The Secret Chord: The Virtuosic Spy - Book 2 by Kathryn Guare Read Free Book Online Page A

lying on the porch floor.
    "What's happening here, Jigs?"
    "I broke a string," he said with a pensive frown. "The new string is all tangled up there. I made a complete mess of it. It was foolish of me, Kate. My hands don't work like that. I should have known."
    Kate gave his cheek a friendly pinch. "Well, let's see what we can do."  
    They sat down together on the floor and Kate tackled the snarl of wire as Jigger described the demise of the string, including the song he'd been playing and the surprisingly loud noise as it sprang free. While listening to this intricate narrative she heard a movement behind them, and turned to see Conor coming out on the porch carrying a gallon container of murky brown liquid.
    "Conor!" Again, Jigger leaped to his feet. Conor had just enough time to set the bottle down before the tow-headed bundle of love sailed into his arms.
    "Oof—easy there, Jigger. Sure you'll knock the stuffing out of me one day." He rubbed a hand over the boy's tousled hair and winked at Kate. "I was told my services are required."
    "I broke a string." Jigger trumpeted the news, his face buried against Conor's shirt. "Playing that song you taught me."
    Kate held up the string. "Situation desperate. You're just in time. Is that teat dip? I thought we had cases of the stuff."
    "Enough for two hundred cows, but sadly every bottle expired in January. I'm ashamed to say it took me nearly a month to discover. I ordered a new case."
    "Good Lord. Jared didn't mention anything?"
    "Not to me."  
    Conor dropped his gaze and Kate again wondered what on earth had happened between the two men. She'd offered to continue Jared's part-time arrangement, knowing his family could use the money, but after only a few days he'd phoned to say he wouldn't be back. In his slow, self-conscious manner he said he was needed at home but would be happy to help again "when the new fellow runs off on you like the others did." She'd been upset, worried about Conor having no one to orient him to the work, but he'd received the news with obvious relief and hadn't needed much orientation, anyway.
    "Are you going to fix my guitar?" Jigger dragged him by the arm toward Kate.
    "No, I'm going to show you how to fix it." Conor settled cross-legged on the porch, playfully pulling Jigger down with him. He accepted the string from Kate and glanced curiously at her new mop. "You walked all the way down here for that?"
    "Easier when it's not pouring rain."
    " Och , now that's a dirty dig." He laughed. "I'll run you back in the truck if you like."
    "Sure. I can wait."  
    Kate rested against the railing and watched as he patiently helped Jigger with the guitar. When they'd finished the boy played a few chords, admiring their work. "What about your fiddle, Conor? You promised to bring it here. You said we would play together."
    "Right, so. I did say that, didn't I?" Conor absently ran a thumb under his jaw. "Well, we've got the guitar for today, anyway. Have another go at the number I taught you last week."
    "I've been wondering about your fiddle myself," Kate said later, when they were in the truck and headed back up the road. "Are you going to play us a tune sometime?"
    "Ah, well." Conor stared ahead at the road.
    "Maybe it would help," Kate ventured, darting a look at him. She thought he wouldn't reply, but after several seconds he looked at her and smiled.
    "Maybe it would."

    T HEY ARRIVED BACK at the inn and pulled up next to a black Chevy Suburban in the parking area.
    "I can't imagine who that is." Kate looked from the car to the front porch, where two men in dark suits had appeared, badges clipped at their belts. Abigail was right behind, looking dangerously close to detonation.
    "I think I can," Conor muttered. Switching off the ignition he rolled out of the truck and they walked together to the porch.
    "Afternoon ma'am, sir. Special Agents Foster and Houseman." The taller of the two indicated himself and the man next to him with a twirl of his thumb.