Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,10

was only the one bookcase to appraise. I think that two experienced”—she glanced at Kalea—“appraisers can accomplish a lot in that time.”

“We’ll see if she’s in agreement with you. Nevertheless, you’re done here now.” He waved his hand. “Go. I’m here to relieve you.” Robert looked at Kalea. “You may stay if you like, though.” His top lip curled up in a half smile. “I always do like a bit of company when I work.”

Kalea grabbed her jacket and other shoe, slipped them on, scooped up her bag and its disarrayed contents, and dropped it all on the table of books they had catalogued. She dug through her bag, tossing out other odds and ends onto the table, fished out her phone, tucked it into her jacket pocket, straightened her collar, shoved everything back into her handbag, and shouldered it. Robert’s tongue caressed his bottom lip as Kalea strode over to him. His chest puffed out as his face lit up in a wide, leering grin.

“You, sir . . . are a pig!” She flipped her head and stalked out.

Addie grabbed her purse and walked past Robert, who stood openmouthed in the middle of the room. “She’s not wrong, you know. I may have used a stronger description, but I guess pig covers it fairly well.” Her lips formed a twisted smile as she followed her cousin to the door, sidestepping a head-on collision with Charlotte as she swung into the room.

“Miss Greyborne, how did you make out? Or will I be here till past midnight to finish this room?”

“No, I think the appraisals are complete. I’m certain”—she glanced back over her shoulder at Robert—“your competent assistant will have no problem finishing up any loose ends.”

“Good.” She rubbed her hands together. “Did you find anything of great value, or will I have to dig through it all to find out what to set as lot sale items and what can be—”

“It’s all been catalogued as per your methods.” Addie stuffed her used cotton gloves in Charlotte’s hand. “I assure you that everything is in order. However, there is one collection I left on the table that I wasn’t certain how you would want to proceed with the sale of, so I’ve marked it for your attention.”

Charlotte glanced at the balled-up gloves and then to the table.

“It’s the entire Sherlock Holmes first-edition series and a few other Sir Conan Doyle works. It’s all there and marked.”

“A complete set of Sherlock Holmes first editions?”

Addie stopped short of telling the dour-faced woman about her discovery of the first-ever publication of A Study in Scarlet in the 1887 Beeton’s Christmas Annual. She’d already done more than her part for this unappreciative woman. Charlotte could discover that little treasure on the table later when she inspected Addie’s work, as she no doubt would.

Addie glanced over her shoulder at Robert, who had edged toward the table and the pile of Holmes books. “From what I discovered in that barrister’s case, the estate should do fairly well tomorrow,” Addie sidestepped away from Charlotte and her equally unlikable assistant. “But I have to go now. I do have a business of my own to run so I hope you find everything in order. If you have any questions, call me.” Addie tucked her business card under the gloves still housed in Charlotte’s palm.

“Thank you,” Charlotte mumbled, turning the card over in her hand. At least Addie thought she said thank you, because the sound she made was more like her regurgitating a mouth full of marbles.

Addie suppressed a snicker as she sauntered out the door. That was probably the first time Charlotte had ever even tried to utter those two little words to anyone, and she hoped that the garbled noise she heard wasn’t her choking on them.

As the doors began to shut, Charlotte’s voice cracked. “Robert, we need to talk now! There’s been another theft—” The closed library doors snuffed out the rest of her words.

“Addie, my dear.” Blake waved at her from the front door where he was chatting with Kalea and another man. “I was just thanking Kalea here for the two of you stepping up today and helping this old man keep his business afloat despite the dragon lady I have to deal with. Your father would be so proud of you.”

“No problem. We’re happy to help out. It’s something he would have done, too.”

“I know you’ve saved me a lot of stress this evening. I’m not sure about her, though.” His head ticked