"The staff at the publishing house. Jennifer. Her boss."
Jennifer leaned forward. "We did a small press release last month with a listing of all of Eugene's books. He has two other novellas that are out of print, and we plan to reissue one in September and another in October. Grand Street is going to donate a copy of each to every school library in the state."
"So anyone could know about this story?"
"Anyone who reads the newspaper," Jennifer agreed. She sat up straight. "Except we didn't name the novellas in the news story. We simply said three Eugene Legander books would be reissued, one a month, beginning in August."
"Tell me a little about the plot." James took a seat on the arm of the sofa and began to write as Eugene talked.
"The little girl, Audrey Lancer, is a very bright, curious child. A little too curious for her own good. When she tracks down an elf to his home in a sycamore tree in the woods behind her house, he tells her that if she doesn't quit snooping around, he's going to cast a spell on her. Audrey tries hard to leave the elf alone, but he's irresistible. She's a snoop."
"Like me," Judy interjected, proud of the term. "I like to know everything. I'm going to grow up to be an international spy. Or maybe a news reporter."
"God save the fourth estate," James murmured under his breath just loud enough for Jennifer to hear.
Ignoring James, Eugene continued. "There's a good side to Audrey's curiosity. She discovers that one of her schoolmates is being abused and reports it and saves her friend's life. But she goes back to the sycamore tree and even though she's been warned, she tries to spy on the elf. She is turned into a pillar of salt, and she can't be changed back until someone comes to spy on her."
"So what happens?" James asked. He couldn't help the fact that he always managed to get caught up in Eugene's stories.
"Her mother comes looking for her and changes her back. When she sees Audrey, she begins to cry, and the salt of her tears breaks the elf's spell."
"Do you have a copy of this?" James asked. "In fact, I think we should read every one of your books and prepare a list of possible kidnapping suspects."
"Well, Judith would be high on the list to play the role of Audrey. She does have a lively curiosity, and she exercises it regularly." Eugene's brows drew together as he looked at the young girl. "No matter the consequences."
Unperturbed by Eugene's comment, Judy smiled. "I'd rather be curious than brain-dead, like some people I know."
"No chance of that," Jennifer said. "Okay, so let's find that story, and we can each take three of his other books and begin our list of suspects."
"I'll get the manuscript and some books," Eugene said as he crossed the room. "I'll be back in a moment."
"I get to read, too?" Judy was impressed at her inclusion.
"You know the children better than anyone else. I think you'd make an excellent detective in this area," Jennifer said. She didn't add that it was also a way to keep the young girl out of trouble.
"I can't help but feel that there's something we're missing. Something very obvious," James said. "It's nagging at my subconscious, but it won't come through."
Jennifer looked up as Eugene returned to the room. He wore a strange expression. "The manuscript copy of A Pinch of Curiosity is gone. It's been sitting on that bottom shelf under those dreadful yellowed clippings for ten years. Now it's gone."
"Are you sure?" Jennifer felt sick to her stomach. She'd seen glimpses of someone lurking around Eugene's house, but she hadn't believed that anyone had actually broken in. The writer was completely vulnerable. He wouldn't own a gun. His only defense was a water pistol, which could get him into more trouble than anything else.
"I'm positive."
"Perhaps the maid might have moved it," James suggested.
"Maid? Are you mad? I don't have a maid!" Eugene shook his head. "It was there not five months ago because I pulled it out to check the spelling of a name. I was reading the galleys for the reprint."
"Maybe you put it down somewhere." Jennifer surveyed the sitting room, the walls covered in original artwork and the shelves stacked two layers thick with rare books. The manuscript could honestly be anywhere in the house.
"I may not be a spring chicken, but I haven't lost my memory. I put it right back on the bottom shelf beneath those yellowed clippings of my book tour in New York." Eugene was adamant. "If I didn't know where I put things, I'd never get a book finished."
