Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery Read Online Free PDF

dusky sky.
    Ho-hum,
I thought, smiling.
Another spectacular view of the most beautiful lake in the world.
Grace’s home was full of them. If I lived here, I would never get tired of staring out the windows.
    Aside from the views, the Gold Salon was magnificent, even if overindulgent brothel styling wasn’t one’s taste. It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the room had been decorated by a team of eighteenth-century French whores—all with exquisite taste, of course. The walls were lined with glittering gold brocade and the curtains were thick, shimmering burgundy velvet, and pulled back so the view could be appreciated.
    Settees and chairs covered in gold-toned tapestry designswere arranged in attractive, comfortable seating groups across the long room. One huge Oriental carpet covered the sleek hardwood floor.
    “Champagne, mademoiselle?” a strolling waiter said. He held a tray of delicate fluted glasses filled with bubbly golden liquid. With his free hand, he made a sweeping gesture toward one of the corners of the room. “Or we have your choice of cocktails available at the bar.”
    “No,” I said with a determined smile as I reached for a flute. “I’ll have champagne.”
    “Me, too,” Suzie said, and grabbed two more glasses. She handed one to Vinnie and we all clicked them in a toast. Suzie said, “Let’s celebrate.”
    “To the settling of scores,” Vinnie said, her normally smooth forehead lined in dogged resolution.
    I giggled at her vindictive tone. “Thank you, Vinnie. I appreciate that.” My friends always made me feel better. Although, truth be told, I rarely giggled. Maybe I’d already gone off the deep end.
    “We’ve got your back, girlfriend,” Suzie murmured. “Say the word and we’ll take that bitch down.”
    I laughed. “Thanks, Suzie. If you hadn’t—”
    “There you are, Brooklyn.”
    I turned. “Oh, Grace. Your home is magnificent and I’ve barely begun to explore the place.”
    “Aren’t you sweet?” she said, then winked at Vinnie, who scowled back. “Just take care, watch your step, and nobody will get hurt.”
    Suzie laughed, but quickly pressed her lips together when Vinnie gave her the stink eye.
    I would definitely have to do some exploring later. I wanted to find out why Vinnie so adamantly disapproved of Grace’s home. Unless it was simply Grace herself she disapproved of.
    Grace smiled as she gently guided me away from my friends. “I have someone I want you to meet.”
    Tonight Grace had dressed formally in a slim purpletoga-style dress that was a lot prettier than it sounded. She’d managed to fluff up her usually straight dark brown hair so that a halo of curls surrounded her pretty face, while a profusion of gold-wired crystals dangled from her ears. She was not a tall woman, but she was slender and had such a command of the room that she appeared positively statuesque. Or maybe it was her immense wealth that made her appear so regal.
    Grace led me directly toward the bar, where a tall, broad-shouldered blond man stood alone, sipping a cocktail. He looked to be in his late twenties and wore a white dress shirt tucked into black trousers. Simple, but elegant. If this was Grace’s archivist, he didn’t look like any librarian I’d ever seen. Instead, he resembled a certain movie star from the sixties who my mother had once confessed to having a huge crush on. Troy Donahue. Thick blond hair, soulful blue eyes. What a cutie.
    Grace took hold of the blond man’s arm. “Nathan, let me introduce you to Brooklyn Wainwright, my favorite bookbinder.” Grace turned to me. “Brooklyn, this is Nathan Hayes, my new librarian…person. Oh, what do you call yourself, anyway?”
    “Librarian is fine.” Nathan smiled indulgently at his new employer. “Although my correct title is archivist.”
    “Yes, that’s right,” she said, patting my arm as she pulled me closer. “You two will be working together for the next few days and I couldn’t be happier