Hidden Talents

fresh-made.”
    “I think we can add biscotti to the catalog along with the marmalade and the cookbook,” Caleb said.
    Ariadne glowed. “I can do several flavors.”
    “Fine. We'll work on the packaging later. Talk to Zone about the graphics.”
    “All right. I'll take a look at some of my favorite biscotti recipes. I'll probably need to hire someone part-time to help with the baking.”
    “And so an economy is born,” Caleb murmured.
    “What?”
    “Nothing. Just an observation on the basic nature of certain cosmic forces.”
    “Oh.” Ariadne went back behind the counter and busied herself amid a pile of cookbooks.
    Serenity watched Caleb dunk the last of his biscotti into his coffee. She leaned forward to whisper across the table. “Might as well face it, nobody cares what happened in that cave. They're just grateful you took care of everything, including Blade. Everyone trusts you now. You're one of us.”
    “Sort of an honorary resident of Witt's End, would you say?”
    “You could say that.”
    Caleb smiled wryly. “Nice to know I belong somewhere.”
    “So why are you leaving Witt's End today? Are you going to pay a visit to your office in Seattle?”
    “No, I talked to Mrs. Hotten this morning. Everything's under control there.”
    “Where are you going?”
    “Ventress Valley. I've been doing some thinking.”
    “What about?”
    “The sales receipt for your photos that we found in Asterley's files.”
    Serenity groaned. “In the excitement, I'd forgotten all about that.”
    “I didn't forget about it.”
    “Obviously.” Serenity watched him intently. “All right, tell me what you've been thinking.”
    Caleb put his hands around his mug and contemplated his coffee. “I'm thinking that maybe my first conclusion was wrong, maybe there weren't two blackmailers. I'm thinking that Franklin was behind this whole thing right from the start. With a little help from Asterley.”
    “Franklin?” Serenity was stunned. “What do you mean? Why would he do something like this? It makes no sense.”
    “It all fits, Serenity. Let's assume that receipt we found is telling us the truth. Franklin bought those pictures from Asterley on the twentieth. He sent them to you anonymously a couple of days later in an effort to get you to call off your business deal with me.”
    “Why would he care about one of your consulting projects?” Serenity asked quickly.
    “He wouldn't have given a damn about it if it had been just another project. But if he suspected that I was getting involved with you, and if he knew about those photos, he'd have been worried.” Caleb's mouth twisted. “Franklin and Phyllis both share my grandfather's fear that my bad blood will show in the end.”
    “In other words, they're all afraid that you'll get seduced by a woman with a shady past,” Serenity concluded.
    “Something like that.”
    “But how could Franklin have known about me?”
    “Good question.”
    “Well, I guess, in a way, you have met with the fate they feared most, haven't you?” Serenity smiled ruefully. “My past is so clouded, I don't even know what my parents looked like. At least you've got pictures of your mother and father. I don't.”
    “It must be strange not to know what your parents looked like.”
    “It is,” Serenity whispered. “But I can feel a link with them sometimes. I survived last night because of this.” She instinctively touched the griffin that was once more securely hung around her neck. “Their one legacy to me. And because of Blade's self-defense instructions. If it hadn't been for all of them, I would have died.”
    “Don't remind me,” Caleb said grimly.
    Serenity lowered her hand. “It's odd, isn't it?”
    “What's odd?”
    “How connected we all are with each other, even when we think we're alone in the world, even if we don't particularly want to be connected. It's as if, like it or not, we've got bits and pieces of other people stuck to us. Take you and Blade, for example.”
    Caleb grimaced. “What about Blade and me?”
    “The two of you shared an experience in that cave last night that must have left its mark on both of you. No one but you and Blade will ever really know what happened. For the rest of your lives, whenever you think about it, you'll each remember the other because you went through it together.”
    “Psychically bonded with Blade forever. What an unnerving thought.” Caleb loudly set his coffee mug down on the table. “I think we're straying