Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
“Ah, well.” She shrugged easily. “This is Silverville. I don’t need cameras to figure out where everybody was at any point in time. I’ll use a notebook and start going door-to-door.”
I laughed softly. “You’re impossible.”
She smiled, looping her scarf back into place. “You say that with love.”
“I do,” I admitted.
She reached out, brushing my cheek affectionately. “You are a fine attorney, and I know you’ll take care of that silly lawsuit with Gloria.”
I leaned into her touch. “How did you already hear about that?”
“I was at the post office earlier.”
Yep. That totally made sense. “Aiden doesn’t make idle threats.” It was only fair to warn her.
Nonna fastened her coat and picked up her gloves. “If that man thinks to arrest me, he’s completely lost his mind.”
True. Very true. “Um, Nonna? I think it’s super nice that you’re helping Nana.”
“I’m a kind person, cara.” She pulled on one glove.
“Why are you assisting her?” I held my breath.
She paused and focused those warm brown eyes on me. “She’s family. I own a detective agency. Of course I’ll help her.”
I tried to swallow but my mouth was dry. “Um, through the years, I mean kind of, it has seemed that you and Nana aren’t close. That you might not even like each other.” I couldn’t breathe.
Nonna chuckled. “That’s just silly.”
Yet it wasn’t. “Please tell me about notes you showed each other earlier.”
She patted my cheek and then slid on her other glove. “Sometimes matters are better left in the past. This is one of those matters. Let it go, Annabella Fiona Albertini.”
My full name. The Irish and the Italian parts. I couldn’t speak.
She crossed the room. The door swung shut behind her, leaving the faint scent of her perfume and the steady hum of the refrigerator.
I immediately dialed Aiden.
“Hi,” he answered, no doubt seeing me as the caller.
“Hi. Three Hens has taken on the theft case,” I said without preamble. “We have to find the thief and fast.”
I could swear a slight growl came over the line. “There is no we when it comes to this case, or to dynamite in general.” His voice went Aiden low. “Tell me you understand this.”
Well, like grandmother, like granddaughter. “Nope. See you at home, Devlin.” I ended the call. Taking a deep breath and knowing better, I called Nonna.
“What, dear? I just left you,” she said by way of answer.
I exhaled. “Would you let me know what you find out after speaking with everyone in town later?”
“Of course. You do represent the Three Hens, you know. You’re our lawyer.” She ended the call.
Great. Just great. My phone buzzed and I glanced down to see Aiden calling. My abdomen turned over as I declined the call.
He wasn’t going to like that.
Chapter 7
The law office of Bunne & Albertini smelled like vanilla on this fine morning. On the second floor of a quaint building on Main Street in Timber City, our firm consisted of two attorneys, one file clerk king, and one office czar. My partner was Clark Bunne, the king my sixteen-year-old cousin Pauley, and the czar our receptionist, Oliver Duck.
Oliver looked up, his hair red, his eyes brown. “Afternoon.”
“Hi.” I glanced around the reception area with its comfortable chairs, polished maple table that used to be my Nonna’s, and coat rack by the door. “What smells like vanilla?”
Oliver sighed, sounding as put out as a healthy eighteen year old could. “Pauley is trying different scents to see how they impact client behavior. There are candles in all the offices, and I made him take the one off my desk.”
“At least he’s finished making us experiment with lunch,” I whispered. Never again would I even think of eating a deconstructed sushi taco. Just thinking about it made my stomach gurgle, and not with happiness. I removed my long green coat to hang on the tree next to Clark’s overcoat.
Raised voices immediately caught my attention.
“I don’t give two hoots about that, Clark,” a female voice hissed.
I paused and looked at Oliver, my eyebrows hitting my hairline.
“Now, Brooke. Come on.” Clark’s mellow voice rolled out of his office.
“I’m just going to smack you,” Brooke yelled.
Oh, heck no. Nobody hit my law partner. I hustled past the reception area and turned immediately left into Clark’s office. “Hi there. What’s going on?”
A dark-haired beauty swung to face me. Deep brown eyes, thick black hair to her shoulders, pink color high on her brown skin. “You must be Anna.”
“I really must be,” I murmured as Clark stood from the other side of his wooden desk. His space was decidedly masculine with his diplomas on the wall, darker wood accents, and the window shades open to reveal a bunch of trees and the brick building next door. Even the vanilla scented candle burning on the credenza behind him didn’t mess with the male vibe. “You are?” I kept my voice polite. Mostly.