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Authors: Leann Sweeney
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sister. If Kate ever saw a German sausage in my fridge, she'd get bent out of shape. I finished off my meal with a salad of summer fruits drenched in some kind of delicious liqueur—Cointreau maybe?
Our conversation during the meal remained purely social—mostly questions about my current life as a PI, my daddy and his business, questions that I was sure Richter already knew the answers to. But this softspoken, impeccable man with every gray hair in place was very good at drawing me out. I talked on and on about Daddy, Jeff and Doris, Kate and Aunt Caroline. After I speared the last piece of gold pineapple—Richter had finished his meal long before I did—his demeanor changed. Time for business.
A pretty, young dark-haired woman who introduced herself as Estelle cleared our dishes. She wore so much makeup that I wanted to tell her to wash her face, help her realize she'd be even more beautiful without all the lipstick and eyeliner. And the dark brown hair drew attention away from her flawless skin. But who am I to give advice on hair color? Ask Kate. I have ruined my hair so many times I might be in the running for worst swatch picker ever.
After Estelle was gone, Richter said, ''Here's what I'd like you to do. Although one or more of my relatives might well be capable of this murder attempt on JoLynn, I think it's wise we explore her past. I know nothing of her adoptive background, for example—who she lived with or for how long.''
I tried not to look too surprised. He'd checked me out thoroughly, so why hadn't he investigated someone he'd invited to live with him, someone he now admitted was adopted, before she showed up here? Something wasn't right. ''She didn't tell you anything about her past?''
''None of that mattered at the time.'' I started to speak, but he held up a hand. ''If I researched JoLynn's life as I did yours—as if she were a prospective hire— that information would find its way into the hands of one or more of the vultures who call themselves my family—and it would find its way, believe me. I feared they might chase her off. You see, she was like one of my magnolia blossoms, hearty but prone to bruising if handled too roughly. She was part of Katarina and I wasn't about to let them ruin something very special.''
''You know nothing about her past aside from the fact that Katarina was her mother?'' I said.
''From the moment I met JoLynn, I knew she belonged here and that was enough for me. She had Katarina's eyes, Katarina's soft-spoken ways.'' He raised his chin and rested his elbows on the round glass table, leaned forward and whispered, ''And if one of the people I support with homes and jobs and a secure future had anything to do with harming her, I will kill that person.''
''But—''
He sat back in his cushioned wrought-iron chair. ''You see why I need your help? That's not exactly something I could say to Chief Boyd.''
I stood, shook my head. ''That's not something you can tell me, either.'' I didn't bother to hide my anger. ''I'm sorry, but you'll have to hire another detective for this job if you expect me to—''
''Good for you. That's what I hoped you'd say.'' He stood as well, his smile broad.
I wasn't amused. ''What's that supposed to mean?''
''You're as ethical as everyone has told me and you've shown as much with a vigor I admire. I'll admit I was concerned when I discovered you're wealthy. I wondered if you gather people's secrets for some perverse reason other than altruism.''
''What?'' I felt my face forming what Kate calls the ''Are you nuts?'' expression. Richter must have a screw loose in his thinker assembly.
''You don't know my family,'' he said, obviously recognizing that look. ''They love to gossip and some of what they say about other people, well, it's less than pleasant. They play with secrets like children play with toys. I had to know if you might be even a little bit like them.''
''You
Our conversation during the meal remained purely social—mostly questions about my current life as a PI, my daddy and his business, questions that I was sure Richter already knew the answers to. But this softspoken, impeccable man with every gray hair in place was very good at drawing me out. I talked on and on about Daddy, Jeff and Doris, Kate and Aunt Caroline. After I speared the last piece of gold pineapple—Richter had finished his meal long before I did—his demeanor changed. Time for business.
A pretty, young dark-haired woman who introduced herself as Estelle cleared our dishes. She wore so much makeup that I wanted to tell her to wash her face, help her realize she'd be even more beautiful without all the lipstick and eyeliner. And the dark brown hair drew attention away from her flawless skin. But who am I to give advice on hair color? Ask Kate. I have ruined my hair so many times I might be in the running for worst swatch picker ever.
After Estelle was gone, Richter said, ''Here's what I'd like you to do. Although one or more of my relatives might well be capable of this murder attempt on JoLynn, I think it's wise we explore her past. I know nothing of her adoptive background, for example—who she lived with or for how long.''
I tried not to look too surprised. He'd checked me out thoroughly, so why hadn't he investigated someone he'd invited to live with him, someone he now admitted was adopted, before she showed up here? Something wasn't right. ''She didn't tell you anything about her past?''
''None of that mattered at the time.'' I started to speak, but he held up a hand. ''If I researched JoLynn's life as I did yours—as if she were a prospective hire— that information would find its way into the hands of one or more of the vultures who call themselves my family—and it would find its way, believe me. I feared they might chase her off. You see, she was like one of my magnolia blossoms, hearty but prone to bruising if handled too roughly. She was part of Katarina and I wasn't about to let them ruin something very special.''
''You know nothing about her past aside from the fact that Katarina was her mother?'' I said.
''From the moment I met JoLynn, I knew she belonged here and that was enough for me. She had Katarina's eyes, Katarina's soft-spoken ways.'' He raised his chin and rested his elbows on the round glass table, leaned forward and whispered, ''And if one of the people I support with homes and jobs and a secure future had anything to do with harming her, I will kill that person.''
''But—''
He sat back in his cushioned wrought-iron chair. ''You see why I need your help? That's not exactly something I could say to Chief Boyd.''
I stood, shook my head. ''That's not something you can tell me, either.'' I didn't bother to hide my anger. ''I'm sorry, but you'll have to hire another detective for this job if you expect me to—''
''Good for you. That's what I hoped you'd say.'' He stood as well, his smile broad.
I wasn't amused. ''What's that supposed to mean?''
''You're as ethical as everyone has told me and you've shown as much with a vigor I admire. I'll admit I was concerned when I discovered you're wealthy. I wondered if you gather people's secrets for some perverse reason other than altruism.''
''What?'' I felt my face forming what Kate calls the ''Are you nuts?'' expression. Richter must have a screw loose in his thinker assembly.
''You don't know my family,'' he said, obviously recognizing that look. ''They love to gossip and some of what they say about other people, well, it's less than pleasant. They play with secrets like children play with toys. I had to know if you might be even a little bit like them.''
''You
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