The Sholes Key (An Evans & Blackwell Mystery #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

her father went.
    Damn.
    Marcus started walking away. She reacted and grabbed his hand. “Marc, is it? Have you been touched by autism? I mean, of course, not you personally. I mean, you personally, your family. Do you know someone with autism?”
    He stared at her, mouth open.
    She gritted her teeth and clutched her hands together in front of her chest. “I’m a right prat, blathering on like I am, asking these stupid questions. I’m so sorry. It’s none of my business.” A snicker came through her earpiece.
    “My brother is autistic,” he said as he placed his hands in his trouser pockets. “Your father does good work.” He tapped his temple with his palm. “But you probably knew that.”
    Sophia pressed her lips together and shrugged.
    “You live in London?” he asked.
    “Oh, I do. You?”
    He nodded. The awkward silence killed her. If the mood between them didn’t change soon, there would be no date, and the assignment would fail. If there was one thing she hated, it was failing.
    “Marcus—”
    “No, please, call me Marc.”
    “Okay, Marc. I told my father I’d wait for him but I know he’ll be a bit yet. Do you want to come with me across the street and grab a coffee?”
    “They have coffee here.”
    “Yeah, but it’s rubbish, innit?” She smiled and gave him her best pleading expression. “My treat?”
    He agreed. Sophia was thankful she had noticed the coffee bar before she entered the banquet hall earlier. She was even more thankful it remained open until one in the morning for jazz night.
    She placed his mocha coffee in front of him and sat down at one of the wrought iron tables outside. There would be no conversation in the loud club, and conversation was necessary to acquire a date.
    “What is it you do for work?” he asked as he sipped and watched cars and pedestrians go by.
    “Me? You’ll laugh.” She took a deep breath and said, “I’m an estate agent.”
    “Why would I laugh?”
    “When your father and grandfather are doctors and your mother’s an architect, well, people have higher expectations. I know I disappointed a few by my choice.” She dug into the ground with her heel. Although she hated divulging information to a stranger, she wanted his trust and that meant details. “It was my ex-boyfriend actually. He’d been an estate agent for a few years and thought I should as well. Why not? It was a rebellious and regretful stage of life for me. Ah, too late now to take up medicine.”
    “It’s never too late.”
    “Maybe.” She twirled her latte, feeling his eyes boring into her. As much as that sent shivers down her spine, it was a good sign. “What do you do for work?”
    Although he explained in the simplest terms his geek mind could muster, and although she understood every word he said, she replied, “So, something to do with computers?”
    He laughed—another good sign. “Do you know anything about computers?”
    “I know I can turn it off and on again. Smack it around a few times for full effect.” This time, she laughed. “I don’t normally do this.”
    “Do what?”
    “Ask a guy for coffee five minutes after meeting him.”
    “Then why did you?”
    “Would you believe I have no idea why I’m doing it?”
    “Yes. I have no idea why I’m sitting with you either.”
    “Oh, you have a girlfriend.” She turned the cup around in her hands, seeking its warmth and comfort.
    “No, nothing like that. I guess I’ve been under a bit of stress lately. It’s nice to just sit here and drink coffee and not think.” He paused. “Not that it requires little thought to have this conversation, or a lot of thought. No, this conversation is relaxing.”
    “It helps that I’m not the ugliest bird either.”
    He nodded. “It doesn’t hurt. Plus, you’re vegan.”
    “Oh, yeah.” She noticed that his eyes had softened somewhat. “It’s a recent thing for me.” She had to get this right. “I mean, I’ve always had an aversion to meat but about a year