The Old Deep and Dark (34 page)

Her work with her father was done for the moment. She was glad that she could return to her restaurant, content in the knowledge that when it counted, she hadn't disappointed him. She looked forward to working with him again, as long as it wasn't until after the holidays. It would be lonely this year without Peter and his family, and especially lonely without Avi. But Jane pushed those thoughts out of her mind, unwilling to let them bring her down. She was in too good a mood.

Cordelia had met with Booker, hoping to get him to commit to taking a job with the theater. Judging by her buoyant expression, Jane assumed she'd closed the deal. Kit stood across the room next to an open door that led into the new indie bookstore—Fitzgerald's. She was with an odd-looking man sporting an oversized gray beard and leaning on a silver-handled cane, someone Jane had never seen before. After everything that had happened, Jane was a little surprised to see her out and about, obviously enjoying the bearded man's company.

“Afternoon,” said Cordelia, nodding pleasantly to several women who sailed past her. The first floor was no longer off-limits to the public, mainly because the bookstore and the Italian deli had finally opened. People wandered in and out, curious to see what was happening inside the new Thorn Lester Playhouse. They couldn't get upstairs just yet, but were able to watch the murals on the first floor being restored to their former glory.

“Janey, meet our new set designer,” said Cordelia, beaming at Booker as if he were a shiny new toy.

“You took the job,” said Jane. “Congratulations.”

“Had to.” He shot a guarded glance toward his mother. “My girlfriend wrote the play.”

“You and Erin are together?” Cordelia enthused. “How … utterly fascinating. A new rock-star theater couple has been born.”

“No thanks,” said Booker. “I like living in the shadows. So does Erin.”

“Who's the man with your mother?” asked Jane.

“He wants to write her authorized biography. He's already got the go-ahead from Simon & Schuster. Mom said he's done a number of other biographies, so he's legit.”

“My stars and garters,” said Cordelia, pressing a hand to her chest. “I would think your mother has had enough media attention to last the next hundred years.”

Booker tried to cover his look of disgust with a shrug.

“She's a survivor,” said Jane. “You have to give her that.”

“How's Chloe doing?” asked Cordelia.

“Good,” said Booker. “Actually, there's a new man in her life. When he found out what had happened, he flew here from California to be with her. He's taking her home today. He was so overwhelmed by the thought that he might have lost her, that he asked her to marry him. The wedding will be next June.”

“That's terrific,” said Jane. At least something good had come out of it.

“Well, listen you two, I gotta bounce. Erin's leaving tomorrow, flying back to Seattle. I intend to spend every minute I can with her. I head back to New York tomorrow night.”

“What about your mom?” asked Cordelia, nodding obliquely in her direction.

“Her new biographer can take her home.” He gave Cordelia a kiss on her cheek, then turned and gave one to Jane. “Adieu, ladies. To be continued.”

Jane liked Booker, and was glad to hear he'd be back. As she watched him push out through one of the glass doors, she caught sight of a familiar face inside the bookstore. She moved a little to her right to get a better look. Red Clemens was sitting at a table, dressed in a dapper suit and tie, signing books for half a dozen people who waited in line. “What's all that about?” asked Jane.

Cordelia looked over Jane's shoulder. “Oh. I forgot to tell you. I found out yesterday that Red's a published poet. He's quite well known.”

“I've never heard of him.”

“He doesn't go by Red Clemens. He writes under his real name, Philip Powell Clemens.”

“
He's
Philip Powell Clemens?”

“Apparently, people come from all over the country to meet him here at the theater. Just think of it, a poet janitor. Then again, didn't Ted Kooser sell insurance most of his life?”

“Incredible,” said Jane. So he wasn't a celebrity freak after all. The celebrities came to meet
him.
“Will this place ever stop surprising me?”

Cordelia put her hand on Jane's back and walked her toward the elevators. “Not to dwell on the obvious, but another case has been successfully completed. Thanks to
moi.
”

“I have to agree. You deserve the credit.”

Two middle-aged women cut in front of them. The shorter of the two said, quite loudly, “Did you see how old she looked in person?”

“What's her first name?” asked the taller one.

“Kit. Kit Deere. She must be seventy years old. I used to think she was so beautiful. I saw her onstage last winter and she looked twenty years younger. How is that even possible?”

“Must be her husband's death.”

“He's another one,” said the shorter woman. “I went to one of his concerts at the state fair two years ago. Believe me, in person, he looked nothing like the hunky guy you see on TV. He was downright puny.”

“Funny, isn't it,” said the taller woman. “It's like that super handsome guy who plays in all those action movies. I don't know why I'm blanking on his name, but I've had a crush on him for years. When I was in New York last summer, I walked right past him on the street. He wasn't more than five feet tall. I towered over him.”

Jane and Cordelia exchanged glances.

“Guess that old saying is true,” said Cordelia, pausing as the elevator doors opened.

“What saying?” asked Jane

They walked on, turning and standing next to each other.

As the doors closed, Cordelia whispered, “Get on your knees every night and pray that you never meet your heroes.”

 

ALSO BY ELLEN HART

Taken by the Wind

Rest for the Wicked

The Lost Women of Lost Lake

The Cruel Ever After

The Mirror and the Mask

Sweet Poison

The Mortal Groove

Night Vision

The Iron Girl

An Intimate Ghost

Immaculate Midnight

No Reservations Required

Death on a Silver Platter

The Merchant of Venus

Slice and Dice

Hunting the Witch

Wicked Games

Murder in the Air

Robber's Wine

The Oldest Sin

Faint Praise

A Small Sacrifice

For Every Evil

This Little Piggy Went to Murder

A Killing Cure

Stage Fright

Vital Lies

Hallowed Murder

 

About the Author

Ellen Hart, “a top novelist in the cultishly popular gay mystery genre” (
Entertainment Weekly
), is also a Lambda and Minnesota Book Award winner. The author of twenty previous mysteries featuring Jane Lawless, Hart lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

 

THE OLD DEEP AND DARK.
Copyright © 2014 by Ellen Hart. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

 

www.minotaurbooks.com

 

Cover illustration by Teresa Fasolino

 

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

 

The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:

 

Hart, Ellen.

    The Old Deep and Dark / Ellen Hart. — First edition.

        p. cm.

 

    ISBN 978-1-250-04769-4 (hardcover)

    ISBN 978-1-250-04780-9 (e-book)

 

  1.  Lawless, Jane (Fictitious character)—Fiction.   2.  Women detectives—Minnesota—Minneapolis—Fiction.   3.  Murder—Investigation—Fiction.   4.  Lesbians—Fiction.   I.  Title.

    PS3558.A6775O43 2014

    813'.54—dc23

2014027207

 

e-ISBN 9781250047809

 

First Edition: October 2014