"Then someone took the manuscript." Judy Luno steepled her hands. "Now we have to find out who it was, and what they wanted with it." She tapped her fingertips together. "We have to try to think like the thief."
"I'm afraid I already know where this is leading," Jennifer said. "A child will be taken and a manuscript page will be left at the scene of the abduction. It's the perfect way to pin this on Eugene once and for all— the rare manuscript of an out-of-print book! A manuscript that only he has a copy of."
"Except for the New York publisher," Eugene acknowledged.
James cleared his throat and held Jennifer with his gaze. "Is there anyone at Grand Street who might want to harm Eugene?"
Even though she'd been mulling over that same question in the back of her mind, to hear it spoken aloud was a shock to Jennifer. She'd begun work at Grand Street more than five years ago, and Eugene was the figurehead of the house. The company had other fine writers, but none like Eugene. She ran down the editors, assistants, art department, publicists. There was no one who didn't love the writer— and his work.
"If it's someone at Grand Street who means harm to Eugene, they've been able to hide it very well," she finally answered. "Everyone there loves Eugene. Without him, Grand Street would be overwhelmed by the bigger houses. He is our claim to fame."
"No jealousies? No past editors who have left and might carry a grudge?"
Jennifer looked at Eugene. He shrugged. "I've had a few spats with editors. They want to get heavy-handed on the cut and slice, but I don't allow it. Sometimes I had to take a firm stand, but there's nothing there that could result in such animosity."
James studied the writer for a moment. "Are you sure, Eugene? It seems that Crush has a personal vendetta against you. And possibly Anna Green. Is there something from your past that you're not telling us?"
"Exactly what are you implying?" Eugene was suddenly still, his eyes alert.
"He's implying that some people hold a grudge and wait years to get even for some imagined offense." Jennifer went to Eugene and put her arm around him. "You aren't the kind of man who broods about things. Everyone isn't like you. If there's anyone who might have reason to want to see you harmed, we need to have that name. We can check the person out, make sure they aren't around. Just to be on the safe side."
"There were some people who got angry with me, but it didn't amount to a hill of beans. They've gone on to different publishing houses. The past is the past, Jennifer. You have to let go." He frowned and stared down at his hands holding the stack of books. "Remember the good and forget the bad."
"Is there anyone in particular we should be concerned about?" Jennifer asked the question softly, but she wasn't going to let Eugene off the hook.
"There was Josh Wainwright. He left the house because of me. He said he wouldn't work without complete editorial control, and the publisher didn't think that was reasonable."
James wrote his name down. "Where is he now?"
"He left the publishing business," Jennifer said. She felt a tingle of fear. "He left New York. I remember it vaguely. I was still with Alfonso House, but the rumors got out that he really burned his bridges."
"Sounds like a man with a grudge," James said. "A good possible suspect to add to Crush Bonbon."
"Something about Crush has been troubling me," Jennifer confessed. "He's so absolutely guilty, or so it would seem. Is it possible that he's so corrupt?" At the look on James's face, she faltered. "I mean, I know it sounds naive, but it's so…convenient that he's the perfect suspect for everything that's g
one wrong."
"Meow!" Familiar sat up from his nap beside Judy and stretched.
"Even Familiar agrees," Eugene said.
"What we need is a test." Judy swung her legs against the sofa. "A test that would show once and for all if he's behind this."
"The evidence, in my opinion, is stacked pretty darn high against him." Jennifer held up a finger. "The room in his house." She held up another. "The telephone in his washing machine." Another. "The fact he didn't report the break-in." The fourth finger went in the air. "The fact that he's always egging Anna Green on with his book-banning tirade." Her thumb went up. "And he's checking out books on how to write children's stories. I think he clearly envies Eugene and wants to ruin him."
"The old dog-in-the-manger theory," James said.
"Me-ow!" Familiar nodded once.
"He can't write, so he doesn't want Eugene to have a successful career." Jennifer pondered that equation. "It fits. It fits perfectly."
"I think we need to explore Crush's house to see if we can find that manuscript," James said.
