The Root of All Evil (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 4) Read Online Free PDF Page B

in every major gallery on the East Coast.”
    “So it’s an investment painting.”
    Ashley shrugged. “More or less.”
    Cooper wiped down Ashley’s feet one last time and reached for the polish. “Are you ready for Rockstar Pinkly?”
    “I knew you had it in you somewhere,” Ashley said, her cheeks dimpled deeply from a broad smile. “I knew there was a girly girl underneath the office machines and woodworking and all that grease.”
    “Don’t get too excited. I picked it out because I thought you would like it. I’d no intention of wearing it myself.”
    “Still. The fact that you were willing to purchase such a color lifts my spirits.”
    Cooper quieted her own chuckles so she could paint Ashley’s toenails, and for a little while Ashley just talked. She rambled on about church, Angelo Newell’s art, all the clothes she couldn’t wait to wear. It occurred to Cooper that her extraverted sister wasn’t just going crazy from sitting all day. Ashley had gone from being a part of every committee and charity board to being stuck in a room at home. She’d gone from brunches, lunches and tea parties to the shopping channel. Ashley wasn’t just bored. She was lonely.
    I could come by more often, Cooper thought, nodding absentmindedly in response to Ashley’s rant about the postmodern art movement. I could bring something for us to do together. I could really be a better sister.
    Cooper said a silent prayer that she’d be more conscientious of what Ashley needed, and then she started a clear coat. She knew she wasn’t Ashley’s ideal conversation companion, but she could certainly listen and respond.
    Maybe that’s all Ashley needed right now.

3
     
     
    Cooper and Nathan sat in a corner booth at the Steak House waiting for Edward and his date to show. The potato skins they’d ordered for the table were taunting Cooper. She’d eaten three already and was fighting the urge to eat them all.
    Her stomach growled in protest.
    “You can go ahead if you need to,” Nathan assured her, pushing the appetizer plate in front of her. “We’ll order another plate. They’re probably cold by now anyway.”
    Cooper pushed it away again and shook her head. “I won’t be that rude . . . even if they are twenty minutes late.”
    Nathan kissed her cheek. “You know how Edward can be. He probably stopped to admire somebody’s Harley and lost track of time. He won’t care if you go ahead and eat. I doubt he has a firm grasp on all the rules of etiquette.”
    Cooper laughed and looked up at the front door. There stood Edward Crosby in his leather jacket, talking to the maître d’. He was alone.
    “He was supposed to bring his girlfriend,” Cooper whispered.
    “Maybe she’s parking the car or something.” Nathan stood and waved to Edward, and after another moment’s discussion with the maître d’, Edward gave the man a friendly pat on the shoulder and hurried to the booth.
    “Sorry I’m late,” he apologized, removing his jacket and tossing it into the seat before sliding in himself. He wore a respectable eggplant purple dress shirt and black slacks that almost hid the fact that he’d worn exercise socks with his dress shoes.
    “No problem,” Nathan replied kindly. “We went ahead and ordered an appetizer for the table. Hope you don’t mind.”
    “Mind? I’m starving.” Edward grabbed a potato skin and shoved the whole thing in his mouth at once.
    Cooper watched, partly horrified at his lack of manners and partly envious that his hunger seemed to be somewhat satiated. “Um . . . Where’s the girlfriend?”
    “Oh, her . . .” Edward swallowed and reached for another skin. “We broke up.”
    Taking an appetizer for herself before they all disappeared, Cooper donned an appropriately sad expression. “Sorry to hear it.”
    Edward shook his head. “It needed to happen. I should’ve done it sooner.”
    “Problems?”
    “Not really problems in the traditional sense . . .”
    Nathan took a drink of