Read Online Deadly Curiosities by Gail Z. Martin - Free Book Online
Authors: Gail Z. Martin
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until the end of the week.”
I glanced toward the door to make sure no one was likely to disturb us. “Baxter and I had a little more excitement than we wanted last night,” I said, and filled him in on what had happened.
Teag looked worried. “I don’t like the sound of that. First, shadow men at the B&B, now in an alley where you’ve never had any problems before.” He took a sip of his tea. “We really need to get Sorren in on this.”
I nodded. “We also need to figure out who the guy in the hat is.”
“Tall guy, wide-brimmed hat?”
“Yeah. He was on the corner near where the shadow men came after me, and then again, outside the house.”
“I thought I saw him outside the shop right after I opened up, but then he was gone when I looked again,” Teag said.
“I don’t know about the shadow men, but I think the man with the withered face is real. He seems to be following us or watching us, and I don’t like it.”
“Oh and I forgot,” Teag said. “Maggie called when you were talking to Mrs. Butler, she’s still not feeling well. She won’t be able to work tomorrow or Thursday. But, not to worry. I can cover.”
“You sure? It’s not going to put you in a bind or make you miss anything important?”
“No, I didn’t have anything scheduled,” Teag said, and sighed. “Anthony’s really tied up with those cases. You can make it up to me later.”
“Should I be worried about Maggie? She doesn’t usually call in sick.” I had inherited Maggie with the store and she had been working with us ever since. She was a retired teacher, quite knowledgeable about antiques and how the store ran.
Teag shook his head. “No, I asked. She thinks she got a touch of food poisoning. She just needs some time to recuperate.” He hesitated, and the look on his face told me that he had something on his mind. “Cassidy?” he said. “Be careful.”
“Count on it,” I replied. “If it looks dangerous, I’m outta there.” I didn’t want to admit it to Teag, but the whole idea of suddenly spooky antiques was making me very nervous. “I left a message for Sorren on his cell phone, but he hasn’t called me back.”
Yes, a nearly six hundred year-old vampire uses a cell phone, and email. As Sorren has told me many times, vampires who can’t adapt with the times don’t survive long. Problem is, Sorren’s work with the Alliance often means he falls out of touch for days or weeks at a time. Then again, his letter gave me hope we’d hear from him soon. It wouldn’t be soon enough.
Chapter Six
G ARDENIA L ANDING WAS a Victorian ‘painted lady’ with a two-story colonnaded piazza, an intriguing garden wall and an elaborate wrought iron gate to a garden with lush greenery and a fountain. It was exactly the kind of place I would have picked if I had wanted to indulge and pamper myself.
I parked and hefted my backpack and overnight bag out of the trunk, along with a small pack filled with some ‘special’ tools to help me tackle whatever was causing the problems at the B&B. Since I deal better with haunted antiques on a full stomach, I’d stopped for a quick dinner on my way over. I was even wearing my favorite agate necklace and earrings, gemstones I trusted to help protect me from bad supernatural mojo. With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and resolved to take on the worst Gardenia Landing had to throw at me.
Gardenias were in season, and so was honeysuckle and Confederate jasmine. The burble of a fountain promised cool respite from the warm Charleston evening.
As I opened the door into the foyer, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm sugar cookies welcomed me and enticed me inside. I was greeted by a room done in period wallpaper and antique furniture with a large crystal chandelier. Off to the left, I got a peek of a dining room, and to the right, what I guessed was a parlor or library. I’d explore both later, I vowed.
Straight back down the hallway was the kitchen with modern,
I glanced toward the door to make sure no one was likely to disturb us. “Baxter and I had a little more excitement than we wanted last night,” I said, and filled him in on what had happened.
Teag looked worried. “I don’t like the sound of that. First, shadow men at the B&B, now in an alley where you’ve never had any problems before.” He took a sip of his tea. “We really need to get Sorren in on this.”
I nodded. “We also need to figure out who the guy in the hat is.”
“Tall guy, wide-brimmed hat?”
“Yeah. He was on the corner near where the shadow men came after me, and then again, outside the house.”
“I thought I saw him outside the shop right after I opened up, but then he was gone when I looked again,” Teag said.
“I don’t know about the shadow men, but I think the man with the withered face is real. He seems to be following us or watching us, and I don’t like it.”
“Oh and I forgot,” Teag said. “Maggie called when you were talking to Mrs. Butler, she’s still not feeling well. She won’t be able to work tomorrow or Thursday. But, not to worry. I can cover.”
“You sure? It’s not going to put you in a bind or make you miss anything important?”
“No, I didn’t have anything scheduled,” Teag said, and sighed. “Anthony’s really tied up with those cases. You can make it up to me later.”
“Should I be worried about Maggie? She doesn’t usually call in sick.” I had inherited Maggie with the store and she had been working with us ever since. She was a retired teacher, quite knowledgeable about antiques and how the store ran.
Teag shook his head. “No, I asked. She thinks she got a touch of food poisoning. She just needs some time to recuperate.” He hesitated, and the look on his face told me that he had something on his mind. “Cassidy?” he said. “Be careful.”
“Count on it,” I replied. “If it looks dangerous, I’m outta there.” I didn’t want to admit it to Teag, but the whole idea of suddenly spooky antiques was making me very nervous. “I left a message for Sorren on his cell phone, but he hasn’t called me back.”
Yes, a nearly six hundred year-old vampire uses a cell phone, and email. As Sorren has told me many times, vampires who can’t adapt with the times don’t survive long. Problem is, Sorren’s work with the Alliance often means he falls out of touch for days or weeks at a time. Then again, his letter gave me hope we’d hear from him soon. It wouldn’t be soon enough.
Chapter Six
G ARDENIA L ANDING WAS a Victorian ‘painted lady’ with a two-story colonnaded piazza, an intriguing garden wall and an elaborate wrought iron gate to a garden with lush greenery and a fountain. It was exactly the kind of place I would have picked if I had wanted to indulge and pamper myself.
I parked and hefted my backpack and overnight bag out of the trunk, along with a small pack filled with some ‘special’ tools to help me tackle whatever was causing the problems at the B&B. Since I deal better with haunted antiques on a full stomach, I’d stopped for a quick dinner on my way over. I was even wearing my favorite agate necklace and earrings, gemstones I trusted to help protect me from bad supernatural mojo. With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and resolved to take on the worst Gardenia Landing had to throw at me.
Gardenias were in season, and so was honeysuckle and Confederate jasmine. The burble of a fountain promised cool respite from the warm Charleston evening.
As I opened the door into the foyer, the smell of freshly brewed coffee and warm sugar cookies welcomed me and enticed me inside. I was greeted by a room done in period wallpaper and antique furniture with a large crystal chandelier. Off to the left, I got a peek of a dining room, and to the right, what I guessed was a parlor or library. I’d explore both later, I vowed.
Straight back down the hallway was the kitchen with modern,
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