“Having John here makes it really nice,” Cassie told Nick and Gus. “We had a huge shipment delivered, including the new novel, and a supply of your past Diego adventures. It would be a big help to me if John can bring out any and all novels a fan in line wants signed.”
“I would be thrilled to do it,” John replied. “This bookstore is marvelous. I look forward to helping in any way I can with the book signing. I am not yet a character in the novel like Gus.”
“Sure you are,” Gus said. “You’re the terrorist Diego tortures and kills on page eight of ‘Assassin’s Folly’.”
John’s brow furrowed momentarily in confusion until he saw Nick, Gus, and Cassie lose their straight faced reaction in favor of snorting amusement with Gus pointing at his friend. “I get it. Pick on the newbie day, huh? Do not forget I have all of Tina’s sharp witted retorts in my memory banks concerning your character Jed, including how close Nick came to making him gay.”
“There’s no need to go nuclear on my butt over a small zinger,” Gus objected to more amused enjoyment. “Go get me a coffee… black, newbie.”
“Sure Gus, I have to go to the bathroom anyway. I will stop there with your coffee on the way back.”
“Cancel the coffee.”
“You guys will be a riot together,” Cassie said. “I hope we don’t get a bunch of hecklers today. Your novels are skyrocketing. I’d like to keep them that way without any added controversy.”
“I resent that,” Nick said. “My confrontations with Book Killers and Grammar Nazi’s have even been mentioned in the Times. It’s all in good fun. I promise with the security Harvard Bookstore has for these events, any goofy BK’s thinking of getting too vocal will chill out once they get to the signing table.”
“I’m good with all of it as long as we hold it to a one on one discussion rather than a riot. The one BK you nailed really well had to be escorted out. It was harmless but I’d rather it didn’t get any worse than that.”
“We may not even see a BK or Grammar Nazi today. If we do, I’m certain it will be entertaining rather than violent. I’m glad the weather’s nice. The line is wrapped all the way around the building and down the block. We’ll have some nonstop fun today. Can’t we just get started, Cass?”
“I’ll check. Take your places, gentlemen. Start your engines. We’re going to sell a lot of books today.”
Cassie left them to speak with the manager. Moments later, the line of fans began shuffling in, guided by two security guards. The first woman in line caught Nick’s attention right away. She wore the pinched expression he often saw on Rachel’s features when his wife objected to something Nick had done. Middle thirties with brown hair tied tightly in a bun at the back of her neck, her bright azure eyes glared at Nick without breaking contact for a moment. He judged her height to be near five and a half feet tall, carrying possibly twenty pounds past what all the calorie counters thought of as a healthy weight. Her navy blue dress with matching shoes seemed stark in compliance with her attitude.
“Uh oh,” Nick whispered to Gus. “Batter up.”
Gus nudged John seated next to him. “Live one in front.”
“Yes! I am blessed,” John whispered with enthusiasm. “I thought with what Muerto said to Cassie we might miss the excitement. Which do you think, BK or Grammar Nazi?”
“Nazi,” Gus whispered back. “Guaranteed. Remember, don’t react. Keep a straight interested expression planted on your face.”
“Understood.” John leaned forward in his chair with more excitement than he exhibited the day before when executing the terrorist drivers.
The woman marched with authority into the signing area, plunking a new hardbound copy of ‘Assassin’s Folly’ on the table in front of Nick. The novel had four markers inside its pages. “You are a disgrace! It makes one wonder how anyone like you can call yourself a writer. Did you ever attend an English class or is English your second language?”
Some of the people in line were already muttering with amusement as the woman ranted through her first paragraph of greeting. Her fierceness over something annoying her in the book hushed the crowd. Nick smiled with good natured enjoyment. He had not expected to actually get an unhappy reader as his first person to be greeted.
“Hello to you, Ms. Why don’t we start with what’s bothering you. I see you have four markers in the novel. Did you find something offensive in there?”
“Yes! Bad grammar. You’re supposed to be a professional writer. When I heard you would be doing a book signing, I couldn’t believe my luck.”
“I’m beginning to wonder at my luck too,” Nick replied. He made a quick instantaneous guess because he had seen it mentioned in a few of his grammar Nazi reviews on Amazon. He particularly enjoyed the critiques so he took a chance. “Please tell me. Where have I went wrong in there?”