Lochlan Museum_The Case of the Collectible Killer by Melissa R. L. Simonin

Author:Melissa R. L. Simonin [Simonin, Melissa R. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-07-13T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Herschel sat on the sunny windowsill, chattering quietly to the birds on the other side of the screen. They hopped and flitted excitedly, competing for the bread crumbs tossed there just moments ago.

Herschel would like very much to join them, but Claire was no more likely to let him out than her grandmother was. Or Alec. He didn’t let Herschel come and go as he pleased, either.

Herschel felt slightly disgruntled at the thought.

Claire stopped on her way to the coffeemaker and pet him. Herschel forgot everything else, purring in ecstasy as she rubbed his shoulders and scratched behind his ears.

Claire glanced out the window. She smiled at the industrious birds, and admired the blue of the morning sky and the fluffy white clouds that moved steadily from one side of the heavens, to the other. A soft breeze wafted in through the open kitchen window, bringing with it cool air, scented by the brief rain that fell during the night. She zipped her light jacket, and collected two mugs from the cabinet.

Through the storm door’s open window, she heard the sudden flutter of birds, and footsteps. She set the mugs by the coffeemaker, and flung the door open. Alec smiled and knocked at the air.

“You have a knack for beating me to it,” he commented, as she ushered him in.

“I’m quick on my feet, what can I say,” she replied, motioning for him to have a seat at the table.

“That’s the truth. I will be too, if you put jam in my coffee,” he replied, looking apprehensively at the mugs on the counter, which she was in the process of filling.

“No jam for you,” she assured him. “Just plain coffee. And sugar. And cream.”

“Thanks,” he smiled, accepting the cup she held out. “How was your visit with Mrs. Frederick?”

“It was so great,” Claire replied, her eyes shining a little as she joined him at the table. “My grandmother left me a letter, and her bible. I stayed up really late reading them both.”

“That’s awesome,” he smiled.

“It is. The letter is really long. She talks about so many things. It’s almost as good as getting to talk to her.”

“I’m glad for you, Claire. That’s really great,” he said, and she smiled.

“It’s the best. So… how’s the car?” she asked, and his eyes lit with enthusiasm. She raised an eyebrow. “And let me warn you, if you show signs of being in love with it again, I’m getting you counseling of some kind. Court mandated, if necessary.”

The enamored look in Alec’s eyes turned to laughter.

“Okay, I stand forewarned,” he smiled. “And for the record, I’m not in love with your car. But… try and imagine how you’d feel if you discovered that sarcophagus in the sorting room actually belonged to a famous Egyptian pharaoh.”

“If that happened, I’d hold my car ransom until you opened it for me,” she promptly replied, and he laughed and groaned.

“You’re missing the point. I’m trying to give you something to relate to.”

“Evidently that is not it, because the next thing I’d do, is be on the phone with the Egyptian authorities.

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