"I didn't-"

"You didn't ask," he said, glowering.

I got up from the table, cup in hand. "You want a warm-up?"

He shook his head. "I'm worried about you, Jeff. You're not ready for this."

I poured my coffee, my back stiffening in annoyance. "Is that a medical opinion?"

"Yes. You've made tremendous progress, but your recovery is by no means complete."

He was one to talk-Mr. Short-of-Breath. I wasn't about to argue with him though, as I felt responsible for him being that way. He'd been shot trying to protect me not ten weeks before. Walking up stairs or any distance was still a chore for him. I didn't want to cause him undo concern, and yet . . .

"You're about to start a new job," I said, more an accusation than a statement.

"It's only a volunteer position. It's not full time, and doesn't start for almost another month. By then I'll be fully recovered. Head injuries like yours don't heal on that kind of timeline."

Somehow I resisted the urge to say, "Oh yeah?" Instead I turned to Brenda. "What do you think?"

"As your friend or a nurse?"

"Take your pick." Why did I have to sound so damned defensive?

She sighed and reached for Richard's hand, her cocoa-brown skin a contrast to his still pasty complexion. "As a nurse, I agree with Richard."

He smirked at her, his mustache twitching.

"As your friend." She turned to face me. "You're driving me nuts-the two of you, because you're both going stir-crazy."

Richard's smile faded. He sat up straighter, removed his hand from hers.

Brenda pushed herself up from the table, and headed out of the kitchen. "You're going to do what you want anyway, so-get on with it."

I avoided Richard's accusing stare, added milk to my coffee and stirred it. Stir-crazy, huh? Too often, Brenda could read me, too. Still . . .

I faced my brother. "You want to come with me?"

Richard blinked. "To work?"

"No, to check out where the guy got stabbed."

"I thought you weren't getting involved in this?"

"I'm not. I'm just curious."

"And curiosity killed the cat."

I sipped my coffee. "I figure I've got at least eight lives left."

"Don't kid yourself, Jeff. You could've died from that mugging."

"And I could get hit by a bus going to the grocery store. Are you coming or not?"

Richard drained his cup, pushed back his chair and rose. "I'll come."

About the Author.

A native of Rochester, NY, L.L. Bartlett honed her characterization and plotting skills as a frequent writer for romance magazines and was a finalist in the St. Martin's/Malice Domestic contest.

In addition to the Jeff Resnick Mysteries, Bartlett also writes the New York Times Bestselling and Agatha-nominated Booktown Mystery series under the name of Lorna Barrett. Bookplate Special, the third book in the series, was nominated for an Agatha Award for best novel of 2009.

Bartlett's first Victoria Square Mystery, A Crafty Killing, will debut in February of 2011.

Visit her website at: http://www.LLBartlett.com.

(You can also find her on Facebook, Goodreads, Myspace, and Twitter.).

Also by L.L. Bartlett.

Writing as Lorraine Bartlett.

The Victoria Square Mysteries A Crafty Killing (2/2011) The Walled Flower (Fall, 2011).

Short Stories: Sex with an Imperfect Stranger.

Prisoner of Love We're So Sorry Uncle Albert.

Writing as Lorna Barrett The Booktown Mysteries Murder Is Binding (2008).

Bookmarked For Death (2009) Bookplate Special (2009).

Chapter & Hearse (2010).

Sentenced To Death (2011).

Murder On The Half Shelf (2012).

end.