Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90472 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“The bones found beneath Travis means there was another person there. How would you explain that?” Ian asked.
Amy didn’t skip a beat. “Travis caught Principal Summit burying the body of the student he was having an affair with since she threatened to tell his wife, so he had no choice but to kill him and Rita as well since she showed up and saw what he’d done, but with Travis buried, never to be found, he knew he wouldn’t be blamed.”
“That’s pretty good,” Beau said, reaching for the last corn chip in the bowl and holding it out to see if anyone wanted it. No one did so he popped it into his mouth.
“It actually is,” I said, “except for one thing.”
Amy’s eyes turned wide. “I forgot.”
“Forgot what?” Ian asked.
“Principal Summit faints at the sight of blood.”
“There was a kid in grade school that did that,” Beau said. “I felt for him. He went down hard at the slightest sign of blood.”
“Yup, that was Principal Summit,” I said. “He stayed clear of the school nurse’s room and all accidents and kept far removed from the sports fields. I felt bad for him. He missed a lot because of it.”
“That would definitely rule him out as a suspect,” Ian said.
“And the strange thing is,” Amy said, “he retired a few years ago and became a butcher.”
Beau’s eyes turned wide. “A butcher?”
Me, Amy, and Ian burst out laughing. I loved that Amy was relaxed enough to joke.
Beau shook his head, realizing Amy had been joking, though he smiled.
“Not to change the subject,” Ian said, “but you two have to see what we uncovered in the boxes of books brought down from the attic to add to Pep’s library. First editions, some autographed, Dashiell Hammett, Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, to name a few.”
“How did we not know your aunt had these books?” Amy asked. “We were in her library often enough.”
That was a good question. Why hadn’t I seen them before? “I don’t know. I do recall her telling me there were more books in the attic and talk of having more shelving built, but—”
“We were young, too busy reading the new popular stuff,” Amy said.
A memory surfaced along with my aunt’s cultured voice clear in my head.
One day you’ll have time for them, and I hope you cherish what you find within the pages.
Had she been trying to tell me then that I would find more in the books than expected and I hadn’t realized it? I was eager now to go through the books and see what more could be tucked in the pages.
“While Ian shows you the books, I’ll throw a pasta meal together with a salad and garlic bread,” I said.
Beau looked to Amy, asking if that was all right with her.
“Believe me, you don’t want to miss her garlic bread. It’s to die for,” Amy said dramatically.
Beau eagerly followed Amy and Ian into the library, a room just off to the left of the French doors that flanked the main fireplace.
I knew it wouldn’t be long before Amy joined me in the kitchen and if I knew Ian as well as I thought I did, he’d stop Beau from following her, giving me and her time to talk.
“I’m sorry for intruding on you and Ian,” Amy said, settling herself on a stool at the island.
“Best friends forever never intrude,” I said and grabbed another bottle of Sauvignon Blanc from the fridge and held it out to her. She hesitated only a moment, then nodded.
“It’s been that kind of day,” Amy said.
“Relax and enjoy,” I said. “You and Beau can share the spare bedroom so neither of you have to worry about driving home tonight.”
“I wouldn’t mind that, since I worry my dad may show up without notice even though he said he wouldn’t.”
“You can stay here if you want while he’s in town,” I offered, chopping the cleaned asparagus after setting a pot to boil.
“I appreciate it, but Beau says he’ll spend the night with me until this is settled.”
“Doesn’t he anyway,” I asked.
Amy nodded. “He does and I don’t like to think about not having him in my life, but when Thomas showed up, it stirred some old feelings.”
“It’s all your father’s fault. He’s got you twisted in knots,” I said, disliking the man even more.
“I feel a coward for wanting to talk with him, a coward for not wanting to do it alone, and a coward for the part of me that wouldn’t mind having him back in my life.”
“I’m not going to make any bones about it. I don’t like the guy, but if in the end you want to give him a chance, I will be here for you. I will not lose our friendship over that man.”
“I am relieved to hear that. Your family is the family I never had, and I couldn’t bear losing that.”