Grand Passion

Trisha and Sylvia hovered to one side, looking half irritated and half anxious. Andromeda and Daystar were standing just behind Cleo.
    Max looked at the phalanx of women and swore softly.
    “So much for trying to have a war council with just us guys,” O'Reilly said dryly. “Come on in, ladies.”
    “Thank you.” Cleo stalked into the room. The others followed with determined expressions. “We intended to do just that.”
    “Who's watching the front desk?” Max asked.
    “George is on duty,” Sylvia said. “He'll keep an eye on the handful of guests in the lounge.” She sat down next to O'Reilly. “Don't worry, gentlemen, everything is under control. Now, what are you up to in here?”
    “I was merely about to give my report,” O'Reilly said mildly. “Such as it is.”
    “You said earlier that you hadn't turned up much.” Cleo sat down next to Max. “What's to report?”
    O'Reilly flipped open his notebook. “The way I see this, there are three possible explanations for the incidents. The first is the one you and Max came up with, which is that we're dealing with a deranged critic out to punish you for writing The Mirror .”
    Max looked up, frowning. “You don't sound like you think that's the most likely explanation.”
    “I don't think it is,” O'Reilly said. “Mostly because as near as I can tell, no one in town had read the book until I started asking questions about it two days ago. The local bookshop didn't even have it in stock.”
    “It was a rather small print run,” Cleo said apologetically.
    “What about the possibility that it's someone from out of town who's read the book and tracked Cleo down?” Trisha asked.
    O'Reilly shook his head. “The only place a stranger could be staying here in Harmony Cove is at this inn, Cosmic Harmony, or the motel on the other side of town. None of those establishments have had any repeat customers in the past couple of months.”
    Ben considered that. “So there was no one person who kept showing up around here each time there was an incident, is that it?”
    “That's it,” O'Reilly said. “Now, I'm not saying someone couldn't have snuck into town and staged the incidents, but he would have had to know his way around. He would also have had to know something about Cleo. The fact that she was dating Nolan Hildebrand, for example. The time of night she usually goes upstairs to bed. Which room is hers. The fact that she often visits Cosmic Harmony. That kind of thing.”
    “Good heavens,” Andromeda said uneasily. “It sounds like someone has researched Cleo.”
    “Exactly,” O'Reilly said. “That kind of detail can only be learned by studying a person's routine over a period of time.”
    “All of which means that whoever is doing this knows a great deal about what goes on around here.” Max picked up his cane and got to his feet. He ignored the protesting twinge in his thigh as he walked to the window.
    It was raining outside, but Max felt warm and comfortable and replete. It had been a pleasant homecoming. Andromeda and Daystar had fixed a special meal of clam chowder, barley salad, and homemade bread. There had been new drawings by Sammy to admire on the refrigerator door. Everyone had exclaimed over Cleo's ring and had instantly begun making plans for the future. It was a future that included Max.
    A man could get used to this kind of life real fast, Max thought. But a smart man would never take it for granted. He prided himself on being a smart man.
    “Like I said,” O'Reilly continued, “it could be a complete stranger, but whoever it is has spent time in and around Harmony Cove. My gut feeling is that someone would have noticed him in a small town like this. Trust me. When we find out who's behind the incidents, the first words out of everyone's mouth will be ‘ But he seemed like such a nice guy .’”
    “Or girl,” Cleo murmured.
    O'Reilly nodded. “Or girl.”
    Max braced both hands on the cane. “All right, what's the next possibility?”
    O'Reilly glanced down at his notes. “There's a clear connection between the start of these incidents and the death of Jason Curzon.”
    Cleo and the others went very still.
    “Damn.” Max gazed out into the rain. “You're right, O'Reilly.”
    “I usually am,” O'Reilly murmured.
    “I should have seen that for myself,” Max said, disgusted.
    “What on earth are you saying?” Andromeda asked anxiously. “How could Jason's death have anything to do with