An Adrien English Mystery: The Dark Tide Read Online Free PDF Page A

door usually knocked off at about three o'clock, so it was possible someone could have slipped inside after Natalie had locked up for the evening and was counting out the day's cash.
    She nodded, her blue eyes dark with worry. Crime was so much more fun when it happened to other people.
    “Have you noticed anything weird lately?”
    She shook her head.
    “Anything weird in the last couple of weeks?”
    “You mean, aside from you getting shot by that homicidal maniac?”
    The guy who'd shot me had been a business acquaintance who had turned out to be an ex-lover of Jake's—although that wasn't why he'd shot me. At least I didn't think it was. Although I'd hate to think I was shot on general principle.
    “Yes. Besides that. Any indication that someone's been sneaking in here after hours?
    Anything out of place? Are we missing any inventory?”
    She slowly shook her head.
    “Maybe it was a bum looking for a place to spend the night.” I didn't really believe that, though.
    “Or kids?” she suggested hopefully.
    “Maybe.” I didn't believe that either. I guessed I had a jaded impression of the younger generation. I couldn't help believing kids and vandalism went hand in hand. At the very least I'd expect wall graffiti or to be short an erotic mystery or two.
    If it wasn't kids, surely the motive had to be theft. So why wasn't anything missing?

    An Adrien English Mystery: The Dark Tide

    15

    Or was it simply that last night had been the intruder's first visit, and he'd been caught in the middle of breaking in to my living quarters? That was the most reasonable explanation. That was what Jake thought, and Jake was the expert.
    Natalie shivered at her own thoughts. I said, “Look, don't worry. I'm going to talk to the contractor and tell him to keep a sharp eye out for trespassers. We'll get these locks changed today. That should be the end of it.”
    “Famous last words,” she said.

    * * * * *
“ Cat name badges?” Mel teased.
    We were having lunch on the crowded rooftop patio at Café Santorini in Old Pasadena. I'd steered us away from any of our old favorites. I was already feeling way too nostalgic listening to Mel talk about his family and work. He taught film studies at UC Berkeley, and he loved his job. He always had. Something we'd had in common. One of many things.
    I said gravely, “You bet. Mine says 'Top Cat.'”
    He burst out laughing. I laughed too, though I realized with a twinge that I was being disloyal to my hardworking stepsis.
    I said, “In fairness to Natalie, she's been great for the bookstore. She's not nearly the ditz she appears to be.”
    “She can't be, because you'd never put up with her. I can't see you with siblings. Let alone a sister. Let alone three of them.” He was still chuckling. “To be honest, I can't believe Lisa finally remarried.”
    “Yeah. Well.” I forked through the seared Pacific seafood salad, looking for the good bits.
    There didn't seem to be any. Granted, I'd only had breakfast an hour earlier.
    “I've been monopolizing the conversation, haven't I?” Mel said ruefully.
    I offered a quick smile. “No way. I'm enjoying myself.”
    And I was, although I couldn't seem to get past the weirdness of it. The weirdness that we were sitting here having lunch. The weirdness that Mel had turned up out of the blue at all. My stars were obviously aligning in a freaky configuration.
    “But I want to hear about you,” Mel said, all at once serious. “What's this about your last assistant being arrested for murder?”
    “It's kind of a long story.”
    His warm brown eyes smiled into mine. “Are you in a hurry?”
    It was unexpectedly hard to look away. “No.”
    “I remember when there wasn't enough bookstore traffic to keep you busy all day.”
    “Me too. Thank God those days are past.”
    “You've done really well, Adrien. I'm impressed.” He was absolutely sincere.
    “Thanks.”
    “You always were a stubborn bastard.”
    We both laughed, and I remembered