The Hammett Hex Read Online Free

captivate people of a lower distinction.
’”
    Mick shook his lionlike mane. “You must admit that thing for these old books is awful weird, my girl.”
    â€œIt’s the way I make my living, Uncle Mick. I can’t bad-mouth her.”
    â€œGood for you. No one else in Harrison Falls can stand the woman.”
    And that wasn’t entirely fair to Vera, the sins of the fathers and all that. “So I wonder if you have any connections in San Francisco that might help me to find a copy.”
    â€œThrough unorthodox channels, you mean?”
    â€œNo,” I said firmly. “Through regular legitimate business people only. I wondered if you knew someone who is familiar with the rare book community there. I’d be grateful if you had a lead.”
    â€œWell, there might be someone. Leave it with me, my girl, and I’ll keep you posted.”
    Of course, I was capable of tracking down that copy, but now Uncle Mick’s mind was off Tyler and his family for the time being. He had a project. And I was good to go.
    *   *   *
    SOMETIMES YOUR FRIENDS can be tougher than your family. My two best friends, Tiffany Tibeaut, currently on a nursing gig in the nearby town of Grandville, and Lance DeWitt, reference librarian and heartthrob at the Harrison Falls Public Library, both felt entitled to opinions on this and, in fact, all aspects of my life.
    Tiff’s text kicked off with an emoji of an engagement ring and an instruction. Don’t get pressured into it. It’s a huge step.
    Really, Tiff? Pressured into it? Whatever you can say about Tyler Dekker, he had never pressured me. For sure, he’d hung around, causing great anxiety in the uncle sector, but he wasn’t pushy except for that time he arrested me. He was relaxed, if you didn’t count the occasions where he thought I was mixed up in something criminal. All misunderstandings, currently cleared up.
    Tiff was not alone in her disapproval.
    Lance was having none of it when I dropped by the Harrison Falls Library reference department to share my exciting plans. I waited in a lineup of Lance’s octogenarian regulars to get my turn. As usual, he was drop-dead gorgeous and I was not the only person who thought that. As I waited patiently, I wondered what would have happened if my old buddy relationship with Lance had ever progressed past the crying on each other’s shoulders to something more serious. I shook my head. Now Smiley was the man in my life, and Lance was one of my two best friends.
    It started off well enough. “Hey, beautiful lady,” he said, smiling that ultra-white smile of his. Lance looks like a movie star and sounds like a matinee idol from the forties. I broke the news to him before Tiff did.
    â€œSan Francisco? With Dekker? Are you out of your mind? What do you really know about this guy, Jordan?”
    â€œBe serious.”
    â€œExcuse me, young woman, but other people need to talk to the librarian too, you know.”
    I knew better than to argue with any of Lance’s posse. Lance took me by the elbow and led me out of the reference room and along the hallway to the safety of the staff room.
    â€œYou’ve had some betrayals and a lot of serious and dangerous events in the last couple of years.”
    â€œTrue, but—”
    â€œJust sayin’, take your time. Who knows what his motivations could be?”
    My voice rose to an unappealing squeak. “Right. What motivations could he have for taking me to San Francisco, Lance? Couldn’t he betray me in a less expensive way by staying home? It’s a ridiculous allegation, which, by the way, is also light on detail.”
    He shrugged. “Your family, maybe.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” I lowered my voice to a whisper as one of Lance’s colleagues had come into the room.
    â€œSorry,” she said. “Didn’t realize you were here.”
    â€œNo problem at all. I was