The Pit and the Passion by M. S. Spencer

Author:M. S. Spencer [Spencer, M. S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Suspense, mystery, florida
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2017-12-17T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

There’s One in Every Family

“So what?”

“So, it’s idiotic to halt the police investigation when there’s at least one other possible victim out there.”

“Your grandfather.” She touched his cheek. “You’d love to have that cleared up, wouldn’t you?”

“I admit it would be a consolation to my family to know that Robert Three was not a deadbeat.”

“Would it be better to know he was murdered?”

His mouth twisted in a wry grin. “Well, I guess when you put it like that. After all, his wife is no longer alive. She’s the only one it would really affect.” He walked out to the balcony and leaned his elbows on the railing.

She followed him. The gulf lay calm and collected under the hot sun. A great blue heron stood at the tide’s edge, staring intently, taut with hunger. In a lightning-quick move that made Charity jump, he stabbed into the water, coming up with a minnow that flashed in the sun. “It would wipe out the stain on your family’s honor.”

“Yes.” He smacked his palms on the balustrade. “I’m going to Maine.”

“Now?” So soon? “You just got home…I mean here.”

“Aren’t you coming with me?”

“Rancor, apparently unlike you, I have to show up at my job. I can’t keep prancing around the globe whenever I feel like it. Isn’t Publix expecting you to appear one of these days?” When he didn’t answer, she added, “Come to think of it—you have another responsibility, and the big boss is getting antsy to see something.”

“Arlo? I gave him a buzz before I called Aunt Gertrude. He’s sanguine.”

“What does that mean?”

“Check your dictionary. Oh, you’re not asking about the word itself? Arlo’s fine. I told him Atalanta was making noises about switching publishers for her military romance series, and he couldn’t get off the phone fast enough.” He went back inside. “Hmm…I’d better take that one good jacket. Aunt Gertrude is quite formal.” His handsome brow furrowed. “Now, how to devise the best approach to get her to buy me some clothes?”

“What about your parents?”

“My parents? They couldn’t talk her into anything…Oh, ask them? No good. As the sixth of six children with their hands perpetually out, my father has become immune to advances, and my mother would be devastated to discover my current financial difficulties. She’d only cry. On second thought, you’d better not come.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

“Good, then we’re agreed. I can schmooze Gertrude better alone.”

“And what about the frabjous Isabella? Is she still in Albuquerque?”

“No. Evidently it was a false alarm. Finney must have a doppelganger. So she hared off to New York to visit Guttersnipe.”

“And that’s how you came to have all this time with me?”

He looked at her gravely. “I sent her.”

“Oh.”

He picked up her cell phone and waved a hand at her. “Get us some breakfast, there’s a dear.” He started to dial.

Blessing him for making it easy to watch him go, she made eggs and toast for herself. When he entered the kitchen he looked around, puzzled. “Where’s my food?”

She pointed mutely at the eggs, bread, and juice container sitting on the counter.

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