Read Online The Heirloom Murders by Kathleen Ernst - Free Book Online Page A

attic. With the article in hand, Chloe made her way into Mr. Burke’s office.
    An hour later she admitted defeat. She’d fingered her way through all the file cabinets, poked through stacks of cartons crammed with more file folders, and skimmed the ledgers. She hadn’t seen anything labeled “diamond” or “Eagle Diamond” or “Wood.”
    Chloe glanced at her watch. Libby had invited her over for a cookout that evening, and she’d frittered away most of the afternoon. Time to leave a note for Dellyn, who had evidently been waylaid at her brother-in-law’s house, and am-scray.
    As Chloe walked from the room she picked up the article again, skimming the columns of text … and abruptly, another name caught her eye: G. F. Kunz. She’d seen that name during her search of the files … hadn’t she? Somewhere?
    She was tempted to forget it, but that nagging sense of familiarity plunged her back into the search. Twenty minutes later she f ound the remembered file—thankfully, in one of the cabinets, before having to manhandle the heavy cartons again. “I knew it!” she announced, rather impressed with herself. Not too long ago, when struggling with depression, she’d had trouble remembering what she’d had for breakfast on any given day. This was no small achievement.
    The Kunz folder was flat, containing only a single document. Chloe read the letter and whistled. The information it contained predated the Eagle Diamond’s theft, but was significant historically. Dellyn would be tickled.
    Chloe left the file on the kitchen table with a scrawled note: Fun find for the day. Hope all went OK with Simon. I’m heading to Libby’s for a cookout supper. Come on over if you’d like company.
    _____
    When Roelke arrived at Libby’s house that evening he was surprised to find Chloe reclining in a lawn chair, sipping wine. That’s OK, he told himself. It’s cool. After all, he’d been the one to introduce Chloe to his cousin. At the time it had seemed like a good idea. These days, he wasn’t so sure. After his aborted attempt to kiss her, things might feel … awkward.
    But Chloe greeted him pleasantly enough. The temperature was dropping, shadows had stretched across the back yard, and a light breeze kept most of the mosquitoes away. Libby’s two kids were at a neighbor’s house, which meant grownup conversation could reign. Maybe this would turn out to be a good evening.
    Libby, as usual, turned out a feast with what appeared to be minimal effort. “Is your burger OK?” she asked Chloe, once everyone had been served.
    “Amazingly good,” Chloe said, with obvious sincerity. Libby had grilled a portabella mushroom cap for her, topped with a thin slice of smoked gouda cheese. “Did you put hickory chips in the coals?”
    “Hickory shells.” Libby extended her legs and crossed her ankles. “They have more oils than the wood.”
    “The word ‘fanatical’ comes to mind,” Roelke said. He rolled his eyes, because his cousin would suspect something was up if he didn’t needle her. But as far as he was concerned, Libby could add frankincense and myrrh to the coals if it meant that Chloe ate a good meal. For a vegetarian, she didn’t pay enough attention to nutrition.
    Chloe licked mushroom juice off one of her fingers. “If these are the results, she can be as fanatical as she wants.”
    Libby got up to check whatever she was grilling for dessert. She was three years older than Roelke, practical and self-assured, and occasionally too all-knowing for her own good. But this old ranch house in Palmyra, worn and toy-strewn, felt much more like home than his own tiny apartment several blocks away.
    And he really, really wanted to stay where he could come by Libby’s place whenever he wanted. “There’s a position opening up,” he announced. “EPD. Full-time.”
    “Hey, that’s great!” Libby said.
    “Yeah.” Roelke nodded, and tried what he hoped was a casual glance in Chloe’s direction.
    “That is