Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery

figure out who was missing from the group before they could strike again. But with everyone either crouched on the floor or scurrying around the room, it was hard to nail everybody down.
    The weapon was a baseball or something that looked like it. It had been thrown from the doorway that was now half closed, so I turned and headed that way.
    Gabriel had come to the same conclusion. We reached the door at the same time. I grabbed the doorknob, but jumped back when I heard a woman out in the hall screaming. “Let me go!”
    “Not bloody likely,” a man said gruffly.
    I nearly fainted. I knew that gruff voice.
    Gabriel and I exchanged glances. We heard a scuffle; then the door was flung open. Derek Stone stood in the hall, wrestling with a squirming, angry Merrilee in his arms.

Chapter 15
     
    Derek?
    Gabriel grabbed me from behind as I started to slide, then pulled me close and whispered, “You’re not really going to faint, are you?”
    “Don’t be silly,” I insisted, though, okay, I was a little short of breath and for a second or two there, it had been a little iffy. And who could have blamed me? “I…I tripped on something.”
    “Nice try.”
    “Let me go.” He steadied me and I took a quick step away from him. So maybe seeing Derek had been a shock. And maybe I’d felt a little light-headed, but I was fine now. Except for the fact that everything inside me was jumping up and down in exhilaration at the thrill of seeing him again. Naturally I was much too cool and controlled to let him know that. I sucked in a gulp of air, let it out, and prayed for composure. “Hello, Derek. Fancy meeting you here.”
    “Hello, darling.” His voice was tight because he was still struggling to contain Merrilee, who twisted and turned and whined and yelped, trying to escape his iron grasp.
    Despite everything I’d imagined about him, despite my own emotional pendulum swings and psychotic-girlfriendmoments over the past week, I couldn’t do anything but soak in the loveliness of Derek. It was wonderful to see him again. He looked better than ever, if that was possible. Even though, on closer examination, I noticed that the man was kind of a mess. He needed a shave. His hair was spiky and unruly, as though he hadn’t combed it in a while. He looked tired, too, and his shirt wasn’t tucked in. Dear God, it wasn’t even ironed.
    He was the sweetest sight I’d ever seen.
    Had he been in so much of a hurry to find me that he hadn’t bothered to stop and freshen up, at least comb his hair and shave? Right at that moment, if I’d had the time to burst into tears I would have. Unfortunately, I was a little busy. And so was he. Crying would have to wait until the strange mystery of Merrilee was concluded.
    “Bring her in here, would you?” I said to Derek, and shoved the door open all the way. “We need to have a little talk with her.”
    “Of course, darling,” Derek said, and I could hear that familiar sardonic British lilt in his voice.
    I ignored the warm shivers that tone brought to my skin and instead admired the way he easily lifted Merrilee off her feet and carried her into the room.
    Yes, Derek was simply gorgeous and strong, a walking, talking advertisement for all that was Tall, Dark, and Dangerous. And I loved him. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to have a few words with him later about a certain Miss Thomasina Suck-wit and her unauthorized use of his cell phone. Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t called me. Not once.
    And while he was answering those questions, maybe he could also tell me what in the world he was doing here.
    Later.
    Grace was just lifting her head. Ruth still had a grip on her, but now she helped her rise and sit on the couch. Grace’s eyes were crossed and foggy as she rubbed her temple. “What happened?”
    “Merrilee tried to kill you!” Sybil shouted.
    “I did not!” Merrilee snapped.
    “Everyone saw you, Merrilee,” Ruth said quietly, though the pain in her voice rang out.
    “Why did you do it, Merrilee?” I asked. “Why did you throw a baseball at Grace?”
    “I didn’t!”
    “You did, and you almost killed her,” Ruth pointed out, her own voice quavering. “Was that your intention? To kill this woman who gave you a home and a job and all the love in her heart?”
    Merrilee slumped in Derek’s grasp, that momentary show of spunk suddenly and completely gone. She swallowed. Stark fear showed on her face. “No.”
    “I’m afraid you can’t