A Killing in the Market Read Free

Walking toward the door, she paused before Mr. Bayard and smiled shyly. "I — I had a wonderful time, Cyril," she said.
    Both Mr. Bayard and Aunt Gertrude gave the brothers sidelong glances. Frank nudged Joe in the ribs and said, "We're out of here."
    As Frank and Joe walked out to the van, the two adults lingered in the cottage doorway, talking in soft voices.
    "Bet they haven't had so much fun in thirty years," Joe remarked.
    Frank gave his brother an accusing look and stifled a laugh. "What a rotten nephew," he said.
    A moment later Aunt Gertrude headed down the walk to the van, and the three of them were on their way home. As they drove along, Aunt Gertrude kept staring absentmindedly out the window. The only sounds in the van were occasional rumblings of hunger from Joe's stomach.
    "You're awfully quiet, Aunt Gertrude," Frank finally said as they stopped for a traffic light.
    Aunt Gertrude smiled. "Just feeling thoughtful, I suppose — "
    Joe laughed. "You really like that guy, don't you?"
    "Well, I guess so. He's a gentleman, he's well educated ..." Aunt Gertrude looked around and saw that her nephews were all ears. "And if it will stop you two from snooping around, I'll come out and tell you. Yes, I happen to like Cyril very much. I can't tell you how wonderful it is for a woman of my age to meet a man like him. Not only is he interested in everything about me, but he's — unattached."
    Joe raised an eyebrow. "A bachelor? At his age?"
    "No, Joseph! If you must know, Cyril is divorced."
    "Well, I think you made a good catch, Aunt Gertrude — a stockbroker," Joe said lightly.
    "As a matter of fact, Cyril works for Colt Fadiman — one of the most prestigious investment companies in New York City," Gertrude told him. "We've been talking about investing my savings."
    "Uh - oh," Joe told her. "Are you sure he's not after your fortune?"
    Aunt Gertrude gave him a look. "If I were you, I wouldn't joke about fifty thousand dollars."
    Frank let out a whistle. "Not bad, Aunt Gertrude!"
    Gertrude Hardy smiled proudly. "Well, I worked all those years when I was younger, and I managed to save a bit for a rainy day."
    Frank's voice was quiet as he broke in. "If you've saved that much money, are you sure you want a near stranger taking charge of it?"
    "Cyril is not a stranger, Joe. Besides, anyone who works for Colt Fadiman — "
    "Did he tell you exactly how he was going to invest it?" Joe asked.
    "Well, not exactly, but he said to let him worry about it. Something about capital something - or-other securities—"
    Joe tried to hold in his disbelief. "Aunt Gertrude, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but you barely know the guy, and you have no idea where your life savings are about to end up. I mean, the papers are full of stories about swindlers — guys who work for these big-and-mighty companies and steal clients' money left and right!"
    "Joseph, I will not hear another word of this! Cyril is as honest a man as I've ever met, and I have the utmost confidence in his intentions!"
    "I'm sure Joe just meant you might want to start off in small chunks—maybe ten thousand or so," Frank suggested.
    Gertrude shook her head. "I've already promised Cyril the full amount — changing things now would make it seem as if I didn't trust him."
    "And you're sure you want to trust him . . ." Frank shrugged. They rode in silence for the rest of the ride.
     
    ***
     
    "What's wrong with it?" Callie Shaw asked as she parked her car in front of the Hardy house. "I mean, she's a perfectly attractive woman!"
    "Cyril Bayard certainly thinks Aunt Gertrude is attractive." Frank laughed. "But I have other ideas about what makes a woman attractive."
    Callie tossed back her medium-length blond hair and smiled at Frank. "Want to share your ideas?" She drew her face to within inches of Frank's and closed her eyes expectantly.
    "Well, to start—" Frank answered. He wrapped his arms around her and touched his lips to hers.
    Honnnnk! A sudden blast broke the