One Book in the Grave: A Bibliophile Mystery

that now, damn it, but at least he was gone. I no longer had to compete with him for every little crumb the institute threw our way. I didn’t have to look at him.”
     
    “But he’s still lingering. I’ve seen all those banners around the Art Institute campus.”
     
    He shook his head in disgust. “He’s been gone three years and still they flock to see him and his work. It makes me sick.”
     
    “And Angelica was spearheading it,” I added. “How did that make you feel?”
     
    “I wanted to kill her, too,” he muttered, then looked at me. “But I didn’t.”
     
    “And we’re supposed to believe that?”
     
    “Believe whatever you want. I didn’t kill her.”
     
    “Who killed her?” Derek asked.
     
    Solomon turned and studied him for a moment. “Someone to whom I should’ve shown more gratitude.”
     
    I stepped closer. “So you’re saying the woman who tied you to the bed also killed Angelica.”
     
    He whipped around to look at me. “I’m not saying another word.”
     
    “Fine. You can talk to the police.” I pulled the last of the knots loose and threw the rope on the floor. “Max Adams is alive, Solomon, and he’s going to have you charged with kidnapping and criminal harassment and attempted murder. You’re going to prison.”
     
    He glared at me and muttered an expletive, then said, “Don’t hold your breath.”
     
    Derek grabbed hold of Solomon’s arm and yanked him off the bed. “Stand up.”
     
    Solomon wobbled but eventually gained his footing. Derek tossed his clothes at him and Solomon dressed hurriedly. Then Derek took hold of his wrist and spun him around. Using one of the ropes, he tied Solomon’s hands behind his back.
     
    Solomon struggled, but was no match for Derek. “Is that really necessary?”
     
    “Yeah, it really is,” I said.
     
    “Let’s go,” Derek said.
     
    I found my shoulder bag and stayed close to Derek as he led Solomon out of the bedroom. In the front room, Derek leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Gabriel should’ve been here by now.”
     
    “Do you think something happened to him?” He knew how I worried about Gabriel, and given the strange things that had been happening lately, I was scared to death he might become the latest victim.
     
    Derek pulled out his phone and checked it for text messages. “I don’t know. Let’s go find him.”
     
    An hour later, we were back inside Savannah’s restaurant. The Sonoma sheriff’s deputy had come and gone after the San Francisco detectives claimed first dibs on questioning Solomon in connection to Joe Taylor’s murder.
    I just about fainted in relief when, within ten minutes of the cops taking Solomon away, Gabriel showed up. He’d been investigating another mountain cabin farther down the road, but had turned up nothing.
     
    Gabriel, Derek, and I met quickly in Savannah’s back room to figure out our next move. The other men were still out hunting for Minka and Emily. Derek thought we ought to return to the area around the secluded cabin where we had found Solomon, but Gabriel had somewhere else in mind. While they debated, I ran to the ladies’ room. Walking out of the bathroom, I noticed someone in the parking lot and had a momentary rush of déjà vu. But it wasn’t Minka.
     
    “Brooklyn? Is that you?”
     
    I peered through the screen door. “Melody?”
     
    “Yeah, it’s me.” She shoved her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “I saw them take Solomon away.”
     
    “Melody,” I said sympathetically, “I know Crystal likes Solomon, but I think he’s done some bad things.”
     
    She smiled sadly. “He’s better than you think, Brooklyn. He’s done so much good for our church.”
     
    I didn’t have the energy to argue with her. “I hope you’re right.”
     
    “The Ogunites are setting up a defense fund for him, and Crystal and I will testify or do whatever it takes to exonerate him. He’s been so important to our church and it’s our honor and duty to serve him.”
     
    I felt sorry for her so I pushed open the door and went outside. “Do you really believe that?”
     
    “Well, yes, and I really like him, too. My sister loves him. She can’t help it.”
     
    I couldn’t take any more about Crystal’s love for Solomon, and that really bad feeling I’d felt up in the cabin was sinking in again. But I had to be wrong. “I hope things work out, Melody. I’ve got to get back inside.”
     
    “Brooklyn, thanks for listening.”