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

me. “Bennett seems pleased by all this,” I said, truly puzzled by her pronouncement. “I don’t think he’s going to fire me because we’re filming a DVD.”
    She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Why you always think the worst of me I’ll never know.”
    Now I was truly lost.
    “I’m trying to warn you about crashing. You’re too upbeat for someone who’s been here since the crack of dawn. The minute you sit down and relax for more than five minutes, you’re going to deflate.”
    “I don’t know, Frances,” I said, “I’m feeling particularly great today. Maybe it’s the weather. Summertime makes me believe anything is possible.”
    She sniffed. “I thought that was supposed to be spring.”
    “Maybe I’m simply in a good mood.”
    Turning her attention to the papers on her desk, she made a face. “So what else is new?”
    * * *
    HOURS LATER, EXCEPT FOR A QUICK VISIT from Hillary who’d stopped in long enough to retrieve her gift-wrapped wine, the afternoon had gotten heavy and quiet. I was loath to admit it, but Frances had been right. I stared out the windows through dry and scratchy eyes, knowing that I ought to get up and move around or risk falling asleep in my seat. The door between our offices was open and when Frances’s chair creaked, it roused me from my torpor in time to look busy before she made it across the threshold.
    I glanced up, acting surprised to see her, pretending she was interrupting some very important business.
    “Looks like I was wrong,” she said. “You’re still hanging in there.”
    Giving credit where it was due, I allowed myself a yawn. “No, Frances, you’re right on the money. I’m zoning out here.”
    I could tell she was surprised that I’d admitted she was right. “Maybe you should take off, then.” She glanced over at the clock. “There’s not much more left to the day and you’re not going to get a lot accomplished if you’re exhausted.”
    “That’s true enough.”
    “You start shorting yourself sleep, you’re going to get sick.”
    I didn’t have a chance to respond before she eased into the wing chair across from me. Hesitant, yet sly, she regarded me with interest. “Not that it’s any of my business . . .”
    Immediately my hackles—whatever hackles are—zinged to attention. “What’s up, Frances?”
    “How is Jack Embers these days?”
    This from the queen of gossip. “Why do you ask?”
    “Haven’t seen him in a while.”
    I didn’t respond, but that didn’t stop her.
    “He used to come by here all the time and it wasn’t to visit me. Back when Abe was in charge, Jack stopped by once a season, if that. Up until the recent”—she shrugged, obviously searching for an appropriate word—“unpleasantness, he used to visit you a couple times a week.”
    She waited for me to answer.
    “Not that he was fooling anyone, I might add. We all knew he was sweet on you. What happened?”
    The ultra-sincere look on her face wasn’t fooling anyone either. Did she really believe I’d open up to her when it was guaranteed that my love life—or lack thereof—would immediately become fodder for lunchtime entertainment?
    I sighed and smiled. “It’s funny you should ask . . .”
    She scooched forward.
    “Because I was about to ask you the same thing,” I said. “After that recent ‘unpleasantness’ you mentioned, whatever happened with you and Hennessey?”
    Her eyes narrowed and she sat up straight. “Don’t you have more pressing items to concern yourself with?”
    “I’m sure we both do.”
    That shut her up. Thank goodness. I was in no mood to banter. I was about to tell her that I’d take her advice and knock off early, when my walkie-talkie crackled to life. It was Terrence. “Grace, switch channels.”
    I switched to a secure frequency as I stood up, gesturing for Frances to leave. She didn’t budge.
    “Terrence? What’s up?” I asked, quickly adding, “Frances is with me.”
    He was out of breath. “Staff