Read Online The Fatal Fortune by Jayne Castle - Free Book Online Page A

reluctant smile curved the edges of his mouth. He was beginning to enjoy her Nancy Drew enthusiasm. There were a lot of things he enjoyed about Guinevere Jones.
    ***
    Guinevere was all business as she sat down to lunch with Zac in a small deli between First and Western Avenues. “I’ve been thinking all morning about what you said last night,” she began, watching him bite into a huge sandwich.
    “Nice to know you’re hanging on my every word.”
    “About my purse,” she reminded him. “Zac, please pay attention. I’m trying to consult with you.”
    “My usual consulting fee is two hundred dollars an hour.”
    “How about I pay for lunch?”
    “It’s a deal.” He glanced at his watch. “You’ve got fifty minutes left.”
    Guinevere considered giving him a swift kick under the table but decided against it. She realized Zac was finding her current efforts amusing, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t pick his brain—if she could just keep his attention from wandering. She leaned forward intently.
    “I think you’re right about someone having gone through my purse, reporting certain details to Madame Zoltana before my appointment last night.”
    “I know I’m right.” He took another satisfying bite of his sandwich.
    “I’ve done some observation this morning, and the way I figure it, there aren’t too many people who would have had access to my purse. The most likely suspect is Francine Bates, and she’s the one who originally turned Sally on to Madame Zoltana. Francine has this nice, motherly sort of personality. I can just see Sally confiding in her about the baby and everything.”
    “Have you got any evidence against Francine?”
    “Nope. So I’ve decided to set a trap.”
    Zac chewed thoughtfully for a moment before repeating cautiously, “A trap?”
    “That’s right. I want to see what you think of my idea.” Guinevere sat back and smiled brilliantly.
    He sighed. “Go ahead. It’s your hour.”
    “Here’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to give Francine some exciting little tidbit and make sure that no one besides her knows about it. Then I’ll see if Madame Zoltana mentions it at the next session.”
    “Hmm. When’s the next session?”
    “I’m going to call Zoltana this afternoon and set it up as soon as possible.”
    Zac finished the first half of his sandwich. “What’s the tidbit you’re going to give Francine?”
    “Oh, I thought I’d tell her I’m worrying about my brother going back to jail,” Guinevere said airily.
    “You don’t have a brother.”
    “That’s the whole point, Zac. When that false bit of information crops up during a session, I’ll know for sure that Francine was the one who planted it. Then I’ll have proof that she and Zoltana are working together.”
    Zac shook his head and reached for the other half of his sandwich. “The only one you’ll prove anything to is yourself. Zoltana’s clients probably won’t believe you.”
    “Well, I can certainly make a scene at Gage and Watson, and most of the doubters will believe me.”
    “Does it occur to you that Madame Zoltana and her cohort aren’t going to be thrilled when you start accusing them of conspiracy?”
    “What can they do about it?”
    “Sue you for slander,” Zac suggested mildly.
    Guinevere frowned. “Nonsense. I’ll be telling the truth.”
    “It’s going to be your word against theirs,” he pointed out.
    “Well, at the very least, I’m going to make sure Sally Evenson knows the truth. Besides, someone like Zoltana is not about to sue. She’d have to prove her powers are for real, and she couldn’t do that.”
    “Just keep telling yourself that when you find yourself hiring a lawyer.”
    “Don’t try to alarm me, Zac.”
    “Okay. Is the consultation over?”
    “I guess so,” Guinevere said reluctantly. “Although you haven’t exactly been a big help.”
    “Consultants get paid whether they’re a big help or not. It’s one of the joys of consulting work.