Cupid's Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

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    This was a good lead. There had to be some committee in charge of publicity. Surely they would know who penned the flyer. That didn’t prove this person was our arsonist, but at least we would know who had it in for Mrs. Graves.
    It was time to call Mom and put her to work on something besides making paper carnations. I wanted to know who thought Mrs. Graves was a ‘traitorous bitch’ and if they were angry enough at the whole organization to try and sabotage the biggest fundraiser of the year. She needed to take some friends to coffee and pump them for information. And maybe that would keep her from thinking bridal things.

    *  *  *

    I arrived home with two pizzas, one for carnivores and one plain cheese for us purists. Alex was perched on the edge of the sofa, looking harassed in spite of Blue being pressed against his legs and doing her best to calm him. Bob was blank-faced and pale compared to Rosemary who looked blotchy and red-eyed.
    “You should have just said we weren’t welcome,” Rosemary gulped. “I thought you said Chloe likes cats.”
    “Mom, it’s not that. It’s just…” But there he stalled.
    “Okay— enough,” I said, shrugging out of my coat. “It’s time for a family meeting. Everyone into the dining room.”
     I sat everyone down at the table and opened the pizza boxes. I guess I looked grim because everyone was sober about this announcement and ignoring the delicious smell of molten cheese which had Blue and the cats riveted, though I was sure they had had dinner already.
    “No more beating around the bush. I am going to lay my cards on the table because I think it is the best thing to do.”
    Rosemary looked from me to Lucy who had jumped into her lap. She was worried that I was going to complain about the cats. And well she should be. Who brings pets to someone’s house without any warning?
    Bob was smarter. He looked at the ring on my hand— which I had forgotten to take off— and then back at my face. I didn’t need to glance at Alex to see how he was taking this. His silence was a clear indication that he has feeling helpless. He always caved when his mother or sister was tearful.
    And, though I wanted to tell Bob and Rosemary that we were engaged and to just get over it, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t yell at them about the cats either. At least not right that minute.
    “I know that after what happened in October that you were upset. My parents were too. Violence came a little too close that day. But sometimes we have close calls— regardless of our professions— and all we can do is move on and keep doing what we know is right. Alex is safe here. At least as safe as anyone can be anywhere. And there is a lot less crime in Hope Falls than in the Silicon Valley.”
    Rosemary got teary again and I had a light bulb moment. She didn’t object to me— the person— she was worried that because of my wanting to be a detective that I would endanger her son with my work. Alex had left police work after a case went bad and he lost a partner and was nearly killed himself. She was afraid it would happen again if I involved him in police work.
    “I am not being the hostess with the mostess this week because I have other things on my plate. One of our town’s institutions is under attack, and Alex and I are investigating who is behind it. We need to find out why and put a stop to it before Valentine’s Day.”
    “What’s happening, Chloe?What is being attacked and why Valentine’s Day?” Bob asked. He was still a little pale but had had relaxed at my speech and so had Alex who was slumping slightly in his chair. Rosemary was staring at me with shock and confusion, but she wasn’t crying.
    “This will sound silly and maybe it is, but as Mary Elizabeth can tell you the Sweethearts Valentine Ball and their other philanthropic endeavors have raised a lot of money for small causes and charities that would never get noticed otherwise. This year the money is going to Books