Devil's Food by Kerry Greenwood Read Free Book Online

sauvignon blanc, wine of the gods. Daniel had mineral water.
    ‘Your papa is creepy,’ said Allie.
    ‘What did he do to you?’ I asked. ‘I can only apologise in advance.’
    ‘It was weird,’ she said. ‘I was in the spa and it’s a public spa, all right, so when he came to sit in it I didn’t pay any attention. Then he started sort of sliding closer to me, you know, creeping up? And then when he was right next to me and I was about to move away, he put his hand on my leg and said, “We could be cosmic together,” and when I said, “Get your hand off my leg,” he said, “You’re groovy, California girl,” and then I got up and got out of the spa. He didn’t grab for me or try to follow me. He didn’t say anything else either, just looked real sad. I wouldn’t have complained but he might have tried it on someone who’d be real scared. I mean, he doesn’t look …’
    ‘What does he look like?’ I asked.
    She sipped and thought about it. ‘A deadbeat. A street person. Long grey hair and beard. Clean, though. Just … not sane.’
    ‘I’m so sorry,’ I apologised again.
    ‘Did you get any idea of where he was going?’ asked Daniel.
    Allie shook her head and her chestnut hair gleamed like a shampoo commercial.
    ‘No, but he might have stayed around here. Sorry I couldn’t help more,’ she said, getting up from her low seat with the grace of a heron.
    ‘I hope this hasn’t turned you off Australia,’ I said.
    ‘Got good wine, fantastic boys, good weather, terrific forests,’ she said, grinning a grin which showed that absolutely every tooth in her head was buffed to the blinding whiteness of new snow. ‘One creep isn’t going to kill that. After all, my home town has a lot of creeps of its very own.’
    ‘I’ve always meant to go to California,’ mused Daniel.
    Allie grinned again. ‘Come in September,’ she told him, pressing a card into his hand. ‘Or October, for Halloween. Summer’s cold and damp. Thanks for the drink. Hope you find the parent.’
    Then she was gone. The door swung back with a thump. Brightness had been removed from the room. The Maori women called for more beer. The Stork settled back into being a comfortable, slightly pre-loved, pub. I liked it better that way. I was more than slightly pre-loved myself.
    ‘Phew,’ said Daniel, examining the card. ‘You know that young woman is a plant biologist?’ he went on, showing it to me. ‘University of Southern California. Worst case of aggressive galloping health I have ever seen. Well, your dad’s lucky she didn’t get annoyed and belt him one, in which case he would probably still be lying stunned at the bottom of the spa.’
    ‘And thus easy to find and no longer a problem,’ I replied hard-heartedly. ‘Did you hear what he said to her, Daniel? This is going to be so embarrassing. This is going to be like following Austin Powers around the town.’
    Daniel laughed. People were coming into the pub from a hockey match, with sticks and shorts, screaming for warming beverages. I stared into my empty glass. Groovy. Cosmic. California girl. Lord have mercy.
    ‘Cheer up,’ said Daniel. ‘Have another glass of wine. Let’s get some dinner here. They do wonderful lamb shanks with maple syrup and pumpkin. Then a nice bracing walk back to your apartment, feed Horatio. Perhaps you might like …’ He leaned over and whispered in my ear. His offer was so exciting that I blushed. The Maori women were giving me a thumbs-up and frankly lecherous comments about Daniel were being exchanged. I didn’t begrudge them it as I went into the bistro for a delicious dinner and more wine. After all, I was the one going home to be kissed all over.

CHAPTER FOUR
    Morning announced itself with a shattering alarm, followed closely by the clock hitting the floor as my flailing hand batted at it. Horatio doesn’t like alarm clocks either, especially when he has chosen as his place of repose the bedside table. (With a whole soft warm