I suppose you’re right. People like him always land on their feet.” Dani worried her bottom lip, then shook her head. “Besides, it’s not as if I have a bundle of cash lying around to lend him.”
“And I hope you wouldn’t if you did.” Spencer frowned at her.
“I’ve learned my lesson,” Dani said, wrapping her arms around herself. “I won’t be taken in by a smooth-talking man again.”
“Good.” Spencer patted her shoulder. “You need to toughen up a little.”
“I guess. But I never want to get as cynical as I was when I worked HR.” Resolving to forget her ex and her other worries, Dani smiled and said, “I bet you’re starving. I should get cooking.” As she led him to the kitchen, she explained. “Everything’s prepped, but I’ll need about thirty minutes for the potatoes.”
“No problem,” Spencer assured her as his stomach let out a loud growl.
Dani laughed. “Fortunately for you, I have an artichoke caprese platter to tide you over. You can sit and munch while I get dinner.”
Once Spencer was settled at the counter with a beer and the appetizer, Dani set to work on the rest of the food. While the oven preheated, she cut the potatoes into thin slices, drizzled them with melted butter, sprinkled them with chives, then placed them in the microwave. Normally she’d have baked them, but this was faster.
Dani took the steak from the fridge, brushed it with olive oil, and rubbed it with a combination of chili powder, salt, pepper, and lime zest, then after squeezing lime juice on it, set the meat aside to rest for a few minutes.
This completed, Dani asked, “How did it go today?” Spencer had mentioned he’d supervised his staff at the rally against gender-based violence. He’d said he had excellent employees, but a lot were inexperienced.
“Better than I expected.” Spencer sipped his beer. “They’re a good group.”
Tart of Darkness Page 23
