The Stuffing of Nightmares (The Mysteries of Bell & Whitehouse Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

them on a mission? Or was this the end for the team? They could go on without Brian, of course, but Rick seemed reluctant. And without Rick, they had no team. She didn’t feel like doing this without him.

Chapter 7
    “ I don’t want to go!” Grover Calypso said. He was staring at the letter that had just arrived and shaking his head like an irascible child. And a big head it was, bulbous and covered with a mass of frizzy hair, it looked like a moldy old soccer ball left unattended in the back of the garden for years. And then there was the beard he’d recently insisted on growing. Ever since he’d seen a news item on hipsters, he’d insisted he needed a beard like that if he wanted to keep up with the times. Unfortunately, the hirsute appendage only covered parts of his face, leaving other spots bald. It did look pretty funky.
    “Well, then don’t,” his wife suggested.
    “I won’t,” Grover insisted mulishly.
    Mrs. Calypso merely smiled sweetly. As the wife of the well-known billionaire, she was used to her husband making a spectacle of himself each time he was invited to attend some charity event. Even though he wasn’t the least bit interested in attending, he still felt obliged. He argued that when you were as rich as he was, people expected certain things from you, and attending these events was one of them.
    She usually encouraged him to go anyway, as, unlike her husband, she was a social animal and always loved to meet new people, but she knew better than to press on when he was in this kind of mood. Emilia Calypso was a strikingly beautiful woman, with long platinum hair and classic features. The only thing that marred perfection were her eyes, which were cold and calculating, a perfect representation of her character.
    “Why don’t I call these people and tell them you can’t possibly attend?”
    “Would you do that?” he asked gratefully. “I don’t feel so good.”
    She gave him a tight smile. “Of course, darling. I’ll do it right now.”
    She moved over to her husband and placed a cooling hand on his brow. “Is darling having a bad day today?” she asked with a pout.
    “It’s this merger business preying on my mind,” he grumbled.
    She gave him a peck on the top of his head. “You leave everything to me.”
    “Thanks, darling,” he said. Even though they’d been dubbed the beauty and the beast by their small circle of friends, Grover was devoted to his wife. Granted, he was not an Adonis, and the fact that he’d still managed to snag Emilia, a former beauty queen, still amazed him. It didn’t amaze her, however. Her aim in life had always been to become rich and famous, and marrying Grover Calypso was simply one step on that long ladder.
    She strode to the phone, took a seat on the gilded chair, and soon was engaged in lively conversation with the person responsible for the charity.
    “No, Mr. Calypso won’t be able to attend,” she said loud enough for Grover’s benefit. She nodded to her husband, who gave her a grateful smile.
    “Well, that’s just wonderful,” her correspondent said, well pleased.
    “But I will be there, of course,” she added.
    “Even better,” the man said, and this time, she smiled to herself.
    “Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she whispered.
    “Neither would I, my turtledove. Same place, same time?”
    “That’s right.”
    “See you later.”
    She replaced the receiver and felt the usual flutter in the pit of her stomach. Conducting a torrid affair right under her husband’s nose did much to enliven an otherwise pretty dull life. And as usual, Grover hadn’t a clue.
    She walked over to where he was staring out the window of their Park Avenue condo. Central Park was an oasis of green in the morning sunlight, and outside on the terrace breakfast was just being served. Black coffee and scrambled Eggs Benedict for him, orange juice and toast for her.
    She placed a hand on Grover’s arm. “Ready for breakfast,