Free The Detective Inspectors (The Doorknob Society Saga Book 4) by MJ Fletcher

pure insanity... this is my life? I sighed and kicked at the ground.
    I reached my apartment building, yanked open the door, and made my way to the flat hoping that I would be able to slip in unnoticed and slink off to bed. Right, like that’s going to happen.
    “There you are.” Val was in one of her peppy moods which I guessed was better than her somber moods where all she would do was ask me how long it would be before we could find Edgar.
    “Here I am.” I forced a smile.
    “I’m all done with school for the night, what do you want to do?”
     My head dropped and my shoulders sagged at the thought of going back out when all I really wanted to do was go slide into my bed and pull the blankets over my head. But Val was going through a difficult time and I didn’t want to make it worse for her.
    “What did you have in mind?”
    “I heard about this great café from Jess.”
    “Of course you did.”
    “She said they have good coffee.”
     She said the magic words when she brought up coffee. I hadn’t had a decent cup since coming to London, but then again I was a fanatic about good coffee.
    “Let’s go.” I pulled the door open and we both walked out.
    The Keyhole Café is one of the oldest Old Kind haunts in the world and I don’t know why I hadn’t thought of going to it sooner. A battered and beaten wooden sign hung outside the corner door leading into the café. Bells rang above us as we entered and the scent of roasting coffee beans greeted us. I took a deep breath and let my worries disappear for a moment as I imagined how happy I was going to be sipping the nectar of the gods.
    “Hello, lovely ladies.” Slade’s voice carried over the noise of the busy shop.
    I turned to find him sitting at a bistro table drinking a cup of coffee. Val elbowed me toward him and I wanted to turn and poke her eyes out. If she knew he was going to be here, I would officially kill her on the walk home.
    “What are you doing here?” I asked and realized I sounded like a jerk as soon as the words fell out of my mouth.
    “Drinking coffee and waiting for you, though I take it this is a surprise?”
    “I didn’t know you would be here is what I meant to say.”
    “Val?” he looked her way and she smiled.
    “I had to get out of the house and she has been disappearing on me left and right. I thought she might not come if she knew what I had in mind.”
    “Which was what exactly?’ I asked.
    “Why don’t you two join me?” Slade said.
     I was already backing away ready to offer an excuse when Val slipped past me and sat down. She turned and smiled back at me motioning for me to sit beside her. Yes I was going to have to kill her.
    I slid into the chair and prayed that the coffee was as good as it smelled because I was going to need it.
    “Any news on the mission?” Slade asked.
    “Nothing new, yet. We’re just waiting for info.”
    “Which is why I thought it would be a good time for us all to get together,” Val said.
    “All of us?”
    “I think she means me.” Jess slipped onto the stool beside me. Her blond hair was perfectly cut and framed her face, highlighting high cheek bones. There was no other word for Jess but gorgeous. The fact that she kept herself in such good shape and was always dressed in the height of fashion didn’t hurt either.
    “So this was a sneak attack?” I raised my arm waving over a waitress and ordering the house blend for the table.
    “Think of it as a rescue mission,” Slade offered with a tone in his voice I hadn’t heard in some time. He was smiling my way and I had a feeling that he had more in mind then rescuing me.
    The waitress returned with a tray of coffees and placed them around the table. I greedily snatched mine up and took a long sip. The warm liquid slipped down my throat and I smiled knowing I had found my new café in London. The coffee was delicious.
    “Okay, so let’s hear this plan of yours, Val.” I smiled and leaned forward planting my elbows on