Grimoires and Where to Find Them by Raconteur, Honor (best affordable ebook reader .TXT) 📗

“No bet.” Although, really, what in the wide green world did Seaton have up his sleeve now?

I somehow didn’t want to know.

After such an exciting night, I expected something to have happened on my ducklings’ end, too. A lead. A clue. Something. Instead, they reported that the brokers were surprised at the news, but nothing earth-shattering came back to them.

They had managed to speak to most of the people on our list. We’d not caught everyone at home the night before, and I’d missed a few of the owners of the Reaper’s Set. I still had two to follow up on, and of course the ducklings were still wading through the many book brokers in the city. But I really, really wanted to talk to a particular book broker, one Sasson Walcott. Henri agreed it seemed a good place to start this morning, so that’s where we headed first.

Henri drove again. It was drizzling, and for some reason the idea of me driving in the rain sent him straight into heart palpitations. I didn’t really mind. It wasn’t like you could go fast in this bumper-to-bumper traffic, anyway. Everyone was commuting to work, and the roads were jam-packed.

As we drove, my pad dinged and I pulled it out. Ah, Ellie. I read the message and snorted in amusement.

“Ellie reports that she now has a hand-held device that will clip onto the top of the Kindle, allowing for both viewing and touch screen ability.”

Henri shook his head. “She stayed up all night, didn’t she?”

“That would be my guess. She’s so excited right now, I think she’s bouncing off the walls. And the caffeine, for once, has nothing to do with it.”

“I noticed that when you handed her the device, you didn’t give her a priority list.”

“Hmm, yeah. Hard for me to do. I have a better grasp of what she can feasibly make with this level of technology, but sometimes Ellie surprises me. The engine modifications to the bike, for instance. She completed those far more easily than I expected. And I know that a lot of the prototype designs are coming out of her pocket. She sometimes has to pick a project based on how easy it will be to manufacture and market, just to keep a good revenue stream coming in.”

“It makes sense. Of course, all of that has to be considered.”

“Yup. I can’t complain, I’m making a mint off everything we collaborate on. Ellie has great business sense.”

Henri shot me a considering look as he slowed at a stop sign. “You could actually buy a house, couldn’t you?”

Outright, if I chose something nice instead of outlandish. The things I invented with Ellie sold very, very well, and I got a percentage of each sale. Not a huge amount, but it did add up quickly when the products went worldwide, as most of them had done.

“I could. I chose the apartment initially because I didn’t have that kind of money when I first started out. And then I stayed because I like living next to you and being close to work.”

“And I’m glad you did so.” The smile he gave me was soft with affection.

I grinned back a little helplessly. Seriously, when he looked at me like that, I melted.

“I am too. Turns out it was a really good decision.”

“The best.”

He made a turn—I actually had no idea where we were in Kingston, so just as well he was driving—and then cleared his throat a little. It was a Henri-ism for something he wanted to say but was afraid might come out awkwardly.

“I’m not complaining, mind you. Well, perhaps I am. We’ve been so busy as of late that we’ve had little personal time with each other.”

“Trust me, I’m not happy about it either. We definitely need to carve out some time. Tell work to go hang.”

He settled visibly, pleased I agreed. “Yes, we need to be firm on this. At the end of the day, let’s settle with our planners and find at least a day in the near future.”

“Done.” Even as I said it, I had a feeling it would happen after this case was closed. Gut feeling. This case was a little more volatile than usual, after all. I also had a gut feeling it would get worse before it got better.

And may the city not implode or melt due to unprotected grimoires running about, Amen.

We pulled up in front of a snooty building. You know what I’m talking about. Where it’s this perfectly pristine business building, every leaf trimmed and arranged just so on the shrubbery, literally looking like someone tore it out of a magazine and dropped it into place on the sidewalk. It didn’t surprise me, not really. The book broker handled the upper crust for his clientele, after all. He would have to, if he was buying and selling rare grimoires.

I only had Clint with me today, as the kittens had decided they wanted to play with Niamh and Gerring. Foster was stuck with phone duty, trying to reach the people we’d missed on the first round. I hoisted Clint up onto a shoulder as we headed into the building. Henri got the door. There was no chime, but a smartly dressed man at the front desk in a three-piece suit greeted us with a cordial smile.

“Hello and welcome to Walcott’s. How may I help you?”

I juggled cat to pull a badge out and show it to him. “Detective Edwards, and this is Dr. Davenforth. We’re inquiring about some stolen grimoires that we understand Mr. Walcott has a vested interest in. Is he available for a quick interview?”

“I believe so. His next appointment isn’t for another hour. Let me inform him that you’re here.”

“Thanks.”

I waited patiently as he left, taking a good look around me. Everything was so polished it gleamed. And the rug was incredibly plush and looked brand new. This place screamed money, but in the wrong way. It was trying too hard to impress.