Page 60 of Tough as Steele

“I could also find something at Gaskin’s place that will help,” Easton said.

Londyn had wondered if this topic was going to come up. She wanted to ignore it, but she felt compelled to tell the truth. “About that. We visited his house. Didn’t find much but a letter to his mother. Also, at Jessica Oates’ house, we just found a love letter from him. We compared the two. Handwriting looks to be a match, but it should be analyzed.”

Red coloring started at Easton’s neck and crept up his face. “I accepted your invasion of this house, and even wanted to share information, but you crossed the line when you visited Gaskin’s house.”

“I know,” Nate said, as if he was planning to take all the blame. “But imagine if you were looking for a fragile elderly woman. It’s clear you’re a good detective. You’d have done the same thing.”

“Doesn’t make it any better.” Easton swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

“FYI,” Londyn said. “We wore booties and gloves so we wouldn’t contaminate the scene.”

Easton glared at Londyn, then Nate. “Don’t let me hear of you stepping on my investigation in any other way. Got that.”

“Got it,” Londyn said, but she would do whatever she had to do to find Mimi, stepping on the man’s investigation or not.

15

Nate held the door for Londyn at her big Victorian home, and a savory smell mixed with the scent of baking bread wafted out to him.

His empty stomach rumbled in appreciation. “Smells like someone in your family loves to cook.”

“Teagan, but that’s bread you’re smelling, and she’s not a baker. Means my grandmother is here, and you should prepare yourself for meeting her.”

He opened his mouth to ask why, but he’d no more than closed the door when a slender woman approached. He put her in her late seventies. She had short curly gray hair, black cat-eye glasses, and a ready smile. She was fashionably dressed in dark jeans and a bright pink top. Nothing dowdy or grandmotherly about this woman.

“Gran.” Londyn approached and threw her arms around the slight woman.

“I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with such a terrible situation.” Her gran let go and planted her appraising gaze on Nate.

Londyn shifted her focus to him. “This is Detective Nate Ryder.”

“Nice to meet you, Detective Ryder.” The grandmother held out a hand.

“Please call me Nate.” He shook gently, but her clasp was firm and strong, so he strengthened his grip to match. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”

“It’s good to see that polite young men still exist these days.” She shot a look at Londyn. “Not like that Brad fella. Calling me Gran when I never invited him to do so. Most people blend in well together, but men like Brad are like mixing turmeric instead of cinnamon in a batch of cookies. The sour flavor spoils the whole batch.”

Londyn’s face reddened. “Nate is nothing like Brad.”

“I can already see that.” She looked at him. “No need for the ma’am anymore. You can call me Eloise or Gran.”

Nate nodded, not quite sure how to respond.

“So you’re helping our Londyn find Mimi.” Eloise beamed with pride and slid an arm around Londyn.

Nate wouldn’t correct her and tell her that they were equals. Something about this woman made him want to make her smile and be joyful. Mimi was the closest person he had to a grandmother, and she was much more formal. He liked the warm, no-nonsense vibe coming from Eloise.

“I am,” he said.

Londyn gave him a what-can-you-do look and smiled.

“I’m praying for Mimi.” Eloise shifted her focus back to Londyn. “That’s the only thing I can do besides provide all of you with a nourishing meal during your meeting.”

“Who told you about the meeting?” Londyn asked.

“No one until I got here. We had coffee this morning with your mom and dad. They told us about last night.” She tsked. “One of the pitfalls of having excess money is that other people want it.”

She let go of Londyn and clapped her hands, her nails, painted a silvery blue color, sparkling under the entryway chandelier made of modern globes. “Let me put the final touches on the meal, and you all can eat.”

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