Kate Carlisle - If Books Could Kill

Pumpkin. That would be me. The nickname was the result of my unfortunate obsession with Thanksgiving dessert at an early age.

Honestly, just looking at Mom and Dad made me feel better. Let’s face it: So far, my time in Scotland hadn’t exactly been a vacation. So to see friendly faces? People who actually knew me and loved me and oh, yes, trusted me not to be a cold-blooded murderer? Priceless.

“Of course I don’t mind.” I gave her a fierce hug. “I’m thrilled you’re here.”

Dad tapped me on the shoulder. “How about some of that for your old man?”

I moved from Mom into Dad’s arms while Mom greeted Derek.

“Hello, Rebecca,” Derek said warmly.

Mom giggled as she gave him a big hug. Nobody in the world but Derek called my mother Rebecca, and it seemed to delight her. Mom and Derek had experienced a bonding moment last month when they’d found me in the clutches of a killer.

Dad held me at arm’s length, studied my face and asked, “How’s it going, kiddo?”

I smiled brightly. “Super.”

“Whoa, that doesn’t sound good,” Mom said immediately, her forehead wrinkling as her eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

“What?” I frowned. “Nothing.”

She slapped her hand onto my forehead. “Do you have a fever?” She squinted at me. “Your third eye looks cloudy. Are you constipated?”

“Help,” I whimpered.

She tapped the top of my head. “How’s your crown chakra? Whistle for me, will you?”

I tried to whistle as Dad turned to Derek. “If there’s a disturbance in the force, Becky’ll find it.”

“Good to know,” Derek said.

“I’m fine, Mom.” I took hold of her hand, removed it from my head and squeezed it gently.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” she muttered, turning to rummage through her purse. “I’ll need my stick.”

Her stick ? I broke away from her to give Robin a friendly hug.

“Jimmy, did I pack my healing rod?” Mom asked as she piled the contents of her bag on a nearby chair.

“It was on the list,” Dad said.

“Why the hell didn’t you warn me?” I whispered in Robin’s ear. God knows I loved my parents, but a person really did need some preparation time before one of their visits.

“And miss this touching scene?” she said. “Not on your life.”

“I’ll kill you later.”

“You can try,” she said. “Cute boots, by the way.”

“Thanks. Oh, God, my parents are insane,” I moaned softly against her shoulder.

She laughed and hugged me tighter. “I love them.” Robin had practically grown up at my house and had known my family forever. My mom was as close to her as her own mother. Probably closer. She was yin to my yang, madcap Lucy to my down-to-earth Ethel. Since we’d grown up together in the commune, our shared memories were unique, to say the least. There was a bond between us that transcended space and time. If

I were in trouble anywhere in the world, Robin would know it.

She knew it now. “What’s going on?” she asked quietly.

“I’ll fill you in later.”

“Okay,” she said. “And I want to know where you got that jacket. It’s way très chic.”

“You think? Thanks.” I knew she would shriek when I told her I got it at Ross.

“ Brooklyn?” a timid voice piped up.

Oops. Helen. I’d forgotten all about her. I rushed over to the couch as she struggled to sit up. She still looked a little woozy.

“How are you feeling?” I asked.

“Just completely embarrassed,” she said lightly as she tried to fluff her hair. “I’ll get over it. Is this your family?”

I made the introductions, then explained, “Helen had a little fainting spell a while ago.”

“Oh, you poor thing.” Mom sat down next to Helen and patted her back. “Can we get you some water?”

“No, I’ll be fine,” Helen said weakly. “It was just such a shock.”

“Of course it was,” Mom said sympathetically, although she had no idea what had happened. Or did she? Maybe Romlar X had told her.

“A friend was killed last night,” I explained, realizing they would all find out sooner or later anyway.

Mom glared right into my third eye. “I knew it.”

Trying to avoid her perceptive gaze, I continued. “Kyle was a good friend of mine and Helen’s. There was a memorial service a few minutes ago. It was difficult. Helen fainted.”

“Kyle?” Robin said. “Weren’t the two of you-”

I cut her off with a warning glance. “We found his body last night.”

Helen let out a tiny cry and Mom pulled her into her arms. “Of course you’re in pain,” she said, rocking her gently. “You lost a good friend.”

Tears sprang to my eyes and I was abruptly glad Mom was here. If anyone could deal with Helen’s grief, it was my mother. She was the queen of empathy. I wouldn’t be surprised to return home in a week and find that Helen had moved in. That was how good Mom was at this shoulder-to-cry-on thing.

“I’ll never believe it,” Helen whispered.

“What’s that, sweetie?” Mom asked Helen. But she was looking at me for the answer. Everyone turned to me.

I gave Robin another look of warning, then said, “Kyle and Helen were in love.”

“Oh,” Mom cried, wrapping Helen in another hug. “How awful for you.”

“But it turns out that Kyle was already married,” I continued. “His wife showed up at the memorial service.”

“That could get sticky,” Dad said.

Derek nodded in agreement but said nothing.

“It could all be a sham,” I said lamely. “Minka LaBoeuf was the one who announced the news. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was lying.”

“Minka?” Mom said. “Your chubby friend who made up those stories about you?”

“She is so not my friend,” I insisted. I didn’t correct the chubby part, so sue me. “But yes, she’s the one.”

Helen peeked up at me. “You have a real problem with her, don’t you?”

I gritted my teeth. “She’s a total psychopath.”

Helen nodded. “I always thought she was sort of odd.”

“Yes, that’s a good way to put it,” Mom said.

“You’re both being way too kind,” I said, rubbing my temple where Minka had managed to whack me upside the head, the chubby bitch.

I had to wonder why Minka would go to the trouble of making all this stuff up about Kyle and Serena if it wasn’t true. What did she have to gain, either way? And why would that meek woman, Serena, play along with her? Was she an actress? Minka was more than capable of deception, but the other woman had appeared genuinely distraught. I could only conclude that she really was Kyle’s wife. I still didn’t want to believe it, mainly because she didn’t look like she was a whole lot of fun. Kyle would’ve needed someone full of life and fun like him.

Wouldn’t he?

Oh, how would I know? I didn’t know him anymore.

And that hurt. I no longer had the right to judge what Kyle needed in a relationship. Obviously, he hadn’t needed me. If he had, he never would’ve cheated on me.

But had Kyle needed Helen? Had they planned to marry? Maybe Kyle had been trying to get a divorce from this Serena person. Helen seemed so sure of him and their shared love. But if he was married, how had she gotten that impression? She’d been genuinely shocked to hear he had a wife. Now wasn’t the time or place to ask Helen just how certain she was about Kyle’s feelings, but I’d find a time later to pursue the question.

Derek glanced at his watch, and I realized I’d been staring into space ever since Minka’s name was mentioned.

I shook myself out of my thoughts and turned to Robin. “What are your plans? I have to give a presentation in two hours and I need a little prep time. But I’ll be free around four.”