Chapter One My mother always warned me to be careful what I wished for, but did I listen to her? Of course not. I love my mom, but this was the same woman who swore by espresso enemas to perk up your spirits. The same woman who performed magic spells and exorcisms on a regular basis and astral traveled around the universe with her trusted spirit guide, Ramlar X. Believe me, I'm very careful about taking advice from my mother. Besides, the thing I was wishing for was more work. Why would that be a problem? I'd been in between bookbinding jobs last month and was telling my friend Ian McCullough, chief curator of the Covington Library, that I wished I could find some new and interesting bookbinding work. That's when Ian revealed that he had submitted my name to the television show This Old Attic to be their expert book appraiser. I was beside myself with excitement and immediately contacted the show's producer for an interview. And I got it! I got what I wished for. A job. A great job. With books. That was a good thing, right? Of course, I didn't dare tell my mother that I considered her advice a bunch of malarkey. After all, some of those magic spells she'd spun had turned out to be alarmingly effective. I would hate to incur her wrath and wake up wearing a donkey's head--or worse. "Yo, Brooklyn," Angie, the show's stage manager said. "You look right into this camera and start talking. Got it?" "Got it," I lied, pressing my hands against my knees to keep them from shaking uncontrollably. "Absolutely." "Good," the stage manager said. "No dead air. Got it?" "Dead air. Right. Got it." She nodded once, then shouted to the studio in general, "Five minutes, everyone!" I felt my stomach drop, but it didn't matter. I was in show business! This Old Attic traveled around the country and featured regular people who wanted their precious family treasures and heirlooms appraised by various local experts. The production was taping in San Francisco for three whole weeks, and I was giggly with pleasure to be a part of it. And terrified, too. But the nerves were sure to pass as soon as I started talking about my favorite topic: books. I hoped so, anyway. Today was the initial day of taping and my segment was up first. My little staging area was decorated to look like a cozy antiques-strewn hideaway in the corner of a charming, dust-free attic. There were Oriental carpets on the floor. A Tiffany lamp hung from the light grid, which was suspended high above the set. Old-fashioned wooden dressers, curio cabinets, and armoires stood side by side, creating the three walls of my area. I sat in the middle of it all in a comfy blue tufted chair at a round table covered with a cloth of rich burgundy velvet. Seated across from me was the owner of the book we would be discussing. She was a pretty, middle-aged woman with an impressive bosom and thick black hair styled in the biggest bouffant hairdo I'd ever seen. She wore a clingy zebra-print dress with a shiny black belt that cinched in her waist and emphasized her shapely hourglass figure. She had excellent posture, though. I'd give her that much. My mother would be impressed. Between us on the table was a wooden bookstand with her book in place, ready to be appraised. "Are you Vera?" I whispered. I'd already seen her name on the segment rundown but wanted to be friendly. She smiled weakly. "Yes. I'm Vera Stoddard." I smiled at the sound of her high-pitched little-girl voice. "I'm Brooklyn. It's good to--" "Settle down, people!" Angie shouted, and everyone in the television studio instantly stopped talking. Angie listened to something being said over her headset and then added loudly, "First on camera today is the book expert. It's segment eight-six-nineteen on the rundown, people! Stand by!" "I'm so nervous," Vera whispered. "Don't worry. We'll have a good time." I could hear my voice shaking but I smiled cheerfully, hoping she wouldn't notice. It wasn't like me to be this anxious. All I had to do was talk about books, something I was born to do. It was a piece of cake. Unless I thought about the millions of people who would be watching. It didn't help that several zillion watts of lighting were aimed down at me, and the stage makeup I wore, while it made me look glamorous, was beginning to feel like an iron mask. "So stop thinking about it," I muttered, and plastered a determined smile on my face. Angie caught my eye and pointed again at the television camera to her right. "Don't forget, this camera here is your friend. This is camera one. When you see the red light go on, it means you're on the screen." She turned and pointed to another camera a few feet behind her on the left. "Camera two will get close-ups of the book and the owner's reactions." "Got it," I said, nodding firmly. "I'm ready." "Good." Angie glanced around, then bellowed, "Here we go! Quiet, please! We're live in . . . Five! Four! Three! Two!" She mouthed the word One and waved her finger emphatically at me. I took a deep breath and tried to smile at the friendly camera. "Hello. I'm Brooklyn Wainwright, a bookbinder specializing in rare-book restoration and conservation. Today I'm talking with Vera, who's brought us a charming first edition of the beloved children's classicThe Secret Garden, written by Frances Hodgson Burnett." I smiled at the older woman and noticed her lips were trembling badly and her eyes were two big circles of fear. Not a good sign. So instead of engaging her in conversation, I gestured toward the colorful book on the bookstand. "This version of The Secret Garden was printed as a special limited edition in nineteen eleven." I touched the book's cover. "The first thing you'll notice about the book is this stunning illustration on the front cover. The iconic picture of a blond girl in her red coat and beret, leaning over to insert a key into the moss-covered door that leads to the secret garden, is famous in its own right. There are some wonderful details, such as this whimsical frame around the picture, painted in various shades of green with thick vines of pink roses." "I didn't even notice that," Vera muttered in her oddly charming sexy-baby voice. "It's subtle," I said. "The artist was Maria Kirk, known professionally as M. L. Kirk. She was never as famous as her illustrations were, but she did beautiful