Grace Among Thieves by Julie Hyzy Read Free Book Online Page A

wanted to see where bodies had been found.
    At least this time we had forewarning. “Thanks, Nadia,” I said. “You have to know how much I appreciate this.”
    After we hung up, I called Terrence. “Hey,” I said, “got a minute?”
    * * *
    BOOTSIE SAT IN MY LAP AS I READ THE NEWSPAPER at our kitchen table. The house was quiet, save for her gentle purrs thrumming softly against the inside of my left arm. The little tuxedo kitten had become part of the family from the moment she’d joined us, and I had to admit that I was secretly pleased she’d attached herself most firmly to me.
    My roommates, Bruce and Scott, were busy at Amethyst Cellars, their wine shop in town. Because we were at the beginning of Emberstowne’s high season, I didn’t expect either of them home before ten and it was just past eight now. I’d texted both to let them know that I’d probably be in bed when they got back, so I was surprised when the back door opened and Bruce rushed in.
    “Great,” he said, “I caught you.”
    “What are you doing here?”
    Bootsie raised her head, looked up at me, then wriggled onto her back, snuggling to make herself more comfortable.
    Bruce placed a bottle of wine on the table in front of me. Wrapped in red and clear cellophane twisted at the bottle’s neck with ribbons cascading in silvery free fall, it was a lovely presentation. I turned it to read the label: one of their more expensive vintages. But the gift card, the “To-zee, From-zee” as we’d always called them in my family, was blank.
    “Who’s this for?” I asked.
    “That’s the thing,” he said, sitting across from me. “Mr. Marshfield’s stepdaughter came in this afternoon and picked it out. She didn’t give us a name.”
    “Hillary was in the shop?”
    “She came in for a wine tasting. Alone. But she left with at least two phone numbers. That woman works fast.”
    “I’m still not getting this,” I said, pointing to the wine bottle.
    “I’m not sure I get it, either. Hillary waited until her two new conquests were gone, then picked out this cabernet. After she paid, she requested gift wrapping. We told her it would be a couple of minutes, but she said she had an appointment and couldn’t wait. She knew you were planning to be at Marshfield early tomorrow and asked that we have you bring it.” Bruce held his hands up apologetically. “She was out the door before we could stop her.”
    It would be like Hillary to arrange for me to be her delivery person. “No worries, Bruce. I’ll take it.”
    Bootsie gave a little huff. Indignation on my behalf, possibly? She jumped off my lap and began kneading my plush yellow slippers. That was one of her favorite pastimes. I had to admit I got a kick out of it, too.
    “You will?” Bruce asked. “I really hate to impose, but this is a pretty special wine. I’d be happy to deliver it myself, but she said the place would be closed in the morning except for you, her, and the film crew. And that you’d all be there bright and early at six A.M. That’s ridiculously early.”
    “Just what I need. Hillary at six in the morning.”
    He laughed. “You always have your hands full at Marshfield.” He glanced at the clock. “Shouldn’t you get to bed? You’ve got an early call.”
    “Wait until I tell you the rest.” I explained about talking with Nadia then said, “When our items first began disappearing, we switched filming to pre-visitor hours. I don’t know what else we can do to prevent what happened at Kane from happening at Marshfield.”
    Bruce was shaking his head. “Shouldn’t you consider rescheduling this DVD filming? At least for the time being?”
    “Bennett is completely against that.” I didn’t mention that was because he was convinced the thefts would stop as soon as Hillary left the premises. “Delaying our filming would put all our plans for expansion behind schedule. Corbin is booked for the next eighteen months. Bennett wants this done as soon as