Poisoned Prose (A Books by the Bay Mystery)

several mornings ago as they shared a pot of Dixie’s fabulous coffee.
    “Isn’t that illegal?” she’d asked.
    Lowell had raised an eyebrow. “What if it is? She belongs with him.”
    Olivia couldn’t agree more. “And you? Don’t you belong with Dixie and her family? What will you do once you’ve laid Violetta to rest?”
    “I’ve got a few notions,” had been his cryptic reply.
    Seeing that Dixie was busy chatting with the customers in the
Evita
booth, Olivia had leaned forward and said, “I don’t care what you do with the diamonds, Lowell. Just don’t let Dixie find out. Not ever. She’s really proud of you. Don’t break her heart by sending her a wad of cash or stopping by to visit in a modified Ferrari.” When Lowell opened his mouth to protest, Olivia silenced him with a withering stare. “If you must lead that kind of life, then go ahead and lead it, but don’t let her know about it. Deceive her if need be. Let her believe that you’ve truly turned a corner. She needs to hold on to that hope.”
    When Lowell said nothing, Olivia slid a piece of paper across the table and tapped on it. “There’s a price for my silence. It’s a small one compared to how much you’ll make selling those stones, but it’ll change a young man’s life. I also believe that you’ll derive some satisfaction from investing in him. To be an anonymous benefactor is very rewarding.”
    Lowell read the name and frowned. “I met Captain Fergusson the other day. I liked him. Didn’t know he had a kid.” He kept reading the instructions Olivia had written. “The kid wants to go to college I take it.”
    “That’s right. Toby’s a bright boy, and his parents have struggled all of their lives just to get by. They’ve done honest work, Lowell. Hard work. But they could never swing his tuition. They’re also too proud to accept charity, but they’d take a scholarship or grant in a second. It has to sound bona fide, so I’ve written down how to word the letter to Toby’s parents and how to send annual payments to the school. Toby Fergusson should be in college studying to be a meteorologist instead of pulling shrimp nets out of the ocean.”
    “Assuming I have what you think I have,” Lowell had said cagily. “This is all you want? You’re not asking for anything for yourself?”
    Olivia had touched the back of her neck where a silver chain rested against her skin. “I’m pretty sure I have everything I need.”
    Now, as she watched Lowell shake hands with Dixie’s regulars, Olivia wondered for the twentieth time where he’d stashed the heart-shaped padlock. She knew that Dixie had chosen to believe Lowell when he swore that he didn’t have the lock, but neither Grumpy nor Olivia were convinced. At the moment, however, Olivia realized that what she thought didn’t matter. Dixie’s raucous laugh and vibrant smile were all that mattered.
    Despite Harris’s absence, Laurel and Millay were in high spirits, and Olivia did her best to enjoy the party. Haviland was having a fine time. He maneuvered around the guests, accepting bites of food and affectionate pets, his tail wagging feverishly. He received a big hug from Leona Fairchild, and Olivia was overjoyed to see how healthy the head librarian looked.
    “Did you read Harris’s text?” Laurel asked. She rubbed her hands together with glee. “Doesn’t sound like he’s loving Texas, does it?”
    “He misses the water,” Millay said.
    Laurel waved a forkful of salad at her. “And us.”
    “I just hope he finds time to polish his book. I’d love to see what happens with it.” Olivia dipped a French fry into a puddle of ranch dressing and popped it in her mouth. She’d decided to indulge in a bacon double cheeseburger with a side of fries for lunch. After all, they were celebrating. “Any word from your agent?” she asked Millay.
    “Actually, yeah. I was going to tell you before we left.” She paused to spread mayo on her club sandwich. “There’s been some interest.”
    Laurel gaped. “From a publishing house?”
    Millay tried to stifle her grin but was unsuccessful. “Yeah. The editor loves it. She’s got to check with her boss before making an offer, but we should hear something within the next couple of days.”
    “I can’t believe it!” Laurel shrieked. “This is so exciting! What are we going to do to celebrate?”
    “Please don’t say Snickertinis at Decadence,” Olivia begged.
    “I won’t,” Millay assured her.