work. Isn't this lovely?" "I think so," Vera said softly. I picked up the book and stood it near me on the table, keeping the cover turned toward the camera. "What makes this even more outstanding is that this illustration is actually an original painting on canvas." "It is?" "Yes," I said. "You can see that it's been signed by the artist here in the lower-left corner." Vera blinked in surprise and leaned closer. "Oh. And look, there's a robin in the tree." I grinned at her, happy that she was getting into the spirit of things. The show's director had urged us to keep the owner in the conversation, so I hoped Vera would play along. "Yes, that robin has a role in the story." "I like birds," she said with a sigh. Uh-oh. I shot a quick look at her. Was Vera going spacey on me? My smile stayed firmly in place as I spoke to the camera. "Another unusual feature is that the painting has actually been inlaid into the leather cover. You can see how the edges of the leather have been beveled so nicely." For the camera, I ran my fingers along the edge of the beveling and gave silent thanks to my friend Robin, who had insisted that I get a manicure before the show. "I've never seen anything like that before," Vera said, her spacey moment apparently past. "It's really quite rare," I agreed. "The bookbinder was clearly an artist, too, in the way he chose a rich forest green leather to blend with the painter's softer green frame. And the intricate floral gilding on the leather is patterned after the vines and roses on the painting." I glanced at Vera. "Do you have any idea what the book might be worth?" "I don't have a clue," she said, shaking her head. "It cost three dollars at a garage sale last Saturday." I choked out a laugh. "Wow. I don't think I'm giving too much away if I tell you it's worth a little more than that." "Oh, good." She pressed her hands to her remarkable chest, obviously relieved by the news. Maybe now she would be able to carry on a normal conversation. Her voice was high yet sultry, but it seemed to suit her personality. I wasn't sure why I thought that. I'd never met her before this moment. I opened the book and showed the frontispiece illustration to the camera. "There are eight color plates throughout the book, all in excellent condition and each with tissue guards intact." I angled the book toward Vera. "They're charming illustrations, aren't they?" She nodded politely. "They're very nice." Nice? I thought. Was she kidding? They were spectacular. The entire book was fantastic. I couldn't believe it had been allowed to molder away in someone's garage. But I wasn't about to criticize Vera's lackluster response aloud. I should've been used to that sort of attitude by now. Nobody gushed about books as much as bookbinders did. I would've loved to have mentioned how rare it was that a children's book printed in 1911 was this beautifully preserved. Children were not generally known for their ability to treat books gently. I sighed inwardly and changed the subject. "Now, obviously not every copy of this book could be printed with original artwork attached to its cover. So let me explain briefly about this particular edition. Back in nineteen eleven, when this book was printed, a publisher would occasionally release two versions of the same book. A regular edition and a limited, more expensive edition. This version is obviously one of the limited-edition copies." "How limited?" Vera asked, her gaze focusing in on the book. "Very." I turned to the next page. It was almost blank except for two lines of print in the middle. "This is called the limitation page. It states here that only fifty copies of this numbered edition were printed. And the number six is handwritten on the next line. So this particular book is number six out of fifty copies made. It's beyond rare." Vera gulped. "And . . . and that's good, right?" "Yes, that's very good. And, of course, you will have noticed that on the same page we see that it's been authenticated with the date and original signature of the author, Frances Hodgson Burnett." "I did notice that." She bit her lip, still nervous, though this time I figured it was from excitement, not fear. Now that she was finally showing some emotion, it was time to bum her out. Earlier at rehearsal, Jane Dorsey, the show's director, had advised us to balance things out by mentioning a few negatives. So I flipped to a page in the middle. "I should point out a few flaws." Vera's expression darkened. "No, you shouldn't." I chuckled. "I'm sorry, but the book isn't without its imperfections." I faced the page toward the camera and pointed at some little brown spots. "There's foxing on a number of pages. These patches of brownish discoloration are fairly common in old books." "Eww." She drew the word out as she leaned in to get a good look. "Are those bugs?" "No. They're clumps of microscopic spores, but that's not important. Sometimes foxing can be lightened or bleached, but you should always hire a professional bookbinder to do the work." Turning to the inside front cover, I said, "There's also an additional signature on the endpaper, right here." I made sure the camera could see what I was referring to, and then I took a closer look at it myself. "It doesn't look like a child's handwriting. It was probably a parent signing for the child. I can't quite make out the name, but I assume it's the signature of one of the book's first owners. They used a fountain pen, and it's faded a bit." "And that's a bad thing?" "Writing one's name in a book can diminish its value, but that's another topic altogether." "But--" "Let's not dwell on the negatives," I hurried to add, "because other than those items and a few faded spots on the leather, it's in excellent condition and--" "And what?" Vera demanded, interrupting what was about to be my rapturous summary of the book's qualities. I pursed my lips, thinking quickly. I had been given six minutes to talk about the book, but the director had warned me that as soon as I revealed my appraisal amount, my segment would be over, even if I had minutes to spare. I wasn't ready to stop talking about the book--big surprise. But Vera was finished listening and it was time to put her out of her misery. More important, I noticed Angie hovering. And Randolph Rayburn, the handsome host