Angela Agranoff - Sophia O'Malley 01 - Organized Blackmail by Angela Agranoff Page B

quickly. Before he died, he had made Sophia promise him that she would fulfill their dream of moving to Piney Woods to live in their cabin. Sophia promised.
     
    “Well,” Sophia said drawing in a deep breath. “It’s spring outside. The birds are chirping, the flowers are growing, and the mountain is alive. I waited the winter through, but now I must go out into the garage and work through the boxes. I’ll take photos of what I can part with, and I’ll make decisions of how I can donate or sell.” Sophia and Patrick never had children, which meant that she didn’t have anyone to pass her husband’s memories to.
     
    The phone hanging next to the stainless steel refrigerator startled Sophia, as she was deep in thought. “That’s probably for me,” Sophia forced herself to smile and winked at her cats. Walking away from the sink Sophia answered the phone.
     
    “Hello?”
     
    “Sophia, dear, I’m so relieved that you’re home. On such a beautiful day like the one we’re having I was sure you would be outside, perhaps taking a hike,” Eleanor Beaman’s old, yet intelligent, voice spoke.
     
    “No,” Sophia leaned against the kitchen wall while tucking the phone into her right ear. Looking at the sliding glass windows she noticed the squirrel had wandered off. “I was tempted to have a picnic with some delicious food I prepared earlier, but decided against the idea. I have some work to do here at home.”
     
    “Oh,” Eleanor said in a disappointed tone. “You are unavailable then?”
     
    Sophia’s ear perked up. Some people retired after twenty years of work. Sophia did not. After Patrick’s death she had temporarily taken a leave of absence from her work politely turning down offers from new and old clients. The old clients understood, the new seemed insulted and unable to understand a woman needed time to mourn for her husband. But lately, Sophia felt she was prepared to return back to her work. “Oh, no,” she told Eleanor in a calm voice, “I’m…well, I have some boxes to go through.”
     
    “Dear,” Eleanor spoke carefully, “I know you have been missing Patrick. But I thought last winter you said that come spring you would return back to work. And I want to be your very first customer.”
     
    “I…yes, I would like that very much,” Sophia smiled.
     
    “It is wonderful to hear you say that. You are aware that the Piney Woods Annual Book sale is approaching.”
     
    “Yes. In…two weeks I believe,” Sophia spoke.
     
    “Yes. I was hoping, dear, that you could help me go through some items, organize, and arrange them. Some items will be for the book sale…others…will not.”
     
    Eleanor’s tone caused Sophia to pay more attention to her words. They had met through a local book club and Sophia found the Eleanor charming, honest, sincere, and caring. Even though Sophia eventually left the book club, her friendship with Eleanor grew. “Other items?” Sophia carefully asked.
     
    “Dear, there are certain areas in my home that need my attention. With the book sale approaching, I decided that I am ready to go through the books in my library so others can enjoy what I have no more use for.  I have hundreds of books in my large library, and I remember you telling me how you love to organize books! I’ve known you for two years and I have seen your portfolio. I need a professional and a friend to help me.”
     
    “You know I’m both of those things,” Sophia promised Eleanor.
     
    “I know dear. This is why I must ask you to keep your hired services…quiet. The Annual State Women’s Garden Club is being held at my home beginning next week. I don’t…dear, I need you to be a whisper in the hallways…unseen and unheard.”
    “Eleanor, this seems very strange,” Sophia spoke with caution. “It’s not like you to—“
     
    Eleanor politely, but firmly, interrupted. “Sophia, I am hiring you for your professional abilities, but also as a confidant. As my friend, I