Read Online Keeper of the Castle: A Haunted Home Renovation Mystery by Juliet Blackwell - Free Book Online

romance had never been on my bucket list.
    She fixed me with a stern dorm-mother look. “It would be best if there is no late-night sneaking around. It’s very disruptive to the household.”
    “I assure you, I almost never sneak around late at night. So, Mr. Elrich mentioned that I could bring my dog with me. He’s very obedient. . . .” That was a bald-faced lie. Any and all attempts to train Dog had crashed and burned. Still, he slept eighteen hours a day and didn’t bother with much of anything but food and squirrels.
    “A dog?” Alicia’s voice scaled upward.
    “Mr. Elrich invited him. Personally.”
    “Will he need anything?”
    I shook my head. “I brought his food, and his bowls, and even a mat to set them on so he doesn’t make a mess. He’s all set. Okay if I bring him in?”
    She gave a nod and handed me a piece of heavy-stock paper with a printed itinerary. “Here’s today’s household schedule; the new one will be slipped under your door each morning. I would appreciate it if you would attempt to adhere to the hours posted. I have circled the events at which you are expected.”
    The schedule broke the day down into half-hourincrements, with blocks of time marked off for meals, as in a full-service hotel. Ellis Elrich’s meetings were highlighted, during which, an asterisk noted, “household guests shall kindly observe silence.” Sherry hour was indicated prominently, to be held in the front parlor. My first obligation, circled in red, was a meeting with Ellis Elrich, his chief financial officer, Vernon Dunn, and designer Florian Libole, at ten. I felt as if I had been summoned to the Oval Office.
    “Okay, thanks.”
    She gave me another suspicious glance. “It’s very important for Mr. Elrich to have a harmonious living arrangement. Please respect the household hours.”
    I wasn’t sure what it was about me that gave Alicia the impression I would be whooping it up at three in the morning, or sneaking out on sherry hour. The sad truth was that, as a contractor, I usually woke before dawn and put in long, hard hours. I was rarely ambulatory, much less in the mood for drunken revelry, after nine at night.
    Clamping down on my irritation, I delved deep, looking for a little compassion. Being Ellis Elrich’s personal assistant could not be an easy job. He was incredibly wealthy and probably expected to have his needs anticipated and met at all times, even while surrounding himself with wild cards like me. That was a lot of responsibility without much authority.
    No wonder poor Alicia was wound a little tight.
    “I will try my darnedest to comply,” I said. “I see the schedule indicates that breakfast is served at seven—I’m usually on the jobsite by then, and since we’ll need to work twelve-hour shifts to meet Mr. Elrich’s requests, it might even be earlier, around six. I don’t really eat breakfast, but I do need to have some coffee, if possible.”
    “Earlier than seven?” Alicia frowned.
    “If that’s not possible, I’d be happy to brew my own.” I’m a coffee addict, and like most addicts, don’t want to depend on others for my fix. “I travel with my own French roast, plastic cone, and filters. A little hot water, and I’m good to go.”
    “You most certainly will
not
brew your own,” said Alicia, jotting down a note to herself. No doubt some remark about troublemaking sexpots who demanded coffee at ungodly hours.
    “Mr. Elrich doesn’t get up early?” This surprised me; most powerful people I knew were early risers.
    “He is typically up by five. But he does not drink coffee. He has no need of chemical stimulants.”
    “Oh. Well, good for him.” I wasn’t going to ask what might be served at sherry hour. “Well, then, thank you so much for allowing me and Dog to stay in this beautiful room.”
    “You’re Mr. Elrich’s guest.”
    If Alicia had her way, I’d no doubt be pitching a tent at a KOA somewhere.
    “Yes, true. Oh, hey, I do have a question: