A Killer Read, page 26
part #1 of An Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery Series
Lizzie nodded. “I kinda like it, too. Thanks for telling me. You get to ask me a prying question next time, but now we’d better get on over to the book club or who knows what rumors they’ll start up.”
Bob met them at Molly’s front door. He sported a thick white bandage on the back of his head. “I just wanted to explain to you, Lizzie. I started getting a vague notion about what had happened way back then. I’d been away doing my stint in the army, so I wasn’t here when it happened. But I’d heard some rumors. When I began suspecting Claydon had been a part of it, I knew it had to be kept from Molly. I guess I acted sort of the dunce.”
Lizzie put a hand on his arm. “I understand totally, Bob. That’s exactly what my daddy did. But you know, you’ve been acting a dunce in more ways than one.” She looked over at Mark.
Bob nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.” He extended his hand to Mark, who shook it.
“I saw you hovering at the door, Bob Miller,” Molly said, coming up behind them. “I was afraid you might try to sneak out again. Good evening Lizzie, Chief.” She nodded at them both.
“How are you, Molly?” Lizzie asked.
Molly sighed. “Well, I’m none too happy to learn these things about Claydon, but I surely do understand why he kept it all from me. I knew he wasn’t perfect, but it shakes your faith in people when someone you trust can have such a dark secret.” She shook her head. “Now, come on in and join the others. We’re going to celebrate the fact that the case has been solved and it’s all over.
“But before that, I’ve got a gift for you, Bob.” She turned to him. “It’s a kind of thank-you and something I’m sure you’ll find enlightening.” She beamed as she handed him a small parcel, wrapped simply in brown paper.
He looked at her a moment and then at the gift a moment longer before ripping the paper off. The book had a brown leather-bound cover. When he turned it faceup, the gold-embossed title teased a chuckle out of him. Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie.
Reading Lists
Lizzie Turner
1. Mary Jane Maffini—Closet Confidential
2. Avery Aames—The Long Quiche Goodbye
3. Lorna Barrett—Chapter & Hearse
4. Margaret Maron—Sand Sharks
5. Linda Barnes—A Trouble of Fools
Sally-Jo Baker
1. Annette Blair –A Veiled Deception
2. Krista Davis—The Diva Paints the Town
3. Julie Hyzy—Grace Under Pressure
4. Jennie Bentley—Spackled and Spooked
5. Hannah Reed—Buzz Off
Molly Mathews
1. Agatha Christie—Murder on the Orient Express
2. Ngaio Marsh—Photo Finish
3. Caroline Graham—Murder at Madingly Grange
4. Rhys Bowen—Her Royal Spyness
5. P. D. James—The Murder Room
Bob Miller
1. John Sandford—Phantom Prey
2. James Lee Burke—Black Cherry Blues
3. Lawrence Block— Even the Wicked
4. Tony Hillerman—Skinwalkers
5. Loren D. Estleman—Sinister Heights
Jacob Smith
1. Robert B. Parker—Small Vices
2. Randy Wayne White—Sanibel Flats
3. Michael Connelly—The Black Echo
4. Lee Child—Die Trying
5. Margaret Coel—The Silent Spirit
Andrea Mason
1. Janet Evanovich—One for the Money
2. Cleo Coyle—On What Grounds
3. Casey Daniels—Don of the Dead
4. Charlaine Harris— Dead Until Dark
5. Kim Harrison—Once Dead, Twice Shy
Stephanie Lowe
1. Janet Evanovich—Finger Lickin’ Fifteen
2. Maggie Sefton—Knit One, Kill Two
3. Elizabeth Lynn Casey—Death Threads
4. Riley Adams—Delicious and Suspicious
5. Lila Dare—Tressed to Kill
Turn the page for a preview of Erika Chase’s next
Ashton Corners Book Club Mystery…
READ AND BURIED
Coming soon from Berkley Prime Crime!
