Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 51995 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51995 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 260(@200wpm)___ 208(@250wpm)___ 173(@300wpm)
Right now, Conrad wasn’t sure he did.
When his phone dinged, he glanced at the clock. Wow. After midnight already?
Frowning, he reached for the cell and discovered a report on the crowbar he’d retrieved from the cemetery had come in. The weapon was definitely used on Dr. Hotchkins. Trace amounts of his blood dotted one end, but there were no fingerprints. Even still, this provided sufficient reason for Ms. Randall to approve the extra funds needed for surveillance of the graveyard’s resident guard dog, Muffin. Or rather, his headstone.
The cell rang, flashing Jane’s name over the screen. Worry flared. To call him so late, something must have happened. A little too quickly, Conrad pressed the right button and jammed the phone against his ear. “Jane? Is something wrong?”
“You’re a tasty little snack cake. Did you know that?” She both slurred and purred the words before unleashing a hacking cough.
He cringed at the atrocious sound. Then his brow furrowed. Had she actually called him a snack cake? Uh, was she drunk? “Where are you? What’s going on?”
“I’m at home in bed. I took some cold medicine, even though I didn’t need it,” she grumbled. A sneezing fit followed her claim, then another coughing fit, and his trepidation morphed into amusement. “Fiona says I’m a diaper baby and rage monster when I’m sick, so it’s a good thing I’m not sick. By the way, colds are dumb, and I’ll feed you your own organs if you ever disagree. Oh! You should bring me Daisy’s. Okay, bye!”
He stared at his wall for a solid minute, baffled and bemused. In the end, he chuckled with a delightful realization. Jane Ladling couldn’t handle her meds. He only hoped he received another call. Soon. There was nothing inappropriate about it, either. He couldn’t help when people reached out.
Less than an hour later, his wish came true. His phone rang, and he shoved his laptop aside in favor of snatching up the device. “Hello, Jane.” He settled in for the long haul, getting comfortable against the mound of pillows behind him. A smile spread wide.
“I just remembered you never told me the answer,” she began, more slurred and nasally than before.
“What was the question?”
“How come you’re such a smoke show?”
He barked out a laugh, and there was no stopping it. First a snack cake, now a smoke show. “You like the look of me, do you?” And okay, yes, it was an inappropriate query, but he’d stopped caring.
“Almost as much as Daisy’s.”
Okay. Hint taken. “Who or what is Daisy?”
“Only the best diner in this world and possibly the galaxy. Did you know the chicken noodle soup cures incurable diseases? Not that I’m sick.”
He stored the diner information in a mental folder titled Jane Ladling: A Survival Guide. “Tell me about your last boyfriend.”
“He’s a fireman.” She yawned. “His name starts with a C like yours. Guess that’s my kryptonite.”
“C names do it for you, hmmm?” he teased. “Why’d you two break up?”
“Because he’s a liar and liars should only ever be with other liars. I, sir, am not a liar.” Her fatigue seemed to evaporate in a flood of vim and vigor. “Am I saying liar too much? Anyway. Honesty is a treasure more valuable than gold. Christopher told me he’d stick like glue, but he didn’t. At the tenth or eleventh sign of trouble, he bailed. So good riddance, if you ask me. Loyalty is a treasure more valuable than, well, more gold.”
A puzzle piece clicked into place. Abandonment issues—raisins. No wonder Fiona had warned him away. The wise older woman must have sensed Conrad’s own vast array of problems. “Is that Beau guy a sticker?”
“I hope so, ‘cause I’ve always wanted a brother. Oh! Conrad! Guess what? I’m setting Beau up with a great girl. Well, as soon as I find the right one I am. Oh! Guess what else? I know the answer to everything and it’s something.”
Brother, she’d said. Relief poured through Conrad. “Congratulations. What are your top three dating deal breakers?”
Another yawn crackled over the line, her burst of energy fading. “Don’t hang up,” she commanded, the words slurred again. She must have forgotten his question. “I don’t want to be alone for once.”
He knew the feeling well. “I won’t hang up. You have my word.”
Rustling. Smacking lips. “You should call me sweetheart. Since we’re gonna date and break up and all.”
His smile reappeared. “Why are we going to break up…sweetheart?” Yeah, the endearment fit.
No response. Only a soft snore. He snickered. She’d already fallen asleep, hadn’t she?
Conrad didn’t dare hang up. As promised, he kept the connection open. But it wasn’t long before a wave of peace washed over him. His eyelids grew heavy and…
The next thing Conrad knew, a hacking cough jolted him awake. He blinked, gradually growing alert. And shocked. He’d slept. For the first time in ages, he’d actually slept. Sunlight shone through his bedroom window.