No Hope In New Hope (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 7) by Peggy A. Edelheit Read Free Book Online Page B

note of it for future reference.
    My senior squad was out checking galleries: collecting information and gossip from New Hope and Lambertville. Misjudging their shrewd minds, many were fooled by these savvy ladies, who repeatedly amazed me.
    Clay said he was checking several shippers of the Worths’. A wily hands-on kind-of-guy, I personally figured he was more likely contacting his so-called PI connections in high and low places, if you know what I mean .
    I stared at the catalogs. Would I buy online? Probably not. I’d go see those paintings in person for those prices.
    I had a lot to think about as the plot thickened…

 
     
     
    Chapter 26
    Which Brings Us Back To…
     
     
    Clay and I drove separately to the gallery the next day. I got there ahead of time to pick up a snack for us in town. Having parked at the gallery, that was when I cut through the side streets and found myself confronted and staring down the barrel of that gun, trying to talk my way out of an undeserved blood-red sauce stain of my own, minus the tie .
    “…Wait? Wait for what?” he asked, getting antsy again.
    Being threatened and strong-armed by circumstances beyond my control was wearing thin. I’d had enough and with my index finger, firmly pushed his gun barrel in the other direction. It was time to get down to business.
    “I think we need to talk, Mr. uh…?”
    Still gripping the gun, he put the hammer back in place and sighed. “Tony G.” He sighed again. “I didn’t think this approach would work, especially with you.”
    Now this Tony G. intrigued me. “And why not?”
    “You’ve changed.”
    I’ve changed? Thrown, all I could say was, “How so?”
    “You’re not like you were when you first started out.”
    Clearly I’d missed something in translation. “…What?”
    “I’ve read your books. You’re not a pushover anymore. You’ve toughened up: play it cagey. I identify with that.”
    This was not what I expected to hear. “Is that so?”
    “I like the way you take control of situations.”
    “Since I pose no threat, why not put that gun away?”
    He looked down at it. “I had to get your attention.”
    “Well, you did, now let’s get to the bottom of this.”
    He gestured toward a bench. I sat down and waited.
    Sitting next to me, Tony said, “There’s this painting…”
    I swear, I started laughing hysterically, right there on that side street in downtown New Hope. I held up my hand for him to wait a sec when he turned in my direction. He obviously didn’t see the humor in the situation, but then again, he wasn’t privy to what I had been through either.
    “Is this a blonde thing?” he asked, becoming impatient.
    I sobered, eyeing him. “Gun or no gun, watch it, Tony.”
    He holstered his gun then blew out a breath. “I didn’t realize how touchy authors could be, especially you.”
    “You realize I just aged ten years staring at your gun?”
    “Hey, you should be used to it by now. What is this one you’re working on, your seventh mystery?”
    I gave Tony a level look. Was he serious? What was I dealing with, a loose cannon, who just so happened to be carrying one around for show? Wary, I tried to explain.
    “I told you I write fiction.”
    “Look, I’m short-tempered and losing patience here.”
    I sat up, now edgy, looking around us: not a soul in sight. Where were witnesses or a cop when you needed them? At least I wasn’t staring down the barrel of his gun any longer.
    “How about you tell me what happened first?” I asked.
    He reached into his pocket and smirked when I flinched.
    “Easy does it, babe, I just wanted to show you this.”
    I stared down at a receipt for $25,000 …Uh-oh!
    Tony G. grinned knowingly, as he checked me out from head to toe. “I’d say you’re worth at least that much, don’t you think, Blondie?”

 
     
     
    Chapter 27
    I Was Lucky To Get Away Alive!
     
     
    “Are you kidding, Clay? I was lucky to get away alive!”
    So I gave Tony a phony gallery