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

won’t tell you that. He needed a few dollars to make the trip back to the States. Not that it’s anybody’s business what I do with my hard-earned money.”

“It’ll be my business once you’re bankrupt and living with me,” I grouse.

“Don’t you put that curse on me,” Mom teases.

“I won’t have to. That invisible man you’re dating will do it for me,” I say. “When is he supposed to touch down on U.S. soil? I for one cannot wait to meet him.”

“Saturday.”

Emmie and I exchange another far more alarmed glance.

She shrugs my way. “I guess this is really happening.”

“Maybe,” I say, but I’m not all that convinced. “But first we need to get through one more book club meeting with the Grim Readers.” Tomorrow night.

And hopefully we’ll all have a killer good time—with the killer I’m about to apprehend, of course.

Chapter 15

Evening came, Jasper brought home a pizza for us—he said we couldn’t let Hadley ruin one of our favorite meals, and I agreed so much that there’s none left for a midnight snack. Evidently, I was out to prove a point.

The sea breeze came in cooler than expected so we built a fire. Sherlock is sitting in front of it watching as Fish teaches Clyde all about the ways of the world—starting with a little thing called monogamy. Too bad Lady Haddie couldn’t be here for the lesson herself.

Jasper comes back from the kitchen and lands next to me on the sofa with a plate full of the pistachio pudding cookies I brought home from the café.

“How’s it going?” He nods to my phone.

I’ve spent the last ten minutes in a group text with Hux and Macy telling them all about our mother’s latest not-greatest misadventures with love and money.

“Hux is threatening to meet Romero at the airport with a shotgun. And Macy is wondering if he has a cute hot son.”

“Sounds about right.”

Macy texts again. And great news! I’m writing a book!

“A book?” Jasper and I say in unison.

Stop right there. Hux texts. I can only deal with one insane relative at a time.

Macy texts back. Very funny. Bizzy. Can you get it started for me? You know, like you used to with my papers when I was in school?

Jasper groans. “Please say no. Macy is old enough to do her own homework.”

“You’re so right.” I quickly text back. Macy, I am not writing your book for you.

My phone lights up again as she sends another message my way. Jasper told you to say that, didn’t he?

A laugh bursts from me. I can speak for myself. The answer is still no. What are you writing a book for, anyway? You hardly like to read.

She texts right back. True, but I have a publisher already waiting for me to meet my deadline. James says he might acquire Higgins House and that I could be his official first client.

“A publisher?” Jasper snaps up another cookie. “Things just got interesting.”

Huxley fires off another text. What are you going to write about? The time your mother got swindled out of house and home?

Macy texts back. House and home are the same thing. Sheesh, and you’re supposed to be the smart one? Enough about Mom, back to me. James said he’d wave all the fees and take care of all of my publishing needs.

“Shows what she knows,” I say. Publishers don’t charge fees. I hit send.

The dancing ellipses light up my screen until Macy pops up again. I don’t know what fees are involved. Production costs, things like that.

Hux is up next. That house and home thing is an expression, Macy. Speaking of which, I need to leave the office. I have a hungry, cranky wife I need to tend to. And don’t either of you dare say I said that. I’ll talk to you both Saturday regarding the big catfishing reveal.

“Ooh, we should get together,” I say, quickly typing into my phone. Late lunch at the cove? Say two-ish? The café has a stellar menu now that we’ve revamped it.

Hux texts back. See you there. I’ll be gunning for the lobster.

Macy hits send again. I meant it about that book, Bizzy. We’ll brainstorm on Saturday. Get some good sleep the night before. I’ll need you sharp as a tack to come up with some bestseller list worthy ideas. Think steamy romance. And no dead bodies!

“There’s that,” I say, holding up my phone to Jasper. “Saturday is going to be filled with family, seafood—”

“And maybe a shotgun.”

A laugh rumbles from me. “That’s why you and Leo both need to be there with your weapons at the ready. Maybe wear a Kevlar vest. I’d like for you to come home in one piece.”

A thought hits me and I reach over and pick up his laptop.

“I wonder if the website for Higgins House mentions anything of his passing,” I say, opening it up and running my fingers over the keyboard in an effort to get us there.

Fish mewls and jumps up onto the couch next to me and Clyde comes over on the other side of her.

Maybe there’s a condolence page, Fish yodels. I bet the killer has already left his or her mark.

I translate for Jasper and his chest bumps with a silent laugh.

“The killer certainly left his mark,” Jasper says. “But you’re right, Fish. Killers usually like to come around again if they can. They like to hide out in the open. It makes them feel better than hiding out under the covers.”

Or running away. Sherlock barks. Why don’t any of these killers ever hop on a plane and head for warmer climates?

I glance his way. “Because if they did, we’d never catch them.”

“We’d catch them.” Jasper lands a kiss to my cheek. “You’re just that good.”

I purr like a kitten as I snuggle up against him. “Here it is, Higgins House Publishing,” I read as we take in the orange background with silver script writing scrawled across it.

Higgins House Publishing? Clyde chirps. I heard someone mention it the night of