of the show, stood next to her, looking ready to pounce into the camera shot and cut me off. "And for a book of this rarity," I continued hastily, "in such fine condition and with the author's original signature included, it's my expert opinion that an antiquarian book dealer would pay anywhere from twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars for this book." "Wha--?" Vera's eyes bugged out of their sockets. "Twenty . . . Say that again?" "Twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars," I repeated, happy I'd finally gotten a reaction out of her. The producers were going to love that look on her face. I turned the book over again to examine the rubbed spots on the back cover. "Frankly, Vera, it would take only a few hundred dollars to have the book fully restored to its original luster. Once you did that, you could probably add another three to five thousand dollars onto the value." "Another five thou-- Holy mother-of-pearl!" Vera slapped her bountiful chest a few times as if to jump-start her heart. "Oh, my God. Are you serious?" "Yes." "But that's freaking--" Angie must have thought Vera was about to scream out some expletive because she shoved Randolph forward, and he rushed to stand in front of our table. "Indeed, it is!" he said nonsensically to camera, grinning as he blathered cheerfully about some of the items coming up later in the show. He finished with, "We'll be right back." "And . . . we're clear!" Angie shouted. Vera looked shell-shocked. Everyone in the studio started talking again, moving here and there between the sets, carrying on normal conversations. I had watched the program a bunch of times, so I knew that when they went in to edit the shows, they would plaster across the TV screen a green graphic banner announcing the amount of money I had quoted, accompanied by the sound of a cash register making a sale.Cha-ching! Angie approached me, but suddenly stopped and cupped her hand over her ear to hear what was being said over the headset. Her arm shot up in the air. "Quiet, people!" Everyone in the vicinity froze. What awesome power she has, I thought. It was all in the headset. I wanted one. "Randolph, don't move," she warned, as though she suspected he would disappear if given half a chance. Then she announced to the group in general, "Okay, we're gonna need camera one to remain here. Jane wants to tape a short chat between Randolph and the book expert. For everyone else, we're moving on to the Civil War segment." Most of the crew stirred themselves into action at the mention of Jane, the director. They pushed the cameras and the heavy microphone boom to the opposite side of the large studio where another cozy antiques-furnished set similar to mine had been designated the war room. I had met Jane Dorsey earlier that day, during my orientation with the two executive producers, Tom Darby and Walter Williams. Jane was almost six feet tall and very attractive, but stick thin, with white blond hair pulled back in a severe ponytail. Today she wore knee-high black boots over her jeans and a black sweater. A long white scarf was tied around her neck and fluttered in her wake as she walked. Apparently the long scarf was something she wore every day. Tom explained that they kept the air really cold in the director's booth so the equipment wouldn't overheat, but I figured she also enjoyed the dramatic effect. Not that she needed it. People paid instant attention to her when she walked into a room. Camera one remained in place, still pointed in my direction, along with its operator and a couple of crew members who assisted with microphones and cables. Angie looked around anxiously. "Where did Randolph wander off to?" "I'm here," he said from halfway across the stage floor. "I'm here. I'm here. Don't pay the ransom." A few of the crew guys chuckled and Angie's lips twisted sarcastically. "Can we get this show on the road?" I wondered how he had escaped all the way across the room in mere seconds. The guy was speedy, for sure. "Okay, let's do this," Randolph said, and flashed me a rakish grin. "Hello, beautiful." "You are so full of it," Angie muttered. "But you love me, anyway," he said, bumping his shoulder into her arm. "Yeah, in the worst way," Angie said. She paused to listen to a voice in her ear, then said to us, "They're not quite ready upstairs, but don't anyone go anywhere." Randolph snorted. "Famous last words. I'll be right over here." And with that, he wandered a few feet away to kibitz with one of the crew. "You move and I'll kill you," she said. He grinned and winked at me behind Angie's back. He was the worst kind of flirt, completely adorable and charming. I could tell Angie liked him. What woman wouldn't? Maybe she didn't want to like him, but she couldn't help herself. All of that was probably clear to Randolph, as well. Angie seemed pretty transparent with her feelings. She was beautiful, with pale skin and a halo of thick, dark curly hair. They would make an adorable couple if hard-as-nails Angie could ever learn to deal with Randolph, the charming jokester. The stage manager ignored the star as she rested her elbows on my table. "You did a good job, Brooklyn. Once we're finished with the chitchat, you've got at least two hours to kick back before we tape another book segment." She turned to Vera. "You okay, hon?" Vera blinked a few times. "Oh. I'm . . . I'm a little shaken up, but very happy." Angie pulled two pieces of paper from the clipboard she carried. "Almost forgot. You both need to sign these releases." "Another one?" I'd already signed my life away that morning, indemnifying everyone in the universe in case of any possible occurrence of anything, including acts of God. "What are these for?" "One of our local news stations is here, taping some footage for their nightly segment. It's sort of a Look What's Going On in San Francisco kind of thing." "So we could be on the news?" Vera said. "They're taping a bunch of short segments, so it's not a guarantee," Angie said. "But either way, they need your approval, just in case." "Okay," I said, taking the one-page document from her and scrawling my name on the bottom line. "No problem." "This is so exciting," Vera gushed, and signed her copy with a flourish. She handed it back to Angie, who slid both pages back onto