The Spellmans Strike Again
Read The Spellmans Strike Again Online
Authors: Lisa Lutz
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Humorous, #Mystery & Detective, #Women Sleuths
ALSO BY LISA LUTZ
Revenge of the Spellmans
Curse of the Spellmans
The Spellman Files
THE SPELLMANS
STRIKE AGAIN
Lisa Lutz
SIMON & SCHUSTER
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and
incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2010 by Spellman Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or
portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address
Simon & Schuster Subsidiary Rights Department,
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First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition March 2010
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Designed by Davina Mock-Maniscalco
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lutz, Lisa.
The Spellmans strike again : a novel / Lisa Lutz.
—1st Simon & Schuster hardcover ed.
p. cm.
1. Private investigators—Fiction. 2. San Francisco (Calif.)—Fiction.
3. Domestic Fiction. I. Title.
PS3612.U897S69 2010
813’ .6—dc22
2009038267
ISBN 978-1-4165-9340-9
ISBN 978-1-4391-9983-1 (ebook)
To all my friends from Desvernine Associates:
Des, Pamela, Pierre, Yvonne, Debra,
and Gretchen. But not Mike.
THE SPELLMANS
STRIKE AGAIN
Contents
DAVID’S NEW FRIEND MY NEW CLIENT
RULE #28—MANDATORY SUNDAY NIGHT FAMILY DINNERS
RULE #31—VACATE RESIDENCE EVERY WEDNESDAY
THE RETURN OF SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER
WOULD THE REAL MASON GRAVES PLEASE STAND UP
THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING DOORKNOBS
THE SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER MASSACRE
THE ATTACK OF SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER
THE SUNDAY NIGHT DINNER SMACKDOWN
Phone call from the edge
1
#28
MORTY
: What’s new, Izzele?
ME
: If I told you, you wouldn’t believe me.
MORTY
: Never stopped you before.
ME
: I wouldn’t know where to begin.
MORTY
: It’s true. You tell stories funny. You always start in the middle.
ME
: Here’s a headline: Rae committed a felony and might actually have to do time in a juvenile facility.
MORTY
: That is news. What did she do?
ME
: Something very bad.
MORTY
: Usually felonies are. Feel like sharing?
ME
: I’m not ready to talk about it. Let’s switch subjects.
MORTY
: Okay, how’s your Harkey investigation going?
ME
: Nowhere.
MORTY
: Your brother still seeing the hooker?
ME
: I explained this to you before. She’s not a hooker.
MORTY
: Sorry, I got confused. I’m not even going to ask about your Irish boyfriend.
2
ME
: Good. Don’t.
MORTY
: I didn’t. That’s what I just said.
ME
: Don’t you have some news for me, Morty?
MORTY
: That’s right, I haven’t told you yet. We’re moving back to San Fran.
ME
: Say San Francisco, not San Fran.
MORTY
: Why? Life’s short. No point wasting it on extra syllables.
ME
: It makes you sound like a tourist.
MORTY
: You’re grumpy today.