Fatal Shadows: The Adrien English Mysteries 1 by JoshLanyon

Author:JoshLanyon
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBTQ, Gay Mystery, Gay Romance, Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: JustJoshin Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-04-30T22:00:00+00:00

“Darling, are the police after you?” my mother inquired when I picked up the phone that afternoon.

“No more so than usual. Why?”

“Because I had two police detectives to lunch yesterday —”

“Lunch? You fed them lunch?”

“Well, it was noon, darling. I couldn’t very well eat in front of them.”

“What did you serve them? Never mind. What did they ask about?”

“Grilled baby salmon, wild rice and asparagus with that luscious cream sauce that Maria makes,” Lisa rattled off cheerfully. “They were quite civilized. For the most part. They asked about your friends. About Robert. When did Robert become gay, Adrien?””

Through dry lips, I asked, “What else did they ask about?”

“Your inheritance.”

“My what?”

“Your finances. That led to your inheritance. I told them about Mother Anna and that insane will. Splitting the money that way. I don’t care what dear little Mr. Gracen says, the woman was gaga. Giving a boy your age that much money.”

I waited for the pause and then got in, “Lisa, what did you tell them exactly?”

She said plaintively, “Darling, I’ve just told you. I explained you got half your money when you turned twenty-one, and shortly after squandered it on that grubby little shop.”

I could feel sweat popping out over my forehead. “Lisa, I make a perfectly decent living.”

My mother made a sound that from a lesser woman would have been a snort.

“What else did you tell them that was none of their damn business?”

“Don’t start cursing, Adrien. They were rather nice. Very polite. Not at all what I expected.”

I bet that worked both ways.

“And I did warn them darling that you were simply not up to being badgered. I told them what the specialist said — the first one, not that horrid quack from the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center. I think I made it very clear that if you were harassed any further I would set Mr. Gracen on them.”

“Set Mr. Gracen …” I hadn’t the strength to finish it. Set loose the dogs of war in the form of “dear little Mr. Gracen” who was seventy if he was a day and could barely manage to dodder around the golf course? “Lisa, no one is badgering me. It’s just routine.”

“Say what you like, Adrien, but you looked very white and strained when you were here the other day. I really think you should consider coming home for a while.”

Here we go again. “Lisa, I am home. Remember? I’m a big boy now. Don’t start fussing.”

“I never fuss.” She grew lachrymose as another wrong occurred to her. “Did you know that Inspector Chan wants to write mysteries too? He was asking where you get all your ideas from. And you know, Adrien, I simply didn’t know. I’m rather hurt that you’ve never let me read your book.”

“It’s not published yet.” I was thinking rapidly. “Lisa —”

“Anyway, don’t worry,” she reassured. “I pointed out that you could have no possible motive for killing poor Robert Hersey.”

“Did you mention to them when I get the balance of my money?”

“When you turn forty? It’s none of their affair.

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