her clipboard. A young production assistant jogged across the set and slowed down as she approached the host. With a nervous gulp, she said, "Randolph, you have a flower delivery. They put it in your dressing room." "Thanks, kiddo," he said, flashing her a million-dollar grin. "Hey, Angie, be back in two minutes." He strolled away before Angie could protest. Exasperated, she turned to me. "Stand by, will you, Brooklyn?" "No problem," I said, not minding the wait. I was having too much fun to complain about anything. Vera flashed me a wide-eyed look. "Can I ask you a few more questions about the book?" Before I could answer, Angie shook her head. "Sorry to interrupt, kids, but the second Randy returns, I've got to get that damn chat done and then clear this area. They'll start taping the next segment right after that, so maybe you two can set up a meeting later." "Oh, sure." Vera stood and I got a look at her shoes for the first time. Patent-leather leopard-skin stiletto heels. Wow. They had to be six inches tall and the pattern should've clashed with her zebra-print dress, but somehow it all worked for her. "Hey, dig those shoes," Angie said. "Don't you love them?" Vera said, beaming. "They're my Christian Louboutin knockoffs." Angie nodded. "They're freaking awesome." Vera turned and bent her knee, lifting her foot behind her. "They've even got the signature red sole. See?" Angie and I stared at the shiny red bottom. "They rock," Angie said. Vera gazed down at her sexy stilettos. "They were the first thing I bought myself after I left my no-good boyfriend." "Best revenge, sister," Angie said stoutly. "You know it," Vera said, and giggled. I handed Vera the business card I'd pulled out of my pocket. "I'll be happy to talk with you about the book anytime you want. Or you can call me whenever you decide what to do." She looked at the card. "Okay, good. The sooner, the better." "Anytime," I said. Looking relieved, she said, "Thanks, Brooklyn." "And don't forget your book, hon," Angie said, extending The Secret Garden to her. Vera stared blankly at Angie until she saw the book in her hand. "Oh, wow. I guess I'm still a little discombobulated. Thank you." Angie pointed out the exit to Vera, and we watched her walk away, a bit wobbly in her sky-high heels. I sniffed, feeling sentimental. Vera was, after all, a first for me. "She's adorable." Angie grinned. "And you made her day." "I loved every minute of it," I said, happy that so far my day was going pretty well, too. But the same couldn't be said for Randolph. The star of the show crossed the wide stage and headed straight for Angie and me, his face drained of color and his jaw taut. He looked as if he might have just witnessed his own death. Chapter Two Ten minutes later, the director was ready to shoot our segment. I'd been watching Randolph carefully as he slowly shook off his mood and returned to his peppy, perky self. He was deeply involved in a conversation with Tom and Walter when Angie grabbed him and dragged him over to my table. "Sit. Stay," she said, pushing him into the chair across from me. He looked in much better spirits now than he had a few minutes ago and he took Angie's wrangling with good humor. I wondered if maybe he had a soft spot for her, too. Who could blame him? She looked like a pre-Raphaelite angel with lustrous black curls instead of the usual red. I was nosy enough to wonder what had caused Randolph's look of despair earlier, but it wasn't the right time to ask. Something about that flower delivery had caused him to turn a deathly shade of white. I'd been itching to eavesdrop on his discussion with the producers, but I wasn't brave or stupid enough to do it. Not with so many witnesses standing around, anyway. Whatever had upset him, he seemed to have brushed it aside and was in a good mood for our short teaser segment. The camera rolled and the two of us chatted for all of one minute. And then it was over. "That was easier than I thought it would be," I confessed. "It's my cheery inquisitiveness," Randolph said blithely. "Admit it: I make you feel both desirable and comfortable." I couldn't help but laugh. "You really are a rascal." "Rascal." He wiggled his eyebrows. "I like that." "You would," Angie muttered. Poor Angie had my sympathy. Randolph was in his thirties, tall and classically handsome, with dark blond hair worn in a casual, wind-tossed style. His vivid blue eyes were mesmerizing. He had a great smile and perfect teeth, and it didn't hurt that his voice could melt butter. Best of all, he had a charming sense of humor. Angie yelled, "Civil War's up in ten minutes, people!" I turned down Randolph's generous offer to buy me a free cup of coffee and headed off to the tiny dressing room I'd been assigned earlier that day. The schedule gave me two hours to research the next book I'd be appraising and I would need every minute to do my job well. On the way backstage, I wasted a few long seconds worrying about my Secret Garden segment. Had I blathered? Had I laughed too loud? Had I sounded smart? Silly? Had my shoulders slumped? Had I droned on with details nobody else in the world would care about unless they were a devout book lover? Probably yes to that last one, and maybe to all of the above. I wondered if my on-camera self-consciousness would ever wear off. Did it matter? I would be here for only three weeks and the most important thing was to have fun and give accurate appraisals and make the book owners happy. I thought I had accomplished all of that with Vera. And with that conclusion, I shoved my angst aside. I didn't expect it to stay where I'd shoved it, but for now, I gave myself permission to ignore it. As I crossed the massive studio, I glanced around and marveled that despite the large space, it had an air of intimacy. This was probably because of the twenty-five-foot-high wall of curtains that was hung from a curved ceiling beam that ran all the way around the room. The curtains were weighted and anchored to the studio floor, creating a wall between the main staging area and the backstage. The stage manager referred to the curtains as the backdrop. The main staging area was further divided into six small sets where the different experts sat and appraised their items. Like my cozy space, the others were filled with antique