Read Online Sky High (A Nicki Valentine Mystery Book 2) by Susan O'Brien - Free Book Online

including this weekend. They thought he was a prince, although Mia’s dad is beside himself that her wedding day was ruined. He’s angry, and her mom is worried.”
    “Are they staying with her for now?”
    “Yes. For as long as she needs.”
    “What about Bruce’s relationship with his parents? Has Mia mentioned that?”
    “He’s close to both of them. Like Mia said, Bruce runs a company for Frank, and from what I hear, it’s doing well. Frank lives in Florida, but he visits Bruce in Virginia a lot.”
    “Does Mia like Frank?”
    “She says he’s self-made, and he expects the same from Bruce and everyone else. He can be brusque at times, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, but I think he cares.”
    “And what do you think of Lydia being a medium?”
    I held my breath for her response and realized that for some reason, I wanted her to believe in Lydia’s gift. Maybe I saw something “otherworldly” as the only way I’d ever understand parts of life, including what Jason had done to me, our kids, and himself.
    “I believe she believes it,” Liz said slowly. “And I want to be open-minded.”
    Darn. That wasn’t a real opinion.
    “So you don’t know what to think?”
    “I believe in eternal life, but I don’t know what to believe about mediums.”
    Okay. I’d have to decide for myself.

      
    I pulled into my garage, hoping no one would spot me until I called Dean without interruption. All the way home, I’d thought about what to tell him, but I still wasn’t sure. Could getting into business with each other ruin our chances of getting into a serious relationship? Because that wasn’t a risk worth taking. Or, more realistically, I wish you’d consulted me before taking this case.
    But I didn’t get to say much, because he apologized first.
    “I never expected things to go like that,” he said. “I wish I could have warned you beforehand.”
    “How did you even get involved with Frank?” I asked.
    “He called my office and said he got my name from the guest list. Mia had told him about us. He asked me to meet you at Bruce’s, and I thought you knew I was coming. But when I realized you had no idea, I texted you immediately.”
    “I was surprised you took the case.”
    Miffed was more accurate.
    “I’m really sorry about that. You know what? I aimed high with the fee to scare him off. I never thought he’d go for it. We can still back out. I don’t have a signed contract. Do you?”
    Heck no. I wasn’t even sure I had a blank contract for this kind of case, and Frank hadn’t given me his card.
    “No, I don’t, and I’m not sure what to do.”
    The selfish part of me wanted to quit before we started, even though I knew it would hurt Mia and Aunt Liz. I’d rather let them down immediately than fail them later.
    The selfish part of me also knew the paycheck would cover a mortgage payment, the kids’ winter sports fees, and repairs on my 100,000-mile minivan. But all of me wanted to do the right thing, whatever that was.
    “I could take the case on my own,” Dean said, “if that would help.”
    “Thank you, really. But it’s complicated because my family is involved.” On top of everything else, I knew my mom would want me to help Liz. It didn’t matter that they weren’t especially close; they were sisters.
    “I understand,” he said. “I want to pitch in, but I don’t want to overstep, either.”
    Maybe I should take the case alone , I thought. Maybe Dean was upset with me for dragging him into this whole thing.
    “Let’s take some time to think about it,” I suggested. “Not too long, though.” The first hours in a missing persons case are critical, and since Bruce had been missing at least overnight and half the day, we were way behind the police.
    “Right. I’ve got a meeting at the PI Academy at four, and it’s about which classes I can teach next session. Do you think you can call me before then? I don’t want to commit to anything I can’t make happen.”
    I