BooksBarbecue
Back Point Last Seen Save as PDF
Chapters (86)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Booklist
  4. Dedication
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Instead, Ludwig extended a plain white envelope. “Adam Ramsdell left this with me to give to you today. He was quite specific about the date, and that you should open it at once, here in the restaurant.”

Rune took the envelope and weighed it in her hand. She smiled at the others. Angelica was helping Mr. Kulshan to his feet, Clarice looked up alertly, and Señor Alfonso drew close to Ludwig. “Let’s see what’s in here, shall we?” She popped the seal, pulled out the brief note and read it. “Well. This isn’t news to me, but it might be a shock to all of you. It would seem Adam and Elle won’t be returning to our fair City of Lost Souls.”

Señor Alfonso groaned.

“What’d she say?” Mr. Kulshan asked Angelica.

Rune waited while Angelica loudly filled him in.

“Oh, hell,” Mr. Kulshan said, just as loudly.

“Shall I continue?” Rune asked.

“Might as well,” Ludwig muttered.

“I don’t think we could stop her,” Clarice said.

“Indeed, no.” Rune shook out the paper and pretended to read. “For the moment, Adam and his new wife will be making their home in Peru. Elle will be working, as before, as an archaeologist with her mother and stepfather. Adam will be speaking to the locals, who are, after all, descendants of the Moche and expert metalworkers, to see what more he can learn of his craft and their art. Adam and Elle would like me to take charge of renting their house to the next lost soul who finds their way to Gothic and wishes to stay.”

Mr. Kulshan extended a knobby, shaky hand. “Lady, I’m not saying I doubt your word, but let me see that letter!”

“Trust Mr. Kulshan to say what you were all thinking.” Rune handed the letter to him, and he looked around for his reading glasses, which were back on the table.

Angelica snatched the letter out of his hands. “Give it to me.” She scanned it, looked up and said, “Get your wallets.”

This time, everyone groaned.

Mr. Kulshan dug a bunch of crumpled bills out of his pocket.

Angelica asked, “Do you take credit cards?”

Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Rune said, “Yes!” and delved into her bag and brought out an electronic card reader.

Angelica grimaced and produced her card.

Clarice turned to Señor Alfonso, who was also extracting his credit card. “Would you put this on my bill?”

“Yes, yes!” Señor Alfonso said.

Ludwig paid in cash, and asked, “How did you know that Adam would meet a woman and be leaving town?”

“Madame Rune knows all and sees all.” She grinned as she collected the winnings. “When will you learn not to bet against your fortune-teller?”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS