Lock, Stock, and Feral by Addison Moore (free e novels .txt) 📕

register from the last year. Just things I had access to. Meetings we had, a few conference calls, authors we were courting, that’s about it. Not much to see there.”

“Had you been to the book club before that night? I mean, it seemed interesting.”

He shrugs. “Not as interesting as you would think. But yes, I’ve been so often I’d like to consider myself a full-fledged member of the Grim Readers.” A tiny smile plays on his lips. In fact, I look forward to our next meeting where I will finally have Ms. Hadley Culpepper to myself.

A breath gets caught in my throat and I hold it.

Hadley? He wants Hadley? Oh wow, he can have her. Who knows? If things go well, he might even get to star in her next novel.

Any trace of a smile quickly fades from his lips. Patterson was always in the way with that one. He thought she was falling in line like the rest of them. He was just too blinded by his own greed to see the light.

“Game,” someone shouts from the head of the table, and soon the original owner boots me out of my seat.

“It was nice talking to you,” I tell him.

“Likewise,” he says as the cards are dealt his way.

Macy tells me to scat by way of waving me off with her fingers, and I spot Georgie across the room in her lime green kaftan so I head her way. She’s seated at a table with eight men and is guarding her cards with the best of them.

“Not now, Biz. I’m looking to win big in this round.” Georgie motions to a small mountain of chips in front of her. “I’ve already taken half the loot, and I’m not leaving until I get the rest of it.” She glances my way. “Don’t just stand there. More banana pudding. It’s my secret weapon.”

“Your wish is my command.” I lean in. “You’ve got five minutes. We have to get moving.”

“I need an hour,” she says, shuffling her cards.

“An hour?” I mutter and I rush into the kitchen and toss a banana pudding at everyone in my path, including everyone at Georgie’s table.

When in Rome.

I spot Juni sitting on a sofa just behind the table noshing on her own banana pudding, so I pluck two off my tray and head her way. I need to get Juni, collect Georgie far sooner than an hour, and get to Higgins House Publishing stat if I want a chance to snoop around with Jasper.

“We need to get going,” I tell her.

No sooner do I take a seat next to Juni than a thought hits me.

“What’s the matter?” Juni grouses. “Mama stole your man, too?” She dips her spoon back into her banana pudding and dishes herself a creamy scoop.

“No.” My lips part as I look across the room as James whispers to my sister and she gives a giddy laugh. “Oh my word,” I pant as I look directly at that dark-haired man that’s beguiling Macy and groan.

James Foreman looks my way, and for a solid moment we lock eyes and a chill rides through me as if I’ve just looked at the Devil himself.

“He lied,” I whisper as James gives his attention back to the cards in front of him.

“Oh hon, that’s what men are best at. Don’t take it personally. It’s sort of a survival mechanism with them.”

“He said he didn’t have the wine,” I breathe the words out lower than a whisper. “And I distinctly remember him standing in line to get a glass full—and then walking around with it.” Oh, he lied right to my face. But if he’s diabetic like he said he is, then he could have very well poisoned the wine and gave it to Patterson—and that would leave him alone with both the publishing house and Hadley. “On second thought, we’d better stick around a minute while I process things.” I shove a heaping spoonful of banana pudding into my mouth in hopes to do just that.

My phone bleats and I fish it out. It’s a text from Jasper.

At Higgins House Publishing. In the mood to hop down and join me?

I text right back. I would, but I’m stress eating banana pudding at the moment. And I think I’m staring right at the killer!

Bizzy. He shoots back before those dancing ellipses go off again. Where are you? Never mind. Get out now. Run. Text me when you’re safe in the car. On second thought, drive home then text me.

I indulge in another few bites as quickly as I can.

“Mmm, this really is good,” I muse to Juni just as my phone bleats again.

I know you well enough to know you’re not leaving until you’re good and ready. For my sanity’s sake, please just tell me where to find you.

Juni grunts, “Tell the poor man where you are. It’s not like they’re going to let him in.”

“Fine.”

In Edison at the Royal Regency, penthouse. Some high stakes poker club. Don’t worry. It’s all perfectly legal.

He texts right back. The Right Stuff???

“How about that?” I muse to Juni. “He knows exactly where we are.”

My phone bleats again. Bizzy, get out NOW. That’s a notorious mob hangout. I assure you nothing in the penthouse is legal!

“Exclamation points and caps?” Juni clucks her tongue “It looks to me someone’s got a temper.”

“A mob hangout?” I hiss as I look around at the dapper gentlemen and their wicked grins with new eyes. “We need to get Georgie and Macy. We need to get out of here fast.”

My phone bleats in my hand again, and I land the pudding on the table next to me.

Who’s the killer, Bizzy?

I make a face at the phone. In the event I don’t make it out of here alive—the killer is James Foreman. I hit send with a touch too much determination and nearly knock the phone out of my hand.

“Come on,” I say, burying my phone back into my purse and grabbing Juni. “It’s time to make tracks.”

We