Jennifer groaned. "We almost got caught the last time. If he does catch us, he's going to throw the book at us."
"I know, but we don't really have a choice."
Judy stood. "Yes, you do. I'll go."
"Absolutely not!" All three adults spoke together, and even Familiar put his paw on Judy's leg and held with his claws.
"I'm the perfect candidate to be kidnapped, you said so yourself. If I could figure out a secret code, some way to communicate with you guys, then you could follow me and find the other children." Judy's eyes grew large and bright. "I'd be a hero."
"Forget it." James's voice cut through her euphoric vision like an ax biting into a tree. "You can't risk yourself. What if he is the kidnapper? What if those other children are in serious trouble? We can't guarantee that we could rescue you, Judy. It's too dangerous."
Judy's full mouth clamped into a thin line. "I can do this. You don't think I can, but I can."
"We can't risk you," Eugene said gently. "What would your parents do if you didn't show up for bed tonight?"
"They'd call the cops and really worry." Judy met Eugene's gaze. "That's their job. They're parents."
"If I had a kid like you I'd chain you to the wall in the bedroom," Jennifer said. "I'd have a digital beeper implanted into your head with a homing device. I'd— "
"Man, you make my parents look cool." Judy gave her a baleful look. "You've got a control problem, Jennifer. You need to chill out."
James quickly covered his mouth to hide the grin. "Jennifer may have a control problem, but she's right. It's out of the question for you to put yourself in danger, so let's move on."
For another twenty minutes they listed children who were potential kidnap victims. "I'll call the parents," Jennifer said. "We don't have time to visit each one individually. And even when we went to the McNairs and Ralstons, we didn't save little Bobby Fornaro."
"You did your best," Eugene responded.
In the silence that followed his remark, Judy stood again. "I'd better go home. My folks will be looking for me for dinner." She gave Jennifer a look and then rolled her eyes. "I don't want to make them worry, you know."
"I'll walk you home," James offered.
"Don't trust me, do ya?" Judy grinned. "It's okay, I rode my bicycle over. And I have to show up for dinner or my folks will have a fit. Sometimes I can sneak out, but if I'm not around for dinner, they worry."
James glanced at Jennifer. "Can we trust her?"
"We have to," Jennifer said. She gave Judy a grin. "We need your help, and if you go and get yourself into trouble, what will we do?"
"Don't worry. I won't get into any trouble." Judy picked up the three books. "I'll talk with you tomorrow. I have my own phone line." She wrote the number down. "Call me in my room. My parents get irritated if my friends wake them up or tie up their phone."
"Great." Jennifer took the scrap of paper. "See you tomorrow."
"And I think I'd like to spend some time reading through these books myself," Eugene said.
"We'd better get busy." Jennifer cast a shy look at James. As the evening had dwindled away, it wasn't reading that was on her mind. They were tired, exhausted and worried about three missing children. But the intimate bond they'd forged could not be ignored. Jennifer felt her pulse quicken as she looked in James's dark brown eyes.
"You two get some rest," Eugene said, his face as innocent as a child's— except for the twinkle in his eyes. "I'd hate to think that you exhausted yourselves on my behalf."
James laughed out loud. "You have my word of honor, Eugene, if we're exhausted, it won't be on your behalf."
Even though she was used to verbal bantering, Jennifer felt the warm color touch her cheeks. Her feelings for James were too intense to bear scrutiny, even by her best friend, Eugene.
"Ah, the maiden does have a modest streak," James whispered in her ear.
"The maiden has an ice pick in her purse, and she's going to plunge it into your massively oversize ego," she answered in an equally soft whisper.
"Good night," Eugene said, ushering them to the door. "Please vacate the premises before there's a bloodletting. As I said earlier, I don't have a maid and I do so hate to clean up bloodstains."
James and Jennifer stepped into the warm night. The smell of wisteria was as strong and sweet as a hidden memory. It seemed to wrap around them, drawing them closer in the thin light of a half moon that peeked through the border of willow trees on the front of Eugene's small lawn.
