Raspberry Revenge Read Online Free Page A

Actually, I might be able to help you.”
    “You?” I asked. “I wasn’t aware that you even knew Harley.”
    “In passing, but that’s not particularly relevant. I was out taking a stroll alone a few nights ago while my husband was home building one of his model planes, and I happened to spot Harley having an argument under the town clock.”
    “Who was he arguing with?” Grace and I asked nearly simultaneously.
    “Ordinarily I wouldn’t say anything, since I detest gossip, but this might be significant, so I’ll make an exception this once.”
    She was clearly reluctant to talk, and I knew that I couldn’t compel her to if she didn’t want to. Jake and his fellow officers had ways to make people talk to them, but all that Grace and I had were our friendly faces and willing ears. It was enough more times than not, but it didn’t always work.
    “Don’t worry, Christine. We’ll keep whatever you tell us in confidence,” Grace said.
    “If we can,” I added.
    “I understand,” she said as she nodded. “I’m probably just being silly making such a big fuss out of it. It might be easily explained away.”
    “Then let’s do that person the service of allowing them the opportunity,” I said gently. “Otherwise, we’ll always assume the worst.”
    “I never thought of it that way,” Christine said, and after a few brief nods, she added, “Harley was having a rather testy conversation with Nathaniel Bloom. I doubt that either man even noticed me, but I surely noticed them.”
    “Did you happen to hear what they were arguing about?” I asked her.
    “I couldn’t tell, but both men were deadly serious,” she replied. “I shouldn’t have used that expression, but you know what I mean.”
    “Was there anything physical about their confrontation?” Grace asked her.
    “What do you mean, did anyone throw a punch? Not that I could tell. I just saw them for less than a minute as I crossed the street in front of the newspaper building. Honestly, I was embarrassed for them both, and I didn’t want them to know that I was even there.”
    “Thank you for telling us about it,” I said.
    “Of course. As I said, I’m sure that it was nothing.” She glanced at the sign again, and then she said, “Well, I suppose I should take these things back home until Gabby returns. Good-bye, ladies.”
    After we said our farewells, Grace asked me, “What do you make of that?”
    “It sounds like we need to speak with Nathaniel Bloom,” I said as I glanced at my watch. “If we’re lucky, he’ll still be in his office.” Nathaniel not only served on the city council with Harley, but his office was in the same general area just off Viewmont Avenue, the road that led to Union Square. “Let’s go see if we can find him,” I said as Grace and I turned and headed for my Jeep.
    I agreed with her about riding instead of walking. The office was definitely too far to make it on foot if we had any hope of meeting Momma in time.

Chapter 6
    “M r. Bloom, do you have a second?” I asked after our first suspect answered the door. Nathaniel Bloom was tall, heavyset, and his hair was beginning to fade away into nothingness, no matter how much he tried to disguise the fact. He was wearing an old-fashioned tweed suit, and I half expected him to light a meerschaum pipe. “Grace and I would love to have a word with you.”
    “Of course,” he said as he stepped aside to let us in. He didn’t have a secretary or a receptionist, so it was just him. Looking around, I could see that the space was masculine to the extreme, featuring a sea of leather, quarter-sawn oak, and dry-stacked stone everywhere. “Are you two ladies looking to change your investment advisors?” he asked as he sat behind his massive desk. I knew that he handled other people’s money for a living, but the implication that I had any worth investing was amusing.
    “Sorry, but my net worth is in my checking account, and last month I had to pay a fee for the