"Did you guys read it?"

Marjorie avoided Audie's eyes and turned to Griffin.

"What's going on?" Audie demanded.

"We read it. It's bad, Audie," Griffin said. "This one's twisted. I think the guy's a head case."

Audie blinked at him. "Well, of course he is! No normal person gets his ya-yas out of threatening a household hints columnist!"

"Honey," Marjorie said softly. "This one is very weird, and frankly, I'm starting to get worried about your safety."

Audie sighed and walked around behind Marjorie's chair. She brought her lips down to the chic and short gray hair, fragrant with expensive hair spray, and kissed her on top of her head. "But that's your job, Marjie," she said sweetly. "Without you, I wouldn't have anybody to worry about me, right?"

Marjorie brought a hand up to stroke Audie's forearm and offered her a brave smile. "I've always done more than just worry about you, and you know it, Autumn."

Audie hugged her tight. "I know, Aunt Marj." She sighed again, gathered up the rest of the mail, and headed for her office. "What else did I miss yesterday? Anything?"

"Well… " Marjorie adjusted her bifocals. "Russell called. He wanted to remind you that the Banner contract is up for renewal and you can't keep putting him off."

"Great." Audie's lawyer and former boyfriend was the last person in the world she wanted to see, and her contract with Banner News Syndicate was the last thing she wanted to think about.

"Anybody else?"

"Well, honey, I'm sorry, but Tim Burke called again and he sent more flowers yesterday-with a note. The boy is besotted." Marjorie handed Audie the card.

"Ugh." She didn't think it was possible, but her headache had just gotten worse. This man would not leave her alone! How blunt did she have to be with him? She tossed the card in the trash can without bothering to read it. "You told him I was dead, right?"