AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“But… but… I thought that person was Scottish?”
Mr. McNally’s smile was wide, his eyes twinkling. “I couldn’t possibly comment.”
Piper was trying not to let her mouth hang open. “Was there anything else?”
He gave a soft shrug. “Two adult historical mysteries. Those did really well. And she’d finished a third of those just before she died. It will come out later this year.”
“But those were written by a man?”
“Apparently.” The look on Mr. McNally’s face was slightly smug.
“How incredibly talented she was.” Piper breathed, trying to take everything in.
There was a look of approval. “Talented, big-hearted, and very astute.”
Piper sipped her tea again, which was getting cold. “I feel like a bit of a let down. We’ve solved the first three clues, but we could fail at any point.” She held up one hand. “Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you anything at all. But it all feels like”—she waved both hands next to her head—“so much pressure. I don’t want to do anything wrong. And I know Dawson feels the same.”
Mr. McNally gave her an interested glance. “You seem to have become friends.”
It was a statement but sounded more like a question.
“I guess we have,” she answered carefully. “I’m not entirely sure how that happened after my disastrous entrance to your office. But Dawson has mellowed since our youth. He has a job he loves, and he does very well.”
“As do you.”
Piper could literally feel her ears prick up like a cat. She wasn’t sure how much research the attorneys had done on her. Did they know there was potential for a big research contract? Was she comfortable that they might know that?
“I do my best,” she said firmly. “I think there might be some room for improvement and development, but I just take each day at a time.”
“Wise move,” he said, finishing his cake. “Can I offer you some more tea?”
It struck her that he looked tired. This was officially his day off, and she’d disturbed it for him. She wasn’t quite sure how old he was, but she guessed in his eighties. She gave a grateful shake of her head. “No, no thank you. Sorry for disturbing you today, and thank you for seeing me. Thank you for telling me more about your friend.” She leaned forward and gave him a mischievous smile. “But I must be going, because I don’t know if anyone’s told you, but I have clues to solve.”
He laughed and waved his hand. “Forgive an old man if I don’t get up to show you out.” And he stayed in his chair, gently resting his eyes, as she left.
*
It was sevenp.m. and the coffee shop was open until late. Dawson had been half tempted to arrange to meet back at Molly’s Diner, but instead, he’d picked a place that was a little more chic.
When Piper walked through the door, she waved and took a quick glance at the luxurious cakes all displayed behind the glass counter before joining him at the table.
“Tea,” she said to the waitress, “and some apricot angel food cake.”
Dawson looked at her in surprise, then semi-relented. “Coffee and some apricot angel food cake.” As the waitress walked away, he looked at her curiously. “Interesting choice.”
“I fancied something different. It’s been a strange kind of day.” He waited to see if she would divulge anything more, but she stayed quiet.
Dawson pushed his card with the clue toward her. “I have some ideas about this.”
She blinked and pressed her lips together. “Me, too.”
He tried not to show his surprise, wondering why—if she’d solved the clue—she hadn’t texted or phoned him to tell him.
“Do you want to go first?”
With the promise of youth,
Find the lesser known of three royals,