furniture and interesting set pieces that corresponded to their field of interest. For instance, on my set, the cabinets and shelves were filled with old books. Sitting on the dressers were framed illustrations and frayed botanical prints taken from old books. Since I would be sharing my space with a map expert and a historian who specialized in vintage correspondence and documents, my book illustrations would be switched out with framed drawings of maps or old letters and tattered certificates. In the Civil War expert's area, an old rifle was displayed in a large glass cabinet. On one of the dressers were two elegant portraits of soldiers from that era. Apparently, the rifle could be replaced by a musket or a bow and arrow or another weapon, depending on which particular war was being discussed. Another area featured shelves of vintage kitchenware, old toys, and folk sculpture. A child's painted rocking horse filled one corner of the space, and on the top shelf was an intriguing display of covered woven baskets. The largest staging area was located at one end of the studio and would be used to feature larger pieces of furniture, grandfather clocks, and other big items, such as the old canoe one visitor had brought in for appraisal. Even the largest area had the same rich, warm feeling as my smaller set. If I ignored the studio cameras and the technical contraptions and the burly crew members, it was almost like being inside a beautiful home. "Watch your step, young lady," one of the crew guys said. I stopped abruptly and glanced down. I was close to tripping over the two-inch-thick cable that snaked down from the boom microphone pedestal, slithered across the shiny floor, and disappeared under the backdrop. "Thanks," I said, flashing him a grateful smile. I really didn't want to break an ankle on my first day. Around me was a tangle of equipment. There were four television cameras along with two boom microphones that looked like heavy-duty fishing poles attached to rolling pedestals. These could all be wheeled from set to set, depending on which segment was being taped. Besides all the hardware, dozens of people bustled about in a state of organized chaos. The lighting crew stood on ladders or used long poles to adjust the studio lights hanging on the grid high above our heads. Camera operators discussed the shooting schedules with the director and her team. A woman touched up Randolph's makeup and hair with brushes and sponges she had stashed in a tool belt around her waist. Thick lines of electric cables went everywhere. It looked like one crew member was assigned to each camera and each boom, simply to adjust the wires and cables as the machinery was moved from here to there. I found a break in the curtain and slipped through to the backstage area. I passed the green room--the walls of which were actually painted a pleasant light taupe--and the makeup room, then turned the corner and stared down a hallway that ran the entire length of the studio building. There had to be twenty doors on either side of the long, wide corridor and I was happy I'd memorized my dressing room number. As I approached the room, I felt that odd buzzing sensation I always got whenever I was about to start work on a new book. I didn't know what else to call it but sheer exhilaration. I was itching to explore the old edition of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám I'd been given to study, especially since it featured a unique wooden cover with art deco-style illustrations carved into it. How cool was that? And how geeky was I for getting so excited? I chuckled at myself as I started to turn the key in the lock. "Yoo-hoo, Brooklyn!" I glanced down the hall and saw Vera Stoddard teetering toward me in her death-defying heels. I grimaced, knowing that if she slipped and fell off those stilettos, she could break her neck. "I'm probably not supposed to be back here," she said, giggling in that high-pitched tone I'd grown used to so quickly. Probably not, I thought, but didn't say it aloud. She looked nervous enough already as she clutched The Secret Garden to her pillowy chest. I had to resist grabbing the book right out of her hands. The tiniest bit of perspiration could ruin that beautiful leather cover within seconds. But I held back. It wasn't easy, but it also wasn't my book. "I wanted to ask you," she said, then paused, out of breath from her exertion. "I . . . I wanted to ask you about all that book stuff you said when we were on camera." "Let's go in here." I opened the door to the dressing room and ushered her inside. She stopped just beyond the threshold. "I don't want to take up too much of your time, but I'm anxious to--" "It's fine, Vera. I'm happy to talk for a few minutes. Have a seat." I gestured toward the hideously ugly orange cloth chair that was a perfect complement to the ugly turquoise Naugahyde sofa shoved up against the wall. An imitation wood coffee table completed the ensemble. Once she was seated, I held out my hand. "May I see the book again?" "Oh, you bet." She handed it to me. "Thanks." I sat in the swivel chair at the counter in front of the wide makeup mirror. I had turned it into a desk and set up my computer and a few reference books here. I took a moment to admire The Secret Garden cover again before looking up at my guest. "What can I do for you?" With a nervous laugh, she played with the loose threads of the armchair. "I want to sell the book and I want to make as much money as possible. And I want to do it right away. The sooner the better. So, I want to hire you to do . . . you know, whatever it is you can do to make it perfect." "So you definitely plan to sell it?" "You bet I do," she said eagerly, then pressed her lips together as if she'd said something rude. "That is, I would love to keep it, believe me. It's a work of art, like you said. A real beauty. But when you told me how much it was worth . . ." She shook her head, giving up any pretenses. "I mean, wow. I could really use the money." "I understand." I leaned forward in my chair. "But, Vera, I should warn you. I had only a limited time to research your book, so I'm not exactly sure how much work I might have to do. My guess is that my time would only cost you a few hundred dollars, but it could go as high as five hundred. I won't know