The Borgia Dagger Read Free Page A

megaphone. The men all let go of one another and tried to look as nonchalant as possible.
    Officer Riley, his partner, and Callie walked up to the scene. They were followed by Frank's brother Joe, who had hopped out of the van.
    "All right, Ruppenthal," Officer Riley said. "What happened here? Does this have to do with the Carpenter items?"
    "That's right, Officer," Ruppenthal answered. "These men are forcibly trying to remove this artwork!"
    "Or are you 'forcibly' trying to prevent them?" said Officer-Riley with a knowing look. "Miss Carpenter already called me about this. I'm afraid that unless you can produce an agreement that says the artwork belongs to you, you'll have to let these men do their job."
    "But — but — "
    "You can protest all you want in court, my friend. Not here."
    As Ruppenthal and Officer Riley argued, Joe joined his brother. He glanced around at the group of burly men, all of whom were now disheveled.
    Joe whistled in awe and ran his fingers through his blond hair. "Whew, looks like I missed a big one," he said. "How was it?"
    "Fine," said Frank with a smile, massaging a bruised arm. "But we missed you."
    With a mischievous grin and a gleam in his blue eyes, Joe moved closer to his brother and said softly, "By the way, who's the redhead in the jumpsuit?"
    Frank chuckled. "Believe me, you wouldn't be — "
    Suddenly a loud scream ripped through the conversation. All heads turned to the end of the driveway.
    There, up against Callie's car, Tessa Carpenter was frozen in fear. Around her neck was a pair of hands. Her body shook as the strangler repeatedly slammed her against the car.
    Frank and Joe raced up the driveway, with Callie right behind. "It's Grant!" she cried out in disbelief. "He's trying to kill Tessa!"

Chapter 3
    While Frank went to help Tessa, Joe grabbed Grant by his still-soggy collar and pulled him backward. "Tessa, are you okay?" Frank asked.
    "I'm—fine," Tessa said with both hands on her throat. "Just a little dizzy."
    "I've had enough, Tessa Carpenter!" Grant shouted, gesturing wildly at Tessa. "I had hoped to escape your mocking glance for good! But no — still you torment me!"
    Frank slid in front of Tessa, who cowered in fright. Grant tried to lunge for her again, pulling against Joe's tight grip. Within seconds, Officer Riley and his partner arrived. They yanked Grant away and slapped handcuffs on him. Callie and Joe stood by Frank.
    "Forgive me, Officer," Grant said, his voice cracking with emotion. "She has forced me to do things I'd never dreamed of!"
    When Officer Riley had a good look at Grant, his face lit up. "Say, aren't you the fella in the new flick? What's it called — Horror High School, right?"
    Grant turned red and looked at the ground. "A cameo role," he said, grimacing. Frank turned to Tessa. "Sure you're okay?" Tessa leaned against Frank's broad chest to steady herself. "Yes, I think so," she said faintly. She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with relief and admiration. "Thanks to you."
    Joe rubbed his hand. The outline of human teeth — Grant's teeth—was beginning to rise up in a welt. Great, he thought, I get rabies, and Frank walks off with the glory. "It was nothing!" he called out. "We're happy to help you—"
    Tessa just looked at him blankly and turned back to Frank. "How can I possibly repay you for saving me from that horrible man — "
    "I heard that, Tessa!" Grant called out. "Funny how your opinion of me has changed over the years!"
    "Calm down, Mr. Grant," Frank said. He looked back at Tessa. "You know this man?" Tessa gave Grant an icy stare. "You bet I do. And his name isn't Grant either. It's Edwin Squinder. He used to work for my parents — "
    "Bless their souls! I don't know how those two marvelous people could have created a monster like her," Squinder said. "For twenty years I was their chauffeur—on call, day and night. But was I unhappy? No! The Carpenters treated me like family! I lived on the grounds of the mansions — even