"Are you too tired for some company?" James asked.
Jennifer tried to think of a teasing retort, something to hide the pounding of her heart. But there was nothing to say except the truth. "I've been waiting for some time when we could be alone."
"Me, too." He slipped his arms around her and brought her so close that his breath was warm on her forehead. "I watch you across the room, and I think that I've been dreaming. Is it possible you really care for me?"
"It's more than possible." Jennifer turned her face up to his, a slight smile curving her mouth in invitation.
As his lips claimed hers, she gave up any attempt to think, to rationalize. The warm sweep of desire pulled her into a state of sensation and the need to give as much pleasure to James as he gave to her was uppermost.
"I think we should go home," she said after a long, breathless kiss.
"Before we're arrested," James added, his own voice slightly rough.
"Alone," she said, brushing her lips once again across his jaw. "Just the two of us."
"Meow!"
James and Jennifer turned to look at the sidewalk where Familiar sat, obviously taking in every nuance of their kiss.
"Maybe not alone," Jennifer added darkly. "I never in a million years thought a cat would be spying on us."
Familiar went to her leg and swatted it with great force but no claws.
"You were spying!" Jennifer insisted.
Once again the paw batted her leg.
"I don't think he's denying the charge." James pondered the cat. He knelt beside Familiar. "Spying."
"Meow!" Familiar started down the sidewalk.
"I have a terrible feeling," James said as the cat disappeared into the shadow of a tallow tree.
"Me, too."
"He's headed toward Judy Luno's house, isn't he?"
"Yes." Jennifer sighed as she found her keys in her pocket. "And I'll bet you the little minx isn't at home as she promised. She's gone spying on Crush Bonbon. And we're going to have to figure out a plan to get her out of there."
"Before it's too late," James added.
Chapter Seventeen
While James was keeping an eye on Jennifer, I should have been the jailer for that little hellcat Judy. As I sat on the sofa and watched the expressions on her face, I could see that she wasn't satisfied with simply reading a few books. That girl wants action, and this time she's going to provoke it.
I have to get
to the Luno home before Miss Spitfire and Clark Kent. I can get in her bedroom and check things out. If she's there, there's no point in getting the entire household in a panic. If she's not there, we certainly don't want to scare the grits out of her parents. Maybe we can retrieve her before it all goes to hell in a hand basket. You know, even in times like this I love the phrases these Southerners use. Hell in a hand basket. Now that would be a toasty little means of conveyance.
Ah, the Luno house looms. I have to get Jennifer's attention and let her know that I'm going in alone on this. Humans are too big, too noisy, and too blind in the dark. This is a job for a cat.
* * *
"LET HIM GO," James grasped Jennifer's hand and held it tightly as he moved her into the dense shadows of an old oak tree. "Familiar can check on her without waking the entire house. If she's there— "
"I should have hog-tied that little imp and toted her home myself. I'll bet her parents are addicted to Valium. How do they keep from going crazy?"
"My best guess is that they don't know the half of what their daughter gets into. Judy is not only smart, she has developed quite a few covert skills. Pity the government if she does decide to become a journalist."
Jennifer couldn't deny the chuckle that came with his observation. "God, I hope she's okay," she whispered, her fingers catching his and holding tightly. Without James the waiting would be unendurable. Just the fact that he was there, beside her, giving support, made her want to touch him. She shifted closer to him so that she could feel the solidness of his body against hers. How had she grown to love this man so quickly? It was a question without an answer. Truth was, she didn't want to question her feelings. They were right, and she accepted them.
In the darkness James caressed her waist with one strong hand. "Maybe she's home, safe and sound." But James knew better. Though he was determined to put up a cool front for Jennifer's sake, he was silently kicking himself for not walking the young girl home and turning her in to her parents with a strong warning. But would it have done any good?
"He's back." Jennifer nodded to the cat.
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