Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery

don’t mean to put you through so much trouble.”
    “It’s no trouble.” He smiled as he shrugged. “I’ve got to get the other computer, anyway, since this one doesn’t seem to be working.”
    “Well, if you don’t mind.”
    “Don’t mind a bit. Wait here and I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
    I watched him walk out. And that’s when I noticed the papers Gabriel and I had left on the reading table.
    “Oh, you knucklehead.” They had the names of all the guests and the possible motives of each one. Nathan hadn’t seen those, had he? I didn’t think so. He would’ve looked at them more carefully.
    I grabbed the papers, folded them up, and shoved them in my pocket.
    “There you are.”
    I jolted, then leaned against the table. “Hi, Grace. You caught me by surprise.”
    “I’m so sorry. I should wear a bell.”
    I smiled at the picture of Grace with a cowbell around her neck. “Were you looking for me?”
    “Yes. I’ve been thinking about your offer to take those books to the Covington. I think it’s a good idea.”
    “Really? That’s wonderful. I’ll show them to Ian and keep you posted. Thank you, Grace.”
    “Well, I figured you’re the expert. And I’m a fool if I don’t pay attention to the experts I hire to give me advice.”
    “That makes sense,” I said, smiling.
    “Oh, you discovered my secret passion.”
    “I did?” I turned in time to see her pick up one of the pulp-fiction paperbacks I’d found the other day. “Oh yes. They’re wonderful, aren’t they?”
    “Yes,” she said. “But they’re just falling apart. What a tragedy.”
    “I’m going to order archival plastic covers for them, so at least they won’t get any more damaged than they are.”
    “Thank you.” She moved her fingers down the stack, reading titles. Then she carefully pulled out an Erle Stanley Gardner classic. “I remember loving every Perry Mason mystery I ever read. I had such a crush on that man.”
    “He won every case he tried.”
    “Yes, he was a real hero.” She made a scoffing sound. “Unlike most lawyers these days. All crooks and thieves, one worse than the other.”
    I was taken aback by her unforgiving words and blurted, “But you invited a lawyer to your party.”
    She laughed. “Yes, I did, didn’t I?”
    “Sorry.” I covered my mouth with my hand. “That is none of my business.”
    “Oh, I don’t mind,” she said, waving my worry away. “One of these days I should hire a more congenial attorney than Stephen, but I keep him on the payroll because he knows where all the bodies are buried.”
    Someone out in the hall gasped.
    Grace and I turned and watched Nathan walk in with Merrilee. They both appeared to have overheard what Grace had said about her lawyer. It would’ve been humorous, except that with Bella murdered, the thought of bodies being buried could be considered a little creepy.
    “Here’s the laptop,” Nathan said, overly cheerful as a way of avoiding all mention of what he and Merrilee had heard. “I’ll get the program booted up in just a minute.”
    Merrilee wore a confused frown but didn’t say anything.
    Nathan touched her shoulder. “Thanks for walking me back to the library.”
    Merrilee’s frown turned to a sunbeam of a smile. “You’re welcome. Well, I’ll be going now. Chef Tang is waiting for me to unpack two cases of olive oil.”
    “Can’t someone in the kitchen do it?” Grace asked.
    “They’re busy with dinner prep,” she said. “And I don’t mind.”
    “It sounds heavy,” Nathan said.
    “The boxes are heavy but I can manage.”
    “I’ll help you.” He closed the laptop and slipped it under his arm. “Sorry, Brooklyn. I’ll show you that program later.” Then he grabbed Merrilee’s hand and pulled her out the door.
    But what’s your hurry?
I thought, as I watched them disappear.
Oh, but aren’t they cute together?
    Yes, they were cute. But what about my catalog program? I was about to ask Grace what she thought of the twosome who’d just run out of the room, but she was frowning too hard.
    “I’ll let you get back to work, Brooklyn,” she said distractedly. “I’ve taken enough of your time.”
    “Okay, Grace. See you later.”
    She scurried out the door. I had to wonder if she was going to chase after her errant staff members. Did she disapprove of canoodling among the hired help? I didn’t think that would be a problem for Grace, but she didn’t look happy, whatever the reason.
    I glanced