The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton Read Free Book Online Page A

called socks with fringe, and a white shirt that reminded me of the one Hamlet had been wearing. The discussion Edwin and I had been having and the approaching man’s Scottish postcard look made me wonder if we might be seeing a ghost. I looked for a sword or a dirk, but he held no weapon.
    â€œHere we go, Delaney. Just follow along whatever I say or do. No one will be expecting you today. I hope there won’t be too much of a kerfuffle, but watch yourself.”
    Edwin got out of the car and came around to my side to open my door. I hesitated a moment before getting out, but it wasn’t because I was afraid.
    I just happened to think the entire scene was wonderful and crazy enough to want to soak in every detail.

 
    FIVE
    â€œBenny, good tae see you,” Edwin said as he extended his hand. “May I present Delaney Nichols from America. She’s a new Cracked Spine family member. She’ll be attending the auctions.”
    Benny scowled. “I thought yer sis was tae be the one a taken yer place some time doon the road, MacAlister,” he said.
    â€œNo, Jenny is involved on her own. Now, please help me welcome Delaney. Delaney, this is Benny Milton. He organizes the Fleshmarket Batch auctions. We’ve shortened it tae just Fleshmarket though. Benny doesn’t bid. He’s a pub owner by trade, with a law enforcement background. Benny became a permanent fixture with us when he was investigating one of us, who turned out tae be innocent of all charges. He keeps us on the straight and narrow, and would report any of us tae the police with no second thought at all if he thought it necessary. He’s a good man and friend.”
    I’d hit a mental speed bump when he’d said, “Fleshmarket Batch,” but I caught up soon enough and extended my hand.
    â€œLass,” Benny said a moment later as he reluctantly pulled his thumbs from the waistband of the kilt and shook my hand like he was both in a hurry and might need an extra arm to take home.
    Benny was mostly bald with a few long stray pieces of black hair swooping dramatically back along the sides of his head, all hairs coming to a curled and pointed end at the back. He was big in a way that Kansas folks would describe as beefy. Thick everything, on the heavy side but not terribly so. His dark eyes were disturbingly intelligent and suspicious.
    â€œWell, there, that wasn’t so bad,” Edwin said as he placed one big pat on Benny’s shoulder.
    â€œCome along then,” Benny said after sending a sideways look toward Edwin. He turned and led the way to the doors, which were located at the end of a small walkway. We followed him in between two reddish brick pillars and then up a short stairway. Two giant white glass ball fixtures hung from the walkway’s ceiling.
    Benny pulled open one of the two doors and turned his attention back toward the road and parking spaces.
    â€œHave you seen Jenny yet?” Edwin asked as he handed Benny his car keys.
    â€œNoo, I havenae,” Benny said. “I thought she’d be with ye.”
    â€œWould you please let her know I’m inside the moment you see her?” Edwin asked.
    â€œAye.”
    Edwin turned toward me. “Benny parks the cars elsewhere. He’s a bit of a magician when it comes tae keeping us a secret.”
    Benny sniffed.
    â€œI see,” I said with a smile in Benny’s direction. He didn’t acknowledge it.
    I followed Edwin inside, and then stopped in my tracks, needing another moment to soak in my surroundings.
    â€œThis is beautiful,” I said as I looked up a wide stairway with a wooden railing and wood-paneled walls, not slat panel like in some of the older houses back home, but real wood panels, topped with carved arches.
    â€œAye, a lovely place,” Edwin said. He looked back through the doors briefly. “Benny takes his security seriously. You’ll see kilts here and there throughout Scotland but