Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham

Author:Jennifer Latham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction / Mysteries & Detective Stories, Juvenile Fiction / Legends, Myths, Fables / General, Juvenile Fiction / Love & Romance
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2015-05-18T16:00:00+00:00

16

I followed Manny behind the chancel and down a narrow spiral staircase. The smell of spices and meat hit me, as unexpected in the musty old church as jugglers at a funeral. At the bottom we walked through a plain wooden door that opened like Alice’s looking glass into a room spanning the whole basement of the church. Clusters of furniture and folding screens divided the place into living areas decorated like something out of a design magazine. All four walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Platters of lamb, spiced green beans, vermicelli rice, tabbouleh, hummus, pita, and chocolate-covered dates were laid out on a long wooden table next to the kitchen. It was more food than I’d seen in one place since Ummi died. Three places were set.

“You shouldn’t have,” I said. “Especially since I didn’t know you were going to.”

Manny motioned for me to sit. “I apologize for the abrupt nature of your invitation. Asim possesses a number of remarkable qualities, but tact has never numbered among them.”

The meal thing had me off my game. Food was for guests. Ummi had raised me knowing that guests were to be fed, honored, then fed some more. They were supposed to bring a gift, too.

“I’d have brought something if I’d known,” I said.

“You came. That is enough.” Manny bowed his head.

“You didn’t seem to think so the other day,” I said.

“I didn’t expect you the other day. Perhaps this afternoon we’ll both be more… in tune with each other.” He smiled.

A drawer slammed shut at the back of the room and the rag lady stepped out from behind a four-panel silk screen. Only she wasn’t in rags anymore.

From the halo of raven-black hair pinned up with silver combs to the slender arms and legs peeking out from her silver-embroidered kimono, everything about her was gorgeous. Her smooth skin shone against the apartment’s rich fabrics; her seashell-pink nails matched the natural blush on her high cheekbones.

You could have knocked me over with a sneeze.

Then one of her toes caught on the curved leg of a chair, and she let loose a banshee shriek.

“Shite!” She dropped into the chair. Yanked her foot up to inspect the damage. “You and all this abominable, heavy furniture!” she raged. “There are only two of us! Why in Hades do we have so many chairs?”

“Nuala, dear,” Manny said calmly, “we should eat.”

“I’ll be lucky if the fekkin’ nail doesn’t come off!” she groused.

“Scarlett, you’ll have to forgive my wife.” Manny got up to pull out her chair. “I’m afraid she takes the hot-tempered Irish stereotype rather seriously.”

That earned him a dirty look and a string of curses from Nuala that would have made the drug slingers out front blush. It was just the kick in the crotch I needed to help me remember this wasn’t a social call. I was there on business.

“Look,” I said, “I appreciate dinner and a date as much as the next girl, but that’s not why I accepted your invitation. I

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