Worth its Weight in Old — K.D. Hays

Paintings slashed... Furniture broken… Someone is wreaking havoc at the Blue Moon Art & Antiques Gallery.

Fledgling private investigator Karen Maxwell goes undercover as a salesclerk to find out who's behind the vandalism, and why. She learns little from Vicki, a friendly clerk who seems interested only in rearranging pictures to display them -- and her designer clothes and sports car -- to maximum advantage. Eric, the shop's surly, tight-lipped porter, would run over her with a hand truck before he'd answer any questions. The guilt may even lay with the shop owners themselves, despite the fact that they're the ones who hired her.

Karen's investigation seems to be going nowhere -- just like her once-promising relationship with Brian, the handsome blacksmith who could sweep her off her feet in a minute… if he'd ever take a break from working with the church youth group. Frustration mounts as her dreams of romantic evenings turn into endless rehearsals for the church Christmas play.

If Karen can't crack the case soon, she may find herself back to being the plain, old office manager, her dreams of a career as a private investigator -- and a life with Brian -- as old and busted as the Blue Moon's vandalized antiques.