Debts and Debtors: (A Geeks and Things Cozy Mystery Novella #3) (Geeks and Things Cozy Mysteries) by Sarah Biglow Page A
Authors: Sarah Biglow
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got called out to the beach for a case. I swear I will find a way to make it up to you.”
She took several breaths before she responded. “Fine. I get it. You have to work. You can’t choose when dead bodies turn up.”
“Please don’t be mad at me. I told the guys I was off today but Jimmy called last minute and said he needed my help on this one.”
Kalina’s anger softened a touch at the young officer’s name. He was a good kid but eager to impress. She also wasn’t above gently grilling him for information when she needed something. But that hadn’t happened in months. She was trying to stay out of police matters. She was a comic book shop owner, after all. “Okay. I’ll pass on your regrets to everyone.”
“Thanks. I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you too.”
Easing to a stop at a crosswalk, she hit ‘End’ and set her phone aside. Her sister’s house loomed up ahead on the side of town farthest from the beach. Jillian had insisted on staying local but when AJ had come along she’d wanted a yard too. Somehow, Kalina’s older sister got exactly what she wanted. She was lucky that way. Even getting pregnant right out of college, Jillian managed to make it all work.
Through the downpour she spotted her mom’s car in the driveway. She pulled up beside it and braced herself for the short trek to the front door. Pulling the hood of her coat up over her face, she grabbed the cake container and darted from the car. Thirty seconds later, she was safely inside the front hall being greeted by her nephew, AJ.
“It’s really coming down out there,” he said and took the container so she could peel her soaked jacket from her shoulders.
“It’s insane. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned to snow later tonight.” She leaned against the door to kick off her rain boots and put on her flats.
AJ lifted the lid of the container and took a sniff. “Where’s Chris?”
“Working. He got called away on an urgent case.”
“Lame.”
“Behave yourself,” she chided and quickly finger-combed her hair so she looked presentable before her sister appeared.
“AJ, put that in the kitchen,” Jillian ordered. She stood a good four inches taller than Kalina and she’d inherited their mother’s wavy curls and light brown hair.
No one would have ever accused them of being siblings, and yet they’d shared a bedroom until Jillian had gone off to college. They weren’t especially close these days but Jillian seemed pleased that Kalina was keeping AJ out of trouble.
“Sorry I’m late … and dateless,” Kalina muttered.
“It’s a hell of a storm out there. I’m just glad you made it over safely.” Jillian’s facial features softened and she pulled her sister into an impromptu hug.
“How many glasses of wine have you had?” Kalina whispered.
“Shut up.” Jillian pulled away but smiled. “Do you want red or white?”
“Whatever’s open,” Kalina said with a dismissive wave.
“Red it is.”
Kalina followed her sister into the kitchen. Her brother-in-law, Daniel, stood by the stove dutifully stirring their mother’s homemade gravy. He was a decent guy. He’d stuck with Jillian and married her after he’d gotten her pregnant. They seemed to have a solid marriage now. She had to give them both credit for sticking it out and really building something in the years since AJ came along.
“Hey, where’s Mom?” Kalina asked, accepting the glass of wine Jillian hastily shoved into her hand.
“Living room. She’s … not handling things well today.”
Kalina excused herself with a nod towards the living room and disappeared. Her mother sat on the couch, staring out at the storm. She settled in beside her and leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, Mom. How are you?”
“Fine, sweetheart.” She didn’t look away from the window.
“Mom, come on, it’s me. I know you miss him. We all do.”
Her mother turned to face Kalina with tears already staining her cheeks. “I
She took several breaths before she responded. “Fine. I get it. You have to work. You can’t choose when dead bodies turn up.”
“Please don’t be mad at me. I told the guys I was off today but Jimmy called last minute and said he needed my help on this one.”
Kalina’s anger softened a touch at the young officer’s name. He was a good kid but eager to impress. She also wasn’t above gently grilling him for information when she needed something. But that hadn’t happened in months. She was trying to stay out of police matters. She was a comic book shop owner, after all. “Okay. I’ll pass on your regrets to everyone.”
“Thanks. I love you.”
She smiled. “I love you too.”
Easing to a stop at a crosswalk, she hit ‘End’ and set her phone aside. Her sister’s house loomed up ahead on the side of town farthest from the beach. Jillian had insisted on staying local but when AJ had come along she’d wanted a yard too. Somehow, Kalina’s older sister got exactly what she wanted. She was lucky that way. Even getting pregnant right out of college, Jillian managed to make it all work.
Through the downpour she spotted her mom’s car in the driveway. She pulled up beside it and braced herself for the short trek to the front door. Pulling the hood of her coat up over her face, she grabbed the cake container and darted from the car. Thirty seconds later, she was safely inside the front hall being greeted by her nephew, AJ.
“It’s really coming down out there,” he said and took the container so she could peel her soaked jacket from her shoulders.
“It’s insane. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turned to snow later tonight.” She leaned against the door to kick off her rain boots and put on her flats.
AJ lifted the lid of the container and took a sniff. “Where’s Chris?”
“Working. He got called away on an urgent case.”
“Lame.”
“Behave yourself,” she chided and quickly finger-combed her hair so she looked presentable before her sister appeared.
“AJ, put that in the kitchen,” Jillian ordered. She stood a good four inches taller than Kalina and she’d inherited their mother’s wavy curls and light brown hair.
No one would have ever accused them of being siblings, and yet they’d shared a bedroom until Jillian had gone off to college. They weren’t especially close these days but Jillian seemed pleased that Kalina was keeping AJ out of trouble.
“Sorry I’m late … and dateless,” Kalina muttered.
“It’s a hell of a storm out there. I’m just glad you made it over safely.” Jillian’s facial features softened and she pulled her sister into an impromptu hug.
“How many glasses of wine have you had?” Kalina whispered.
“Shut up.” Jillian pulled away but smiled. “Do you want red or white?”
“Whatever’s open,” Kalina said with a dismissive wave.
“Red it is.”
Kalina followed her sister into the kitchen. Her brother-in-law, Daniel, stood by the stove dutifully stirring their mother’s homemade gravy. He was a decent guy. He’d stuck with Jillian and married her after he’d gotten her pregnant. They seemed to have a solid marriage now. She had to give them both credit for sticking it out and really building something in the years since AJ came along.
“Hey, where’s Mom?” Kalina asked, accepting the glass of wine Jillian hastily shoved into her hand.
“Living room. She’s … not handling things well today.”
Kalina excused herself with a nod towards the living room and disappeared. Her mother sat on the couch, staring out at the storm. She settled in beside her and leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek.
“Hi, Mom. How are you?”
“Fine, sweetheart.” She didn’t look away from the window.
“Mom, come on, it’s me. I know you miss him. We all do.”
Her mother turned to face Kalina with tears already staining her cheeks. “I
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