for sure until I get a better look at the book." "I hear you." She nodded slowly. "Five hundred would be okay, as long as it's not much more than that." "No, I can promise it won't be any more than that." I turned the book over in my hand and carefully stroked the back cover. "Probably less." "And then I could get a few thousand dollars more for it, right?" "Yes." I wasn't going to tell Vera, but I believed a real collector would pay many thousands more than I had quoted her on camera. "And when you're ready to sell, I can help you. I'll give you a few names of people to call." If she was going to sell the book, anyway, why not point her toward someone who would appreciate the book for the treasure it was? "That would be great," she said with a sigh of relief. "I have no idea who to talk to about this kind of stuff." "I'll be happy to help." "Okay, let's do it," she said. "Are you certain?" I asked. She didn't appear to be a wealthy woman, so I decided I'd better make sure. "It's a lot of money. I don't want to empty your bank account." "You won't," she insisted. "As long as you guarantee that I'll get an extra couple thousand on the book when I sell it. Can you do that?" Her eyes narrowed suddenly. "I can trust you, right?" I almost laughed. She didn't know me from Adam, so why would she trust me to give her an honest answer? But I wasn't about to lie to her. "Yes, I promise you can trust me, but you don't have to. I can give you some references before I take your money. I can also give you a list of bookbinders who can offer a second opinion." She closed her eyes and pressed her hands together as if she were praying. "Just tell me again that I can sell it for the price you quoted." I smiled. "Unless the world turns upside down tomorrow, I can pretty much guarantee it. And as I mentioned before, I can also give you the names of some reputable buyers in town who would be interested in looking at it." Like Ian, I thought. He would kill to add this book to the Covington children's collection. She patted her chest again and took a slow, deep breath. Then she clapped her hands and let out a little shriek of joy. "Thank you! This is like a dream come true." As I watched her bounce with delight, I noticed something odd. Her bubbly black bouffant hairdo seemed to shift slightly. Is she wearing a wig? I looked away, but from the corner of my eye I caught her surreptitiously tugging at her bangs. That was so weird. But maybe she'd been sick. Maybe she'd lost all her hair. Maybe that's why she needed the money. I hated to stare so I busied myself with straightening my short stack of reference books. After a few seconds, I tried to be nonchalant. "I still can't believe you found this amazing book at a garage sale." She glanced at the ceiling and around the room. "Gosh, I can't either. The guy I got it from didn't seem to know much about it." "He couldn't have," I said firmly. "He wouldn't have given away a treasure like this for so little money." "No, I guess not," she murmured. "Lucky for me." I checked my watch. We'd been talking for ten minutes and I needed to get back to work. "Why don't I take the book home and look it over, then call you with an estimate? You'll have some time to catch your breath and figure out whether you want to spend the money or not." She nodded. "That sounds good." "If you decide not to go through with it, we can meet somewhere and I can return the book to you, no problem." "I'm not going to change my mind," she said, and, reaching into a pocket of her faux tiger-skin tote bag, she pulled out a shiny green business card. We both stood and she handed the card to me. "I own a flower shop at Nineteenth and Balboa in the Richmond." I read the card. VERA'S FLOWER GARDEN. VERA STODDARD, PROPRIETOR. I looked back at her. "That's a pretty name for a shop." "Thank you. I love flowers." I was familiar with the Richmond District so I knew I wouldn't have any trouble finding it. "I'll call you with my estimate in the next day or two. Then, depending on which way you decide to go, I can either drop off my invoice and pick up a check, or I can simply return the book to you." "Sounds perfect." "And, like I said, you're welcome to get a second opinion." She giggled as she reached for the doorknob. "You sound like a doctor." "I probably do, but bookbinding isn't cheap." I followed her out. "And I want you to be happy with the final product." She looked over her shoulder at me. "They wouldn't have hired you for this show if you weren't the best in town." "Thanks," I said, feeling my cheeks grow warm with the compliment. "I appreciate that." Before I knew what was happening, she let out a little squeal and came click-clacking back to me. She threw her arms around me and whispered, "Thank you." "You're welcome." "You don't understand," she said in a breathless hush as she stepped back. "I've met some real meanies during my lifetime, but everyone here has been so nice, especially you. I'm just bowled over." "Thank you, Vera. That's really sweet." "Well, I just think I should let people know when they've been helpful and kind." She frowned and pressed her lips together. "I had a really awful man in my life for a while, so I know the difference between nice and not so nice." "I hope you got rid of him," I said. "You bet I did." She laughed self-consciously. "I'd better stop bending your ear and get out of here." "It was great to meet you, Vera." I walked with her down the hall and across the studio to the stage door that led to the parking lot, just to make sure she didn't get lost. By the time I stepped back inside the studio door, my mind was already back to my next book. The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám was one of the most widely published books in the world, but the edition I was about to research was unlike any version I'd ever seen before. Excited to get back to work, I crossed the studio quickly and entered the backstage area. But while approaching the makeup room, I slowed down as I caught a snippet of hushed conversation. "I'm sick of you two brushing this off," a man whispered harshly, and I realized it was Randolph. "Either you call the police or I will." "And tell them what?" another guy said caustically. "That you stumbled over a broom?" "No, damn it," Randolph said. "Tell them someone's