“That was what I was thinking today,” Rarity agreed. “I was doing a ‘who benefited’ brainstorm, and the idea just hit me.”
“Where are you?” Drew’s voice sounded wary.
“At the shop.”
“Alone?”
Rarity laughed. “Drew, I haven’t been alone since I was hit the other day. Your dad is here. Archer transferred me over to him as soon as we got here. Shirley’s teaching the Mommy and Me class.”
“Just don’t do anything stupid and go out back or take Killer for a walk, okay?”
“I’ve been informed that both of those items are off my list. At least if I’m alone.” She glanced through the back door into the bookstore and met Jonathon’s gaze. He’d been watching for her to come back. “Look, I’ve got to go. Let me know if you can. I think Trish isn’t off the hook until we know about the money. And maybe not even then.”
“I agree. And surprisingly enough, as a trained investigator, the idea was already on my list to explore.”
“Fine, I’m an amateur, and I’m putting my nose where it doesn’t belong. I get it.” She leaned on the doorway. She could see the back door, front door, Jonathon, and even Shirley when she stood still from this vantage point.
“I wasn’t saying that, but sometimes I think you don’t trust me.” He said something she couldn’t hear. He must have had his hand over the receiver. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. Stay safe, okay? I’ve got enough on my worry list. I don’t need you on there too.”
Chapter 16
Nothing happened to Rarity on Wednesday. She finished her day, talked to an overly excited Shirley about the next book on the list, and congratulated Jonathon on his word count for the day. Tomorrow, she’d do it all again. But Caleb would be here instead of Shirley. She smiled as Archer came into the shop. “Today was a good day,” she announced as he walked back to the counter.
“Who’s here with you?” He looked around, and then Shirley popped out of the back and headed out to the club meeting area.
“Jonathon just went home. He left during Shirley’s class and got us lunch. Then we ate, and Shirley told us all about the new moms in her group. She’s really loving this. Then she took on shelving the new books, and Jonathon went back to his project. Then he packed up and left. He had a meeting in Flagstaff.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Archer didn’t push.
Rarity wouldn’t have told him about Jonathon’s project or what meeting he was going to anyway. But he didn’t even ask.
Shirley packed up her tote bag. “I can’t believe it’s so late already. I’ve got to run and see George and tell him all about today. He’s going to be amazed at all the stuff I’m learning.”
Rarity and Archer watched as she headed to the door. “I’ll see you Saturday morning.”
“If not before,” Shirley called back, and then she was gone.
The bookstore was quiet, and Rarity let out a breath. “That woman is a ball of energy. She sucks all the energy from the room, then shoots it back out at people, covered in pink and red donut sprinkles. She lights up the entire store when she’s here. The moms love her. She holds court for at least an hour after the session is done. And several of the moms tell me how much they’re learning about raising a baby when they buy the next book.”
“The job has been good for her and the community.” Archer reached down to rub Killer’s head.
Rarity was closing up the register as she talked. “This energy wouldn’t be happening if Janey was running the group. She didn’t have the experience that Shirley has. One woman told me it was like having her mom around to ask questions. I guess her parents had died a few years ago. Everyone loves Shirley.”
“As it should be. The woman’s amazing. And this is with her worrying about George all the time. I think this job is helping her as much as she is helping others. She needed this, Rarity. Thank you.”
“I should have thought of it sooner,” Rarity admitted. She clicked Killer’s leash on and handed it to Archer. “Hold him while I check the back door. I didn’t go out, but you never know. Jonathon or Shirley might have taken Killer out.”
He reached down and picked up the little dog. “Just hurry. I’m starving, and I want to make fresh French fries to go with the grilled burgers tonight.”
“I’m hurrying because that sounds awesome.” She went to the back room, then hurried over to the door. She checked the lock, then tried the door. All solid. As she was leaving, she saw something out of the corner of her eye. A face plastered itself against her window, and she screamed. She took two steps backward and ran into a table.
Archer ran in, with Killer now on the floor and on his heels. “What’s wrong?”
“There was a face there.” She pointed to the window.
“Hold Killer and stay here. I’m locking the front door just in case this is a trap.” He took off from the back, and she could hear his footsteps as he ran to the front. When he got back, he had her baseball bat. She kept it behind the counter. She didn’t think she’d scare anyone away by waving it, but it felt good to have it nearby. Especially if Archer was swinging it.
No one tried to open the door while Archer was gone, but Rarity didn’t step closer to look out the window either. She’d seen too many horror movies where the arm broke through the glass or the door and pulled the victim through to the other side. Probably made up, but she wasn’t taking any chances. She had no desire to be a final girl in someone else’s story.
Archer came through the door. “Everything still all right?”
“Not sure, I didn’t play Scooby Doo.” She pointed to the outside window. “Can you see anyone in the alley?”
He leaned over and took a quick look into the alley. Then a second one. Finally, he opened the door and leaned out. “No one’s out here. They must have run when you saw them.”
Rarity went over and checked out the alley herself. She repeated, “I saw a face.”
“I believe you. I think they just ran when they saw you. Maybe it was a kid just checking out the place.” He closed the door and rechecked the lock. “Anyway, it’s clear now. Let’s go home. I’m starving.”
“Me too.” She stood from the table where she’d been leaning more than sitting. Just to be safe, she checked the lock and looked out the window to the alley before turning off the lights. She saw Archer watching her. “Sorry, I’m a little OCD on my closing process. I need to know the locks are set.”