“Ha-ha.” I pressed a smile to my face and stopped a foot or two from the counter. I steeled myself to continue on. I believed this was the man who killed Mike Rodriguez and Merriam Byers, and I’ll be honest, my heart was pounding pretty hard. “No, I came to see if you heard about Beth’s book event.”
“The mysterious unveiling? Oh, yes. I’ll be there.”
“Any idea what it’s about?”
Greg shrugged. “Can’t say. The Master of Horror and Macabre, though. Sounds like you know who.”
“I heard you were one of the bidders for the estate sale that I won.”
Greg was quiet for a beat, and I wish I had been closer so I could better read his expression. “I bet you heard that from your detective buddy, huh?”
“I’m not sure why you think I have a friend among the police on this case.”
“I know you do. Max was telling us,” Greg said.
Note to self: kill Max.
“I’m sure he’s mistaken.”
“What do you really want? I know you don’t like me, Sebastian, so I highly doubt it was to invite me to Beth’s event if I hadn’t already heard about it.”
“How did you know that it was Detective Winter who found me when I was attacked?” I asked. The fact that he had that knowledge had been bothering me.
“The newspapers say a detective on the case arrived before uniformed officers. I’m assuming it was him since he’s appeared to be the lead on the investigation,” Greg replied.
“I know why you did it,” I stated abruptly.
Greg slowly stood from the stool behind the counter. “Did what?”
“Reported the bogus phone call. No one had figured out this was regardingTamerlane, so you showed your hand to see who would scare first. Whoever did would be the one with the book, right?”
Greg took a step around the counter.
“Except that didn’t work either. It just made you suspicious.”
“You think I reported a fake threat?” Greg asked slowly.
“I know you did. You’re hard up for cash and a good reputation.”
“Excuse me?”
“How often does your store have no customers in it?” I asked. “Having that book would give you prestige, not to mention half a million dollars.”
“What are you fucking talking about?” Greg asked defensively. “I don’t even know what the hellTamerlaneis, just that some psycho called me screaming about it!”
“Tamerlane and Other Poems, by Edgar Allan Poe. His first publication—one of the most priceless books in American literature today!”
My customers had said Greg wasn’t as knowledgeable.
I don’t even know what the hellTamerlaneis.
“Shit,” I whispered.
How many revelations were considered too many in the course of two days? I felt sick to my stomach.
Greg must have noticed. “Are you okay?” he asked hesitantly.
“What? Yes. No. Yes.”
