Bound For Murder Read Free

weaving and sloshing,” commented Ava, still eyeing Blaine. “So we’re kind of reserving judgment.”
    “What exactly is Neutron?” asked Carmela, turning her attention to Jamie.
    “It’s pretty neat,” Jamie responded eagerly. “Neutron is a software program that helps detect bugs and bombs in newly written code . ”
    “Oh,” said Ava, suddenly disinterested. “Computer stuff.”
    “Wait a minute,” said Blaine, holding up one finger. “This is cutting-edge stuff!”
    “As you can see,” said Jamie, making a self-deprecating gesture at the well-worn tweed jacket he wore, “I’m the tweedy, nerdish member of the team. And Blaine’s the showy ‘suit’ side. Very buttoned up.” He smiled enthusiastically at the two women. “Would you believe it? Blaine’s already got us pow-wowing with a couple heavy-hitter high-tech companies! Both have expressed interest in either licensing or possibly even buying Neutron outright.”
    “For big money,” Blaine blurted out, a silly, satisfied grin pasted across his face. “That is, if I can get this self-styled dilettante to seriously agree to sell.” Blaine spat out the word dilettante like he was referring to cattle manure.
    Jamie put a hand on Blaine’s shoulder to steady him. “I have to admit, as a self-made real estate mogul, Blaine has opened a lot of doors for us.”
    “You’re in real estate?” said Ava, perking up. Here was something a girl could understand and appreciate. Serious, tangible assets.
    Blaine bobbed his head eagerly, delighted at Ava’s sudden interest. “I’m a private investor,” he told her. His words came out private inveshtur.
    “Honey, you and I should get better acquainted,” said Ava, gently pulling Blaine away. “Tell me,” she said as they strolled toward the hors d’oeuvre table, “do you hold lots of real estate yourself? Or do you mostly just buy and sell it for a tidy profit? Like playing Monopoly?”
    Jamie chuckled as they watched Ava and Blaine wander off together.
    “Like a lamb to the slaughter,” said Carmela. “She’ll have a P & L statement from him by evening’s end.”
    “Blaine’s a big boy,” laughed Jamie. “He’ll be fine. His only problem is he does like to party. At Tulane, Blaine was an absolute hellion. President of some ultra-secret group called the Phlegethon Society, although I think it was more about drinking than anything else.”
    “Ava means well, too,” said Carmela. “But the prospect of your wedding this Saturday evening has her altar ego all in knots. Ava was positive she’d be married and divorced by now.”
    Jamie smiled at Carmela’s little joke.
    “With all this talk of selling your software program,” continued Carmela, “what’s going to happen to your cozy little bookstore?” Jamie owned a bookstore over on Toulouse Street, not far from Carmela’s scrapbook shop. He specialized in secondhand books, maps, old engravings, and the occasional rare or antique book.
    “ Possibly selling my software program,” said Jamie. “It still needs a bit of fine-tuning. As for the bookstore, I think it might finally be turning a profit.”
    Carmela nodded knowingly. Although everyone thought owning a shop in the French Quarter guaranteed huge rewards, a lot of proprietors were lucky to eke out a modest living.
    “Hey, you two!” cried Gabby, as she rushed over with her cousin Wren in tow.
    Jamie wrapped his arms around his bride-to-be and planted a kiss on Wren’s forehead. Wren, a petite blond with big blue eyes and short wispy hair, smiled up at him in complete adoration. In her cream-colored wrap dress and citrine chandelier earrings, she looked like anything but a wren.
    “Who knew this bookish fellow was also a software genius,” said Carmela, smiling as the two of them embraced. Why, she wondered, can’t Shamus and I communicate like that? Bear hugs, longing gazes, lots of sexual tension.
    “Genius? No way!” protested Jamie. “I was merely born with a