trying to kill me." • • • The old freight elevator in my converted loft building came to a shuddering halt, and I dragged myself down the hall toward my apartment. Working in television was invigorating, almost manically so, but now I felt all of my high energy and perkiness collapsing from within. Earlier, I had forced myself to shut off all thoughts of that short, ugly conversation I'd overheard, in order to give my work the attention it deserved. Concentrating on my job, I'd found some fascinating facts about the publisher of the wood-carved Rubáiyát I was appraising. Later I had managed to appear intelligent and sparkling during the videotaping of the segment. The book's owner was thrilled to be in possession of such a fabulous piece of art and history. I got high fives from the crew members and gushing words of praise from the production staff and I left the studio feeling proud and confident. But now those ugly words came back with full force. Tell them someone's trying to kill me. When I'd first heard it, my heart had clenched in my chest and my feet had stuttered to a stop just short of the open doorway to the makeup room. I'd been tempted to spin around and dash right out of the studio, jump in my car, and race home. I didn't want to be anywhere near someone who might be the target of a killer. Been there, done that. But because my innate curiosity outweighed my fear, I hadn't moved a muscle. Instead, I was still standing in the hall like a statue when Tom and Walter walked out of the makeup room, exchanging a derisive look. Tom noticed me first. "Hey, Brooklyn. Nice job on the book segment." "Thanks, Tom." Walter winked at me and the two producers walked away, chatting quietly. They stopped halfway down the hall and went into another dressing room. They'd been chuckling and talking as if they didn't care that I'd obviously overheard their troubling conversation with Randolph. I glanced inside the makeup room and saw Randolph gripping the counter as he stared at himself in the wall-length mirror. He looked pale, frustrated, and unnerved, completely unlike the flirtatious, smooth-talking dude I'd chatted with only a few minutes ago. I lifted my arm in a casual wave. "Hi, Randolph." "What? Oh. Hi, Brooklyn." He rolled his shoulders and neck as if to work out some kinks. "Everything okay?" I asked. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Just great. Couldn't be better." I hadn't expected him to confess his deepest, darkest fears right then and there. He barely knew me. But my curious mind was itching to find out and I figured I would hear the truth eventually. At that moment, though, I had simply nodded and hurried back to my little dressing room, where I'd closed myself off to study more books. Now I slipped my key into my front door, relieved to be home. "Hi there," said a voice behind me in the hall. I whipped around. My place had been invaded a few times in the recent past and I didn't like people creeping up on me. But the woman standing there didn't look threatening--unless you counted the fact that she was drop-dead gorgeous with long dark hair, exotic eyes, and supermodel legs. And she was tall. Taller than me by an inch or two, and I was no slouch at five foot, eight inches in my socks. She stood by the door of Sergio and Jeremy's loft, at least twenty feet away. Not exactly invading my personal space. "Hi," I said cautiously. "You must be Sergio's friend." "Yes, I'm Alexandra Monroe," she said, and walked over to shake my hand. "But please call me Alex." I worked up a smile. "I'm Brooklyn Wainwright. Nice to meet you. Are you settling in okay?" "Oh yeah." She gave a quick glance over her shoulder at the apartment, then back at me. "The space is fabulous. I love all the exposed brick and the hardwood floors and the freight elevator. And this location is perfect. I'm really lucky I was able to work out a deal with Sergio." "That's great." I felt completely outclassed and tongue-tied, probably because I was so tired. Alex Monroe was bright-eyed and vivacious. Didn't she know it was ten o'clock at night? She wore a gorgeous pale pink business suit with a silky black tank top and fabulous shiny black stiletto heels. How could she be so friendly so late at night? And why was she still wearing high heels? Why wasn't she wrapped in a ratty old bathrobe? The woman was downright intimidating. But I had to let that go. This was the good friend of Sergio and Jeremy's, my darling neighbors who had sublet their loft for the next year while they cavorted in Saint-Tropez. Alex was my new neighbor and I was determined to be friendly, even though I was so tired, I felt punchy. "Have you met any of the other neighbors yet?" I asked. For a nanosecond, I considered asking her to come in to talk for a few minutes. I felt a bit aloof, carrying on a conversation out in the hall, but I wasn't quite ready to invite someone I'd just met into my home. Another residual effect of having my space invaded more than once. "I met Vinnie and Suzie first thing this morning," she said. "And their adorable Lily, too. And then I ran into Mrs. Chung a little while ago. Everyone's been so welcoming and helpful." I wasn't about to break the streak, so I smiled gamely. "I'm glad. We all love Sergio and Jeremy, so any friend of theirs is a friend of ours." "That's so sweet of you," she said earnestly. Damn it, she sounded really sincere. Was there nothing truly hateful about the woman? "I would ask you in for a glass of wine," I said apologetically, "but I'm completely beat. I've been working all day and I confess I'm not used to it." She took a step backward. "I'm so sorry. I won't keep you. I just wanted to introduce myself." "No, no, I'm glad you did. We'll have you over for that glass of wine as soon as possible." "I'll look forward to it." Her smile turned thoughtful. "Vinnie said you worked at home. You're a bookbinder, right?" "That's right." I wasn't sure how I felt about being the topic of conversation between the neighbors, but I guessed it was unavoidable. "I usually work at home, but I'm doing an outside job right now." I paused. "That sounds really weird." She laughed, and the sound was so natural and friendly that it made me smile. For some reason, it also made me feel okay that Vinnie had been talking about me. "Where