It had gotten so bad that I’d finally sought spiritual guidance from Guru Bob, otherwise known as Avatar Robson Benedict, the leader of my parents’ commune and an all-around awesome guy. But it had been eight long weeks since I’d had any further run-ins with dead people, so I was hoping all that was behind me.
“For the love of Shiva, there are books on the ceiling.” Vinnie stared up in horror, then glared at Suzie. “How can we be sure that Brooklyn won’t be smothered in her sleep? You must do something, Suzie.”
“I’m fine,” I said with a casual air. “It’s just a bunch of books up there.”
But Vinnie was starting to freak me out. Grace had indeed managed to hang bookshelves from the ceiling. It was odd and unique and beautiful, really, the way the narrow shelving fanned out from the central chandelier. Although you couldn’t really call it shelving; these were more like attractively paneled, triangle-shaped lobster traps. Book traps, I suppose you could call them, since there were books inside each of them. The traps were made from different shades of wood and they overlapped and spanned out to the corners of the room in a pretty swirling pattern. Like an elaborate spiderweb, I realized.
While unpacking, I had discovered the intricate rope-and-pulley system Grace had rigged to manipulate the movements of her ceiling contraption. I knew she was a computer wizard and an engineering genius, so maybe she’d thrown this creation together on a spare Saturday, but I’d never seen anything like it. The thin ropes snaked down one wall, where they could be loosened to move each book trap up and down for access to the books inside.
On a positive note, the ceiling was at least twelve feet high, so I wasn’t likely to suffer claustrophobia from the thought of all those traps enclosing me in their web.
I tried to ignore the shiver that skittered across my shoulders at that possibility.
“Okay, that’s pretty freaking weird,” Suzie admitted, staring up at the odd sight. “But you have to admire her ingenuity.”
“Ingenuity.” Vinnie rolled her eyes at her partner. “Your aunt is crazier than a wagonful of monkeys, but your unconditional love for her is admirable, I suppose.”
Suzie shoved her hands into her pants pockets. “My unconditional love for you knows no bounds, sugar.”
“Oh.” Vinnie slapped her hand over her mouth, overcome with emotion. She flung her arms around Suzie and squeezed. “I love you, too, Suzie. Even if your aunt is a wack-a-doodle.”
Suzie winked at me over Vinnie’s shoulder, and I smiled at the clever way she’d wrapped up that conversation. But their easy affection made me think of Derek again and I was surprised at the depth of my own longing. I missed him more than I’d ever thought I would and wished he were here with me. But that was impossible. He’d left a week ago to begin a monthlong security assignment in Europe, where he was posing as the fiancé of some megabucks socialite who’d been receiving death threats.
I would just have to suck it up for the next month. I was perfectly fine without him. I really was. And I trusted Derek completely so that wasn’t an issue, even though I hadn’t been able to stop myself from Googling the woman at the center of his assignment. Just as I’d feared, Thomasina Marchand was young and gorgeous and artistically gifted. She dressed impeccably. And did I mention her immense wealth? Not that Derek could ever be swayed by material things, but nevertheless, I’d been suffering little pangs of jealousy ever since he’d flown off to pretend he was in love with her.
But that was completely normal, right? Anyone would have those little pangs, right? Of course they would. It didn’t mean anything. Derek and my connection was beautifully sound and solid. We had a happy, loving, exciting, and totally trusting relationship. He simply had an assignment to carry out, protecting Thomasina from threats of death until next month, when she became twenty-five, the age specified in her father’s trust. I knew Derek would perform his job to perfection. And then he would come home to me. That was all there was to it. I wasn’t worried. Nope, not me. No way.
“Come on—let’s go check out this crazy place,” Suzie said, putting her arm around Vinnie’s waist.
“Yeah, okay,” I said. “But do you guys mind if I make a quick phone call first?”
“Of course not, Brooklyn,” Vinnie said, her smile serene again. “Why don’t we meet you in the conservatory in fifteen minutes? Will that give you enough time?”
“More than enough. Thanks.”
They reminded me where the conservatory was, then walked out, closing the door behind them. I went to find my cell phone and sat down to make the call to Derek. I listened to the ringing of his phone and felt more connected to him already. I wasn’t sure whether that made me a lovesick idiot or just a lonely girlfriend. Either way, it was kind of pathetic, but I didn’t care.
“Hello?” a woman answered, whispering breathlessly into the phone. Derek’s phone. “Who is this, please?”
I had to bite my tongue to keep from saying, “Who the hell is this?” Who was this woman and why was she answering my boyfriend’s phone? Was this Thomasina? I decided on the spot to make it sound like a business call.
“I must speak to Mr. Stone immediately. This is his office calling.” I sounded officious and demanding, which was exactly how I felt.
“Ooh, so sorry, Derek can’t come to the phone.” Her voice was tinged with a vague but plainly Western European accent. French? Belgian? Sexy. She giggled softly. “He’s…ooh…he’s…ah…occupied.” Her rapid sighs made it sound as if she were in the throes of rapture. Seriously? Was she kidding? What the hell was going on?
Oh, God. Did I really want to know?
“Adieu,” she added in that same sultry tone, then disconnected the call, leaving me to blink and stare at my phone in shocked disbelief.
