Dancing on Her Grave by Cate Dean

Author:Cate Dean [Dean, Cate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cozy mystery, women sleuths, amateur sleuths
Publisher: Cate Dean
Published: 2017-07-14T04:00:00+00:00

Ten

Maggie insisted on having Ashton drive Martin home. He had been outside long enough, and Ashton needed a break. He had been covering for her more than he should have, and it was time to get back to doing what she loved most—selling collectibles to people who fell in love at first sight.

Once she was alone in the shop, she moved to the mirror on the wall behind the counter and spent the next few minutes untangling her hair, mostly one-handed. It took twice as long, and would never look neat, but at least she could keep it out of her face for the day. The shop door opened just as she tucked the last wayward strands into her bun.

She turned, a smile on her face. “Welcome to The Ash—” Her voice cut off when she saw Spencer. He looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Spence—” She rushed around the counter and took his hand. “Come and sit down.”

“I’m all right,” he said, but he sounded far from all right.

Maggie led him to the chair she kept in front of the wood-burning stove in the corner and settled him, pouring a cup of tea. Fortunately, Ashton had brewed a new pot just before she and Martin had arrived.

“Drink,” she ordered. He did, and some of the color crept back into his cheeks. “Now, tell me what happened.”

“Someone broke into the museum last night.”

“Oh, no.” She crouched in front of him and took his hand. “Was anything taken?”

“So far, no. They are still doing an inventory, but it looks like the vandals were scared off, or broke in to see if they could.” He sighed. “I had talked to the director, Dr. Givens, about getting a better alarm system just after I was hired, and it was rejected. I’m not certain if I’m going to be blamed because I didn’t push for the new alarm, or blamed because I am low man on the totem.”

“If they even try, they’ll get an earful from me. It’s hardly your fault that you were right.”

He shook his head, giving her a pale version of his smile. “I happen to be an easy target. One that won’t create a potential issue with administration. I don’t know what to do, Mags.” He set the mug on the top of the wood stove, and scrubbed at his face.

“Look at me, Spencer Knight.” Surprised, he obeyed. “You are going to march back down to the museum, and tell that pompous excuse for a director that you had nothing to do with the break in, that you suggested a new system months ago, and they will have to find another scapegoat.”

“I—I can’t say that,” he whispered. “Dr. Givens will have heart failure.”

Maggie sighed. “You need to stand up to him, Spencer. Why are you afraid to?”

“He doesn’t like me.” Spencer stood and started pacing. “I was hired in spite of his objections, and he has been looking for a reason to fire me since the day I started.”

“Spence.” She joined him, knowing that the pacing helped work off his nervous energy.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.