Read The Last Word (A Books by the Bay Mystery) for Free Online

eat the best seafood in town while the sun goes down.”
    Buoyed by Kim’s enthusiasm, Olivia agreed to the final design and then searched the computer for additional images and fonts.
    While they worked, the noise in the kitchen escalated. Haviland had obviously been fed, as he was no longer gazing at Michel in worship, and Caitlyn was amusing herself by slowly consuming every piece of ice in her glass. Everyone was busy. Olivia felt a sense of deep satisfaction. She loved the sound of people at work.
    After scanning Kim’s sketch, Olivia asked her to type up Hudson’s menu items. Once that was done, Olivia would e-mail the document to the printer along with their font choice. Kim readily agreed and began to peck at the keys one finger at a time. Not wanting to hover as Kim worked, Olivia left Haviland with the Salters and walked back out to the bar area.
    “Gabe, I believe you’ve added another name to your long list of female admirers. Thank you for being kind to Caitlyn.”
    Gabe acknowledged the praise with a smile and pointed at the brass clock in the shape of a ship’s wheel. He then set a tumbler filled with irregular-shaped ice cubes and two fingers’ worth of Chivas Regal Reserve on a napkin. “She’s a neat kid. Doesn’t say much, but you can tell she’s smart.” He poured a blend of tropical juices over ice in a highball glass and then added a splash of lemon-lime soda. “That’s for the other lady. Is she your . . . ?”
    “Sister-in-law,” Olivia replied. “Hudson is my half brother. I didn’t even know he existed until this fall.”
    Gabe paused in the act of polishing the spotless bar. “Whoa. And he’s going to move here?”
    Olivia nodded and took a large sip of her drink.
    Obviously sensing his employer’s reticence to elaborate on her newfound family, Gabe continued with his prep work. But after she’d collected Kim’s drink and turned toward the kitchen, he looked up from the dish he was filling with green olives and said, “It’s probably going to be weird for a while, but I’m glad you found each other. Family keeps you anchored, you know? Like the boats out that window. Even in a strong wind, they won’t be set adrift.”
    Olivia was tempted to give Gabe a snide retort about bartender wisdom but knew that he meant well. She acknowledged his statement with a dip of her chin and returned to the kitchen.
    Michel had just left the office, and Caitlyn was once again buried in the folds of her mother’s sundress.
    “Why are you acting like this, honey?” Olivia heard Kim ask.
    “I don’t like that man,” Caitlyn murmured, her voice trembling.
    Kim stroked her daughter’s hair, but she didn’t look concerned. “Sweetie, he just looked scary using those big, sharp knives. But Daddy has the same ones at home. It doesn’t mean they’re going to hurt anyone. It’s just a tool, like how a barber uses scissors.”
    Caitlyn scooted away, her eyes flashing. “I’m not scared of knives. I just don’t like him.”
    Clearing her throat, Olivia entered the office and handed Kim her drink. She looked at Caitlyn. “Why does he scare you?” she asked very gently.
    Perhaps because an adult was taking her seriously, Caitlyn answered right away. “He’s got a secret. I can tell.”
    Olivia nodded. “He probably does. Most people have secrets, I think.”
    Caitlyn was silent for so long that Olivia doubted she’d answer, but the little girl finally murmured, “Like Betty did. I knew she wrote you that letter. The one she sent when Grandpa got too sick to come downstairs anymore. Mom told me. She said that’s why we met you.”
    Taking an involuntary step backward, Olivia recalled the mixture of anger and anguish she’d felt after reading the anonymous letter. The claim that her father was still alive coupled with the demand for one thousand dollars in cash for more information had filled her with fury. Even now, a fresh wave of hostility toward her father’s longtime friend and