Page 15 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“List?” he said, taking the paper.

“You must find these ten hidden books, set them aside, and then give them to me at the end of the thirty days.”

“This is ridiculous,” he muttered. “Have you seen that shop? It’s a free-for-all in there.”

“It’s always been that way. The regulars love it.”

“He has regulars?”

“Second Chapter is a Pecan Corner treasure.”

Leo sat back in the chair. An old, musty bookstore filled with old, musty books was a treasure. This was nuts. Who cared about a bunch of books?

Earl did. Via too. “If everyone likes it as is, why do I have to clean it up?” Leo asked.

“Earl didn’t say.” Bennett smiled. “Number three—”

“There’s a three.” Leo slumped.

“On day thirty, you will take a quiz about Pecan Corner. Eighty percent and above is the pass rate.” He took off his glasses. “I know it all sounds strange, but your uncle was, shall I say—”

“Certifiable?”

“Unique. He wasn’t an easy man to get to know. We were friends, but I wasn’t aware he had any family until we made his will. Even then, he didn’t say much about you or Constance, other than to mention you as heirs.”

Leo’s jaw tensed.

“I was surprised he and Via were so close,” Bennett continued. “Then again, she is quite special.”

“She’s something, all right,” Leo mumbled. “Anything else?”

“No,” Bennett said affably. “Just those three easy things.”

He was starting to think Bennett was a little daft too. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I can’t put my life on hold to live here, find hidden books—”

“Don’t forget the quiz.”

“Right. A quiz. On a town. Is this a Pecan Corner thing?”

Bennett shook his head. “Just an Earl thing. And you have to get—”

“Eighty percent. Understood. Mr. Pipkin—”

“Call me Bennett.”

“I need to get back to Los Angeles. Even the couple of days I’ve wasted—”

Bennett’s eyebrows raised.

“—spentgetting here are inconvenient.”

“You can always choose to relinquish.”

Not an option. “I’ll...” He blew out a breath. “I’ll do it.”

“Excellent. Once you’ve fulfilled the terms of the will, I’ll get your signature on the documents and everything will be yours.”

Leo scanned the book list again. He wasn’t a reader, other than what he’d had to study in school and for his job. He didn’t recognize a single book.