Peril in Paperback: A Bibliophile Mystery

nuts?”
    “Sybil, please,” Peter said, his voice calm and reasonable.
    Sybil glared at her husband. “You shut up. I’ve had it with you. You’re a weak man, Peter. You make me sick, the way you leave yourself susceptible to every woman who walks by you.”
    “What? I’ve never cheated on you in my life.”
    “Oh, really?” she said, her voice taunting. “Exactly who were
Paul
and
Greta
, anyway? I read that stupid manuscript. I know what you were doing behind my back.”
    His forehead furrowed in disbelief. “It’s fiction!”
    “Not that part,” she muttered.
    He shook his head. “But…but that was twenty-five years ago. I barely knew you.”
    “You cheated on me!”
    He looked both shocked and exhausted. “You and I weren’t even dating yet. You had just joined the company.”
    “Oh. Well, fine,” she sputtered. “You have an answer for everything. But what about last night, when you were flirting with that one?”
    I looked around to see who she was talking about, then realized she was pointing at me. “Are you insane?”
    “No, I’m not. But you’re pathetic. Any woman who tries to steal a married man should be shot.”
    Despite knowing the woman was off her rocker, I was taken aback. “I don’t want your husband. And you have a real problem if you think your husband was interested in me. He’s friendly, that’s all.” I didn’t add that Peter talked to other women in order to avoid talking to Sybil. That would be a low blow.
    Disgusted now, she stood and faced her husband. “I’m sick of all the women, Peter. I won’t take it anymore. I’ve filed for divorce and my papers make it clear that you’re to blame for ruining my life. I intend to take you for every cent you’ve ever made.”
    Stephen Fowler cleared his throat. “Technically, California’s no-fault policy won’t get you a—”
    “Oh, shut up!” Sybil shouted, then scowled at her husband. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve got my own money now. I don’t need yours.”
    Peter frowned. “What money?”
    She was speechless for a split second, then finally spat out the words, “You’re an idiot.”
    “Maybe I am,” he said, watching her quietly. “Tell me what money you’re talking about. Is it the company account? Are you the one who stole the money?”
    “I didn’t steal it,” she claimed angrily. “It’s mine as much as anyone else’s.”
    “You stole it,” he persisted. “Why? What were you planning to do with it?”
    “If you can’t figure that out, you’re a bigger moron than I thought.” She rolled her eyes. “God, what am I doing here?”
    Spinning around, she started for the door, but Gabriel blocked her way. “You’re not going anywhere. Sit down.”
    “No,” she said evenly. “If you’re going to take the word of a half-wit housekeeper, I’m leaving.”
    “No, you’re not.” He grabbed her arm and started to drag her back to her chair, but she yanked her arm away. “Don’t touch me again.” Then she whirled around, shaking with fury. “I’ve had it with all you people.”
    “Sit down, Sybil,” Peter said with more force than I’d heard him use all week.
    “Fine,” she said, and flounced down into the chair.
    “Sybil, please,” Grace pleaded. “Can’t we talk about this?”
    “Talk?” Sybil glared at Grace. “To you? You’re the worst of them all.”
    “We can work this out,” Grace continued. “If you need money…”
    “Oh, for God’s sake. Do you think I’d take a damn thing from you?” She slipped her hand down beside the chair cushion and whipped out a small handgun. Standing, she pointed the gun at Grace. “Now will you shut up?”
    Ruth screamed.
    “Sybil, no!” Peter yelled.
    Suzie shouted, “Aunt Grace!”
    Nathan grabbed Merrilee and pushed her out of danger, then huddled nearby, wide-eyed and watchful.
    I couldn’t breathe. Sybil’s gun was aimed at Grace, but she’d just mentioned shooting me.
    Suddenly she spun around and pointed the gun at each person in the room before turning back around to Grace.
    Everything seemed to move in slow motion, except this wasn’t a film. It was real. Merrilee had been right about Sybil. Now it looked as if Sybil might actually kill Grace in front of us all. I had to stop her.
    I took one step forward and Derek grabbed me around the waist, forcing me back. “Don’t even think about it.”
    “Let me go. We’ve got to help—”
    Again Sybil swung the gun around in a wide arc, alternately aiming