are you working?" she asked. "I've been hired to be the book appraiser on This Old Attic." "I love that show!" "Me, too." I grinned, pleased by her reaction. "It's just for three weeks and it's really fun, but I didn't realize how drained I would feel by the end of the day." "You poor thing. You probably want to crawl into bed. But if you're up for it tomorrow night, why don't you stop by my place after work? I'll make cupcakes." "Cupcakes?" I said slowly. "I love cupcakes." "Everybody does," she said, smiling. "I'm hopeless at cooking much else, but I make fantabulous cupcakes. The best you've ever tasted." "How can I say no?" "You really can't." "Then I'll be there." "Good. I'll open a bottle of wine, too." I laughed. "Now you're just pandering." She laughed, too, and we stood there grinning at each other for a few more seconds until I realized how goofy I must look. I shook my head. "I'm obviously tired or I wouldn't be standing here like a knucklehead. It was great to meet you, Alex. I'll see you tomorrow night." I started to walk away, made an instant decision, and turned back. "We're having a little party Saturday afternoon, very casual, mostly neighbors and friends. If you're not busy, we'd love it if you'd join us." For a brief second she looked bewildered, as if nobody had ever invited her to a party before. I knew that couldn't possibly be true. Then, just as quickly, the look disappeared and she beamed with pleasure. "I would love to come. Thank you so much." "Great." I turned, then remembered one more thing. "Tomorrow night I'll be home around this same time. Is that too late?" She brushed away the question. "No, anytime is fine." "Cool." I waved, then walked into my place and closed the door behind me. And was instantly attacked by a tiny ball of fur that pounced on my shoes. "Hello, silly thing," I murmured, reaching down to pick up my adorable new kitten and cuddle her against my neck. I set down my computer case on the floor by my workshop desk and carried the kitten into the living room. On the kitchen bar was an open bottle of wine and two glasses. "This is a very good sign," I said to the kitten, then called out, "Is anybody home?" Derek emerged from his office, also known as our second bedroom. "Hello, darling. How was your day?" I turned at the sound of that silky, rich British accent and wondered if there was anything sexier than Derek Stone's voice. Not in my world there wasn't. "My day was exciting and fun, but now I'm exhausted." He touched my cheek and nudged my chin up so that I was looking at him. Then he kissed me. "You do look a wee bit weary. Do you want to skip the wine and go to bed?" "I think I can manage half a glass. And I want to talk and maybe watch a little television with you. It's so odd to be working outside of the house." "It'll take some getting used to," he said, reaching for the bottle. "You take Pugsley and go relax on the couch. I'll bring the wine." "Pugsley," I said, frowning at the kitten. "Really?" He shrugged. It was his latest name for the kitten. Derek had surprised me a few weeks before with this fuzzy little white-haired darling, with a hint of tiger stripes around her face and a sweet personality. I'd fallen instantly in love with her, but we hadn't yet decided what to call her. At first I had suggested the name Syllabub, after the ridiculously sweet and alcoholic English dessert I'd recently learned to make. But I had ended up calling her Silly and Derek had been calling her Bub. Neither of us were happy with that and I figured the poor cat was just confused. So now we were trying out different names whenever they occurred to us, convinced we would recognize the perfect name when we found it. As I walked to the couch, I nuzzled the kitten and she patted my nose with her tiny paw. "You're much too cute to be a Pugsley, aren't you? Let's sit down and think of a better name for you. How about Skeeter?" "Absolutely not," Derek said immediately. I laughed in agreement. "You're right, she's definitely not a Skeeter." Derek set our two wineglasses on the coffee table and joined me on the couch. The kitten immediately abandoned me for Derek, who was holding a tiny stuffed mouse to entice her. As Derek teased the kitten, he regaled me with the story of his latest client who'd had a fortune in artwork stolen from his beach house in the famous Long Island Hamptons. As one of the world's leading experts on security for the incredibly rich, Derek always had interesting work stories to tell. "I might have to travel back east for a few days and I'm hoping you'll come with me. We can spend some time in New York." "That sounds wonderful." I sighed. "But I can't go anywhere for the next three weeks, not until the show is over." "I'll try to hold off, then, until you're free." "That would be nice." I squeezed his arm affectionately. "I've never been to the Hamptons." "Good. We'll make it a mini break." "We'll have to find a kitten sitter," I said. "Vinnie and Suzie can help out. You've taken care of their Pookie and Splinters any number of times." "But they have Lily now." "They won't mind," Derek said, tucking me closer to him. "Of course they won't," I said. "And speaking of neighbors, I met Alex tonight." "Alex?" "She's the one who's subletting Sergio's place." "I've yet to see her," he said. "Do you like her?" "I do. Even though she's tall, smart, and gorgeous. She wears fabulous shoes and pink suits and still manages to look powerful and perky at this hour of the night. I should hate her, but apparently she bakes wonderful cupcakes." "Ah," he said, finally reacting. "Cupcakes." I laughed. "Yes, that got my attention, too. So far, it's her most outstanding quality." He laughed, too. "I look forward to meeting her." He reached to pick up his wineglass. "I should tell you something," I said. He swallowed a sip of wine and studied my expression. "Yes, you should." I related the conversation I'd overheard between the two producers and Randolph, the host. "Randolph was really upset, but Tom and Walter seemed unfazed." "He believes someone is out to kill him?" "Yes." "Have you any idea what occurred before you came down the corridor and overheard them?" Excerpted from The Book Stops Here: A Bibliophile Mystery by Kate Carlisle All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
