Read Grilling the Subject for Free Online Page B

treatment from me.” He could cook circles around me.
    â€œBy the way,” Bailey went on, “you’ve got to try thestuffed mushrooms that are being passed around. They have a real kick. Jalapeño peppers are the secret.”
    â€œWill do.”
    She left us to greet other guests.
    Rhett slung an arm around my back. “How are you feeling? Any more sightings?”
    â€œOf . . . ?” I searched his face. “Oh, that. Nope. No more mysterious strangers jumping from behind cars or trees. No one is out to get me.”
    â€œCare for a glass of wine?”
    â€œYou bet.”
    He went in search, and I joined Lola and my father. Dad eyed me coolly.
    I raised both hands in defense. “Am I intruding? Got a big secret you can’t share?”
    My father’s nostrils flared.
    â€œHey,” I said, “no matter what it is, I’m not the enemy. Seriously, what are you two discussing? You certainly don’t look like you’re at a celebration party. You’re all frowns.”
    Dad forced a smile. “It’s nothing.” He extended an arm. I curled into it for a hug.
    â€œIs this your way of saying
don’t worry my pretty little head
?” I chided.
    â€œSomething like that.”
    I broke apart and leveled him with my gaze. “Dad.”
    â€œJenna.”
    â€œAre you two arguing about Sylvia Gump?”
    Lola swatted my father’s arm. “I told you people would hear us.”
    â€œOnly Miss Big Ears,” my father teased.
    Yes, I had big ears. Not in the Dumbo way. I could hear well around corners and down halls. Back at Taylor & Squibb, I was always on the alert for office gossip to avert getting ambushed at a meeting. If my boss was unhappy, I wanted to know as soon as possible.
    â€œWhat’s going on with Sylvia?” I asked.
    â€œNothing.”
    I tilted my head. “Saying
nothing
is not going to make me go away. Did you and the other neighbors reach an agreement at your meeting last night? Did Ava come up with a brilliant idea how to stop Sylvia from what she’s doing?”
    â€œPoor Ava,” Lola said.
    â€œWhy
poor Ava
?”
    â€œSweetheart.” My father rubbed Lola’s arm. “Let’s keep it between us.”
    She sneered. “This from the man who was talking so loudly his daughter heard him halfway across the room.”
    â€œDon’t start.”
    â€œCary, Jenna can keep a secret.”
    A frisson of worry zipped through me. “What secret?”
    Lola lowered her voice. “Sylvia has been doing nasty things to Ava, targeting her, trying to get a reaction. She told her gardener to move Ava’s trash cans yesterday so the trash pickup wouldn’t empty them.”
    â€œHow silly.”
    My father said, “She also had her housekeeper park in front of Ava’s driveway so Ava couldn’t move her car. I went for a stroll and caught the two of them shouting.”
    â€œAva and the housekeeper?” I asked.
    â€œAva and Sylvia. Ava was so mad, I worried she might pop Sylvia in the nose.”
    â€œShe wouldn’t.” I gasped.
    â€œThere were threats exchanged. Ava raised a hand. Sylvia put up her dukes.”
    Lola
tsk
ed. “It was outright cruel what Sylvia did. Ava needs her car for business. She had to call a tow truck to move the obstruction.”
    â€œWhy is Sylvia acting like this?” I asked. “Does she need to be on sedatives? Is she going through a midlife crisis? I saw her upstairs with Ronald a bit ago. She pushed him straight into Shane Maverick.”
    My father said, “I know Shane.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œHe purchased the house next to Sylvia, on Azalea Place. It’s in escrow. Sylvia is up in arms about it. She said she put a bid on the house, but Ava blocked her from getting it.”
    â€œBlocked her how?”
    â€œAva asked for city council intervention claiming Sylvia, by owning too many