CHAPTER 19
Mina
“I’m going to pop next door and check on the crew’s progress.” Removing my apron, I looked over my shoulder at one of my baristas. She nodded and waved me away.
It was lunchtime, which was usually a bit slow for us, since we didn’t have lunch-type food. Soon, though, all that would change.
Excitement lit in my belly as I walked into the kitchen and through the back door. All morning, I’d heard the bangs and thumps and couldn’t help but wonder what all they’d gotten done in the few hours since Luke found that earring.
When I stepped into the back room of the antique store, my eyes widened.
The wall was gone.
Well, it was down to the studs, but all the plaster was missing, and I could see through to the front.
As I gaped at the transformation, the front door opened, and Luke walked in, a to-go bag dangling from his fingers.
Smiling, I stepped through the doorway. “Hey. This looks incredible. You guys made a lot of progress.”
“We did. And no more bodies.”
I chuckled. “That’s good.” My eyes went to the bag hanging from his hand. “Forget the stew?”
His smile turned sheepish. “It’s still sitting in my fridge. I slept well, but I also slept like the dead and turned off my first alarm, then hit snooze on the second, not realizing it was the second. So, I was running late and dashed out the door without it. By the time I remembered, it wasn’t worth turning back. I’ll eat it this evening or tomorrow.”
“So, what did you get?” I hooked a finger over the edge of the sack and peered inside.
“A burger and fries. Did you eat?” He reached for an empty bucket and flipped it over, patting the top, indicating I should sit.
I perched on it and answered as he turned over another and sat beside me.
“I have food next door. I’ll grab it when I go back.” That probably wouldn’t stop me from snatching a few of his fries, though.
Luke took the to-go container from the bag and opened it, lifting the juicy burger from the tray. “Heard some talk at the diner while I waited.” He took a bite, then fished for napkins in the sack to wipe burger juice from his mouth.
I raised a brow as I reached for a fry. “Oh? About what?”
“Walter Shuman and Rich Stevenson. A couple of older guys at the counter were talking about the case. One of them mentioned how they were surprised Walter up and sold everything. I guess the antique store wasn’t the only property he unloaded recently. Then the guy speculated that Walter and Rich were in it together and killed Moira.”
My eyes rounded. “Did he say why he thought that?”
Luke shook his head, chewing another bite and swallowing before he responded. “The other guy cut him off and told him that was dumb. He said he knew Rich back then, and the guy washead over heels in love with Moira. That was all I caught before my order was ready.”
“Hmm. That’s interesting. Sure makes you think, doesn’t it?”
He nodded.
My phone dinged from my pocket, and I took it out to look at the text. It was from Claire.
“Oh, well, that’s ironic,” I said, reading the message.
“What?” Luke glanced at me with a quick frown.
“Claire said she’s been digging deeper, and Walter’s name keeps popping up in her searches. She wants me to call her later.” I clicked the screen off and looked at Luke, feeling like we might be on to something. “Ozzie’s going to hate us, but we should probably all get together with him again soon and share what we’ve learned.”
Luke chuckled. “I think he just needs to accept that nosey busybodies are a way of life up here.”
“True,” I said with a short laugh. Small-town life meant everyone knew everything, and no one stayed out of anyone else’s business. A murder investigation wasn’t going to stop that. “So, did you ever meet Rich? I’ve seen him around town, but I don’t really know him well. He rarely comes in for coffee.”
