Page 34 of Hearts at War

I wasn’t mocking the situation, but I really was at a loss. They sold basics there. Some produce was on offer, but not much.

“Ashley says they brought these cases in just a few days ago.”

“What?” I scoffed. “Cheap mood ring shit kids get at the carnival?”

“No. Stuff with natural gems and whatnot. It’s from a supplier? I dunno. If you ask me, it’s all marked up, but I guess it could cost a fair chunk of change for someone who really wanted it. Anyway. Ashley claims Nevaeh was swiping them and shoving them down her boots and shirt.”

I groaned. “I’ll be right there.”

Nevaeh was an adult, like she loved to remind me. Therefore, shouldn’t she learn her lesson about shoplifting—as an adult?

“You reap what you sow, kid,” I muttered as I headed into town.

Parked on Main was the police cruiser, and standing next to it was a glum-faced and scowling Nevaeh.

“This’ll be fun,” I groused to myself as I parked and got out.

“Your niece was stealing!” Ashley accused as soon as she saw me.

I’d never cared for the supposed sweetheart of town. She seemed too much like my ex, a spoiled daddy’s girl. It was no hardship to turn her down when I first moved here, and ever since, she remained bitter about that rejection.

Nevaeh strained to get past Marty to get in Ashley’s face. “I did not, you old bit—”

“All right,” I said, holding my hand up. “Hold on here.”

Damn, I’m starting to sound like Gavin now.

Mediating this latest Nevaeh crap was the precise sort of drama I wanted nothing to do with.

“She’s lying, Uncle Roarke.” Nevaeh glared at the convenience mart’s clerk.

“Oh, now I’m Uncle Roarke?” I shot back. She only ever slapped that title before my name when she wanted to seem young and innocent, just a kid.

Make up your mind. You wanna call yourself an adult, act like one.

“I didn’t steal anything,” she insisted.

“Hey, Roarke,” Marty said, his tone tired and annoyed. “Thanks for coming by.”

I nodded at him, acknowledging his greeting as he stood between the two of them. Already, a small crowd was gathering down the sidewalk near the coffee shop. Busybodies. Who needed them?

“Are you arresting her?” I asked the officer. It was a legitimate question because I saw no cuffs.

“Well, I don’t exactly have anything to go on to arrest her,” Marty said.

“That’s not true.” Ashley stomped closer. “I saw her.”

“No, you didn’t,” Nevaeh shouted.

Marty didn’t flinch, turning a deaf ear to them to face me. “There’s no video running in the store. And after a quick pat down, I don’t see anything on her. No jewelry.” He furrowed his brow, glancing at my niece. “Well, no new jewelry. Not the piercings.”

As much as I hated to side with Ashley, I asked, “Did you have her take her shoes off and dump them out?”

“What the fuck, Roarke?” Nevaeh yelled.

Oh, how quickly your tune changes. No more uncle, huh?

“Yes, I had her take off her boots and dump them out,” Marty replied with a shrug. “Nothing.”