“A lot of things have been going through my mind today, but no, I didn’t see that one coming.” She nodded, thinking out Jonathon’s suspiciously fast arrival. “I have to admit, you may be right. We’ll see what clues he brings us, and if it looks like he’s playing double agent, I’ll talk to him. I don’t think he’d lie if we confronted him and it was true.”
Sam took another bite of her sandwich. “I have to agree; he wouldn’t lie to us. Or I don’t think he would. It’s hard to tell sometimes.”
Rarity wondered if Sam was thinking about her brother and his declarations about not killing Janey, but she’d let her friend deal with the truth once they found it. “So can you get away for a long lunch on Friday? Janey’s funeral is in Flagstaff at eleven, and I’m going. I’d like to have a few of our book club regulars there too.”
“You want people to watch the mourners for something off?” Sam asked.
Rarity thought about her question. “Actually, yes, but no. I just think Janey deserves to have some people from her life here in Sedona at the funeral. I guess her sister is a pill. And I want to talk to her best friend again.”
“Wait, you talked to her best friend? What did she say?” Sam set the sandwich down on the wrapper. Killer moved closer to the table. She gave him another French fry. “Go on, spill.”
Rarity told Sam about the conversation and what Cara had said about Janey’s feelings for Marcus. And about the dog.
Sam narrowed her eyes. “You’re not thinking about adopting him, are you?”
Rarity laughed. “I’ll admit I thought about it when I found out Janey had a dog. But Cara said she was keeping him. I just didn’t want him going back to a shelter because his person had died. He’s older, from what I could surmise from my conversation. Senior dogs aren’t the first to be adopted. Besides, Killer wouldn’t like it.”
“True. Your guy here is pretty spoiled. I’m not sure how he’d take another dog in his realm.” Sam gave Killer a third fry. This time, he took it to his bed. “I think he’s done.”
“He saves treats for later.” Rarity watched as Killer circled, then lay down. “He’s full, and it’s time to sleep.”
“If only our lives were as simple. Eat, sleep, poop, then repeat.” Sam rolled her shoulders. “No worries. Your food arrives when you want it. And you have a dedicated servant who will rub your tummy anytime you want.”
“Drew would rub your tummy. I’m already committed to Killer.” Rarity liked seeing Sam smile. During the last few minutes, her friend had seemed more like herself. She decided to ask Sam about the building. “Do you know what this space was before I bought the building?”
“A café. It didn’t last long. I don’t think the owner realized what he was getting himself into. Running a restaurant is hard work. This guy wasn’t even a chef. He was out of the navy and decided he wanted a barbeque spot here. The problem was that the food wasn’t great.” Sam held up the sandwich. “Not like the Garnet, or even Carole’s. So the restaurant went out just as fast as it came into town. Before that, the building held some sort of gift shop. Cheap stuff. T-shirts and stuff. And before that, there were offices here. A lawyer, if I remember right. Maybe an accountant. Why are you asking?”
Rarity wondered what Sam would think of her bookstore link between all the latest murder victims. Probably that she was reaching for a connection. Besides, it couldn’t be the building’s fault. She was also a common denominator between the three murders, and she knew she didn’t do it. “Just curious.”
Later, Shirley arrived fifteen minutes early, and she’d brought cute cookies made into flowers. “Should I set up coffee and lemonade?”
“And ice water. We’ll see what they like and adjust next week.” Rarity had pulled out the boxes holding the weekly book order, which would give her something to do while Shirley was running the book club. That way, if Shirley needed help, Rarity would be close by. They got set up with copies of this week’s book at the counter as well as next week’s. Janey had done a great job setting up the orders and the process. Rarity felt a twinge of sadness as Shirley added a few chairs to the club area along with napkins and wipes nearby.
Women started coming in at two thirty. Most bought both books before the reading as well as a couple from the shelves for “mommy.” Shirley held court over by the fireplace, cooing at the children, talking about her own grandchildren and showing pictures.
The last woman in line to purchase books smiled at Rarity. “Shirley goes to my church. You should have heard her talking about today’s event. She even got up to the front during announcements and called out for new moms to come by today. She’s an amazing marketer.”
Rarity watched as Shirley called out a three-minute countdown to start the program. She handed the woman her credit card. She glanced at the name. “Thanks, Vivian. I know I couldn’t have pulled this off without her. It’s been a little disjointed around here.”
“Viv, please. I heard about the young woman who was killed by the quarry. My husband’s an EMT. He said she’d been in the water, but someone pulled her out and posed her at the shore. I know the rumors are she committed suicide, but from what Matt said, I don’t believe it.” Viv took the books and tucked them into her stroller, which she parked by the others in the entryway.
Rarity watched as the group got started and thought about what she’d said. Then when Shirley started reading, she pulled out her murder book and added Vivian’s account. The note didn’t clear Marcus at all, but it did point to the killer being someone who knew Janey. Not just a random killing. And it totally ruled out suicide.
Rarity wondered if Jonathon had any luck in finding out how Janey was killed. But before she could go down that rabbit hole again, she closed the notebook and tucked it under the counter. Then she grabbed Killer’s leash and snapped it onto his collar. He’d moved to behind the counter as soon as the first stroller appeared. “Ready to go outside?”
He pulled toward the back door in a Yes, please, and now gesture. Rarity might not be able to speak dog language, but she tried really hard to keep up on what Killer needed. And right now, that was a short walk. She held the leash up to Shirley, and she saw her nod.
“Let’s go before we’re needed,” she told her dog.
When they got back, the group was talking about the book and what it meant. The good news about a Mommy and Me class was that it wasn’t scheduled for long. Maybe they could find someone to do a kid-friendly exercise class or age-appropriate crafts to add to the fun, but for now, it was about the book.
Shirley went around to each parent and child to say goodbye as the group disbanded. When the last mommy had left, Shirley poured herself a cup of coffee and sank into one of the chairs.