“Lizzie Turner, you’d like a signed copy of Derek Alton’s award-winning book, wouldn’t you?”
Lizzie looked over at the cash register, where Jensey Pollard, owner of the Book Bin, stood waving a trade paperback with a moss green cover at her. The store was empty except for a dark-haired man at the back of the store. Jensey took Lizzie’s delay in answering to be a “yes” and called out to the man.
Lizzie watched him as he walked toward her. She didn’t recognize him, but she was pretty sure she’d heard of the book, Judgment. She smiled, hoping to cover any look of bewilderment.
“I’m Derek Alton,” he said, giving her the once-over as he held out his hand. He wasn’t much taller than Lizzie, possibly around five-eight. His eyes drew her attention— they were such an odd shade of green, Lizzie was certain he wore contacts. His nose looked slightly off-center, but that gave him a slight bad-boy look, especially when paired with the short dark brown hair, graying at the temples. His smile looked practiced to her, but she supposed that after years of book signings, he would be a bit jaded.
Jensey came around from behind her desk. “You know, Lizzie, Judgment is a mystery of sorts. And since it won the Onyx, I think it would be grand if Derek spoke to your book club. What do you say, Derek?” She had come up beside him and put her hand on his arm.
He looked at her hand and then at Lizzie. “I’d be delighted, although I’m in town for only another week.”
Lizzie tried not to look cornered. She didn’t know how the rest of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society would feel about a guest. “I’m sure everyone would be delighted,” she said, fingers crossed. “We’re actually having a meeting next Thursday, if that works for you.”
Alton leaned back against the desk and appeared to be in deep thought. Lizzie had the distinct impression she was being studied and maybe that’s what he’d base his decision upon. It made her slightly uneasy.
“I’d be happy to do it,” Alton finally said. “I’m staying at the Jefferson Hotel. If you’ll give me your phone number, I’ll call you for instructions.” He pulled a pen and small notebook out of his jacket pocket and wrote down what she told him.
He signed the copy of Judgment that Jensey handed to him then excused himself and left.
Lizzie stared at Jensey, not quite sure what had just happened. She felt like she’d been railroaded into not only buying a book she’d not planned to purchase, but also revising the book club schedule.
“I didn’t realize you were having a signing here today, Jensey,” Lizzie finally said.
Jensey giggled. “It wasn’t really a signing. He just popped in, and fortunately, I had a few copies of his books on hand so he signed them. Your walking in at that moment was opportune, don’t you think?”
Jensey looked pleased with herself. Lizzie sighed then smiled, paid for the book and the two mysteries Jensey had put aside for her— the latest from Ellery Adams and Janet Bolin— and left.
The phone was ringing as Lizzie opened her front door. She picked it up just before it went to the message.
“Derek Alton here. Lizzie Turner, I hope?”
She nodded, taken off guard, but quickly realized an answer was needed. “Yes.”
“I hope you won’t think I’m too forward, but I’d like to take you out to dinner tonight. I’d like to know all about your book club before I speak to them. It will give me a better idea of how to tailor my talk. Are you free tonight?”
Lizzie knew she had no plans but she hesitated. It wasn’t really a date. But a part of her felt guilty thinking of Mark Dreyfus, the heartthrob police chief she’d been dating for a few months. But Mark was working tonight. Okay, from what she’d seen of Derek Alton, he was somewhat attractive, in an older, mature way, but this was really a business dinner. It made sense he’d want to know about the book club. She accepted.
He picked her up at seven P. M., and after a brief drive through town with Lizzie pointing out the main sights, drove back to his hotel, where he’d reserved a table in the restaurant. Lizzie was glad she’d worn her fairly recent purchase, a black pantsuit along with a platinum satin shell. The Shasta Room at the Jefferson Hotel was one of the classier spots in town. Ashton Corners, Alabama, had a good variety of dining spots, along with plenty of activities for all ages. But Lizzie didn’t make it out to places like The Shasta Room very often.
