One Book in the Grave: A Bibliophile Mystery

“You know, I always wondered if my enemies would ever discover I was alive, but I never figured it would be my friends who would lead them straight to me.”
     
    Gabriel took a step forward. “You’ll want to ratchet back on the accusations, Jack.”
     
    “Brooklyn didn’t lead anyone to you,” Derek retorted as he flanked me. “Your enemies know you’re alive. It was a matter of time before they found you. You’re lucky we found you first.”
     
    “Lucky?” He snorted. “How the hell would they know I’m alive if not for you?”
     
    “Because it didn’t begin here today,” I said softly. The Lab came over and sat in front of me, staring and panting.
     
    “What’s your name?” I asked as I bent down to let him sniff my hand.
     
    “It’s Buckminster,” Max said. “Bucky when he’s good.”
     
    “Hello, Bucky,” I said, patting his back as I observed Max.
     
    But Max wouldn’t make eye contact with me. Maybe he was starting to figure things out for himself. But then, obstinate to the end, he threw me another angry look. “Why are you here, Brooklyn?”
     
    “Yeah, well, about that.” Now it was my turn to look uncomfortable. Glancing around for the first time, Ipointed at the couch and chairs arranged in front of the fireplace. “Can we sit down for a minute?”
     
    “Before you get into it,” Derek said, first meeting my gaze, then looking at Max, “do you have a back door?”
     
    “Yeah,” he said, jabbing his thumb toward a doorway. “Through the kitchen.”
     
    “Good. Gabriel and I will circle the area, and if the shooter’s still out there, we’ll trap him from behind.”
     
    “I’ll go with you,” Max said, grabbing his rifle from the corner of the room where he’d left it.
     
    Bucky immediately stood at attention.
     
    “Somebody should stay here,” Derek said, casting a quick look at me.
     
    “It’s my land,” Max said.
     
    Derek studied him. “Are you willing to return fire if it comes down to it?”
     
    “Stone’s in security,” Gabriel said, as if that explained Derek’s question.
     
    “What do you do?” Max said, scowling at Gabriel.
     
    Gabriel shrugged. “Little of this, little of that. Right now, I’m your best defense against whoever’s out there shooting at you.”
     
    Max’s jaw clenched as he glanced at me. I could see the turmoil in his expression. He was a big man and used to living on his own. But he didn’t have the same kind of killer instinct Gabriel and Derek possessed, and I could tell he was beginning to realize that.
     
    Reluctantly he nodded once, acquiescing to stay behind.
     
    Derek moved into the kitchen with purpose, followed by Gabriel. I rushed after them. “Are you really going out there?” I whispered, feeling my throat dry up.
     
    “Yes,” Derek said. “If there’s the slightest chance someone followed us here, I want to make sure they don’t follow us home.”
     
    “But there haven’t been any more gunshots,” I said a little desperately. “Maybe he’s already gone.”
     
    “That’s what we’ll need to determine,” Gabriel said,and pulled a powerful-looking handgun out from behind his back.
     
    “Oh, my God, what’s that?” I asked stupidly. “That’s a gun. What are you doing with that?”
     
    He grinned. “Relax, babe.”
     
    I stared wildly at Derek. “He’s got a gun.”
     
    “Yes, darling,” he said, and pulled his own weapon out of a holster under his arm.
     
    I felt my eyes cross. “You—you’ve had that with you all this time?”
     
    “Just since we got out of the car,” he said. “Don’t worry, love. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
     
    “Don’t worry? Are you insane?”
     
    He chuckled, leaned over, and kissed me. Then he looked at Max. “You’ll stay with her.”
     
    “Of course. We’ll cook something.”
     
    I laughed a little hysterically.
They have to be kidding,
I decided.
     
    Max opened the back door and pointed out a few details. “The fig orchard should provide enough cover until you get to the barn. Don’t go inside unless you want to hear a deafening chorus of bleats from the goats.”
     
    “No, thanks,” Derek muttered.
     
    “It’s wide-open on this side—no cover except for the oak tree.” Max pointed the opposite way, then gazed up at the sky. “But it looks about to rain, so maybe he’s already gone.”
     
    “We’ll soon find out,” Gabriel said, and zipped up his black leather jacket against the