Orchid Read Online Free PDF

sound but she could not resist putting her foot a little deeper into the jelly-quicksand.
    “Got to hand it to those meta-zen-syn philosophical poets,” she said cheerfully. “Morland and his pals were shrewd businesspeople, even if their poetry does sound like something a fifth grader might write.”
    There was a short, highly charged silence.
    “I suppose it would be too much to expect you to appreciate the clear, strong visual strength of meta-zen-syn poetry,” Rafe said in suspiciously civil tones.
    The polished edge of his voice was so sharp Orchid was pretty sure it could have severed bone. She gave him her brightest smile.
    “Yeah,” she said. “A little too much to expect.”
    His eyes narrowed.
    “You may as well give it up, Rafe, dear.” An amused twinkle lit Elvira’s merry blue eyes. “I don’t think that you will be able to intimidate Miss Adams into pretending that she admires philosophical poetry.”
    “Obviously,” Rafe said dryly.
    She did not look at him but Orchid knew that, unlike Elvira, Rafe was not twinkling.
    Orchid smiled blandly. “‘Synergy, confluence, harmony. Even chaos seeks balance’.” She quoted smoothly.
    Elvira’s eyes widened in appreciation. “Why, that’s lovely, dear. Which meta-zen-syn poet wrote those lines?”
    “I did. Mrs. Kramer’s fifth-grade class.”
    Elvira laughed. “Point taken.”
    Rafe did not laugh. She could feel the brooding stillness in him as surely as she could sense his aura of paranormal power. She was fairly certain that if she turned around to look at him she would risk a nasty cut from the knife-sharp edge of annoyance in his icy gray eyes.
    Why did he care whether or not she admired the stolen volume of Morland poetry? she wondered. The question was just one more on the long list that she had been compiling on Rafe Stonebraker all week.
    She did not know what to make of him. At times she had the disturbing impression that he was studying her. Or perhaps testing her would be more accurate, she thought. Either way, the weird sensation was making her edgy.
    Unfortunately, contrary to what she had predicted to Clementine, she was enjoying her assignments with Rafe. They had proved very different and far more interesting than her usual focus projects. She was beginning to think that she had a flair for the private investigation business.
    In the course of the first two assignments she had assisted Rafe in the recovery of a lost third generation painting and helped him trace a highly prized racing pony-hound that a groom had taken from its stable.
    It had become clear that Stonebraker Investigations handled only the most confidential of inquiries. Rafe was called in by clients who did not want publicity or the attention of the police.
    This evening’s assignment was the most unique yet. Orchid was still not sure why Rafe had even bothered to hire her. She was almost positive that he had known who had stolen his client’s stolen volume even before he had phoned Psynergy, Inc., and asked for her.
    To make matters even more curious, Elvira Turlock was not the least bit concerned about the fact that she had been caught redhanded with an extremely valuable stolen book. On the contrary, she obviously took great pride in displaying the volume to Orchid and Rafe.
    Orchid got the impression that Elvira and Rafe were old acquaintances who had long ago established a quasi-professional relationship.
    Elvira glanced at Rafe. “I suppose you feel you must return my Morland to George.”
    “He did hire me to find it.” Rafe sounded mildly apologetic.
    “Yes, of course,” Elvira said.
    Orchid cleared her throat discreetly. “George?”
    “George Yeager.” Elvira’s smile was warm and tinged with an odd wistfulness. “An old friend of mine.”
    Orchid blinked. “You stole this book from a good friend?”
    Elvira chuckled. “Why not? Six months ago he snatched my Kingsley. I had to even the score.”
    “I don’t get it.” Orchid glanced from