Alton made a big show of examining the wine list after they were seated at a table for two. Although it was early evening and still light outside, the lights were dimmed in their corner, three tea lights were lit and a single red rose lay across her plate.
Uh-oh. Lizzie inhaled its fragrance and then set it alongside her cutlery. She adjusted the linen napkin the maître d’ had placed on her lap and looked around the room.
The walls, ceiling, crown moldings and chair coverings were done in varying pale shades. Linens were all white with a discreet “S” embroidered at each corner. Table and chair legs were dark oak. The shots of color came from the centerpieces of red poinsettia, towering paperwhites and sprigs of holly that anchored each table. String music wafted softly through the air.
Alton ordered a bottle of wine, without consulting her, she noted, then immediately began talking about himself. All she was required to do was nod and interject the occasional exclamation, showing she was suitably impressed.
“I’m still getting requests to read from Judgment at every event, and my publisher is thinking of doing yet another print run, so I thought it would be a good time to write a sequel. What do you think?” he asked.
Lizzie reined in her wandering mind and replayed his question before answering. “That sounds like a clever move.” It was all she could think of to say.
Alton poured himself another glass of the California Baco Noir and beamed. “Just what I thought. Now, let’s order before we get too wrapped up in talking.”
Lizzie balked at his suggestion he order for both of them, instead choosing lemon chicken with braised root vegetables while Alton ordered steak, done rare, and lobster tail.
“So, what do you do when you’re not running the book club, Lizzie?” Alton asked after another long sip of his wine.
“I’m a reading specialist with the local school board,” she replied. “And I do some tutoring and teach a literacy course at night school.” She watched for a reaction.
Alton smiled pleasantly. “Interesting. I also taught, you know. Creative writing, of course. In fact, I still dabble at giving the odd workshop, but my novel writing is such a large part of my life, I hardly find time for other pursuits, even the more pleasurable ones.” His smile slid into more of a leer, and Lizzie cringed.
“Have you started your new book?” she quickly asked.
He stared at a point behind her right ear. “Early stages, my dear.”
She wondered what that meant, but he had already launched into describing the award ceremony when he’d received the Onyx for Best Fiction from the prestigious Hawthorne Society, even though it was close to eighteen years ago. Lizzie couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him, that he was still consumed with that win after all these years. She wondered if he was a lonely man.
Their food arrived, saving her from further comments as he ate with gusto, stopping only long enough to refill his glass. Lizzie was still working on her first glass of wine by the end of the meal. She declined dessert, choosing a peppermint tea to keep her occupied while he ate a piece of pumpkin pecan cake. She tried to introduce the topic of the book club a couple of times, but Alton had slid into a silence punctuated by smiles and winks at her.
“Oh, look at the time. I should be getting home,” she finally said, glancing over at the flashy watch on his left wrist. She couldn’t read the dial but thought he’d never notice. “It was a wonderful meal. Thank you so much,” she said as she gathered her clutch purse and jacket.
Alton stood abruptly and swayed for a moment, then grabbed her elbow and walked with her to the entrance. He stopped to sign the check at the desk then maneuvered her behind a tall ficus plant next to the coatroom.
“I’ll see you home,” he said, his hot breath brushing her left ear.
She moved away from him. “No, that’s quite alright. I can take a cab. I really think you should just head up to your room.”
He leered and grabbed her arm once again. “Good idea. Join me, won’t you?” He leaned toward her to kiss her.
She turned away and removed his hand from her arm. “Thank you again for the dinner. Good night.”
She rushed out the door and down the steps, asking the bellhop to get her a cab. He blew his whistle and one pulled into the driveway from the main street. Lizzie gave the cabbie her address then sank back and breathed a sigh of relief.
What a nightmare evening. What a letch. And they hadn’t even talked about the book club. What an idiot she had been. Well, she’d just have to get the book club members on board for his visit and then act as if nothing had happened between them. Because, of course, it hadn’t.
Erika Chase, A Killer Read
