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Mondays were now a standard date night for them, especially since Rarity worked late on Tuesday nights, and weekends could be iffy based on their schedules. She pulled the books closer. “I’llsee you then.”
After Archer left, Josh handed her his credit card. “Well, I figured it was a long shot.”
“Finding a specific book?” Rarity looked up athim, confused.
He laughed as he picked up a pen to sign the charge slip. “No, me hoping that you weren’t seeing anyone. I was trying to get up the nerve to askyou to dinner.”
“Yeah, sorry, I’m involved.” She put the books into a bag. “But thanks for stopping in. I hope you come by next time you’re in town. Or if you run out of reading material.”
“Definitely. I like this town. Maybe I’ll have to check into moving here. I hate the snowy New Jersey winters.” He took the bag.
“Our winters are the best part of Sedona. Lots of hiking around here. Archer, my boyfriend, he runs a hiking tour company, if you have some spare time.” She handed him one of the bookmarks she had with the list of Archer’s favorite hiking books. She had several different partnerships with local businesses for bookmarks, and she rotated them into purchases based on people’s interests. Or at least what she could guess. “Have a great day.”
He took the bookmark and tucked it into the bag, then left the shop. Killer had gotten up from his nap by the fireplace, probably when Archer had come in. He now stood by the walkway, watching the door close after Josh.
“Hey, buddy, do you need to go out?” When he barked, she grabbed his leash, and putting a sign on the counter saying she’d be right back, she grabbed the register key, and they went out the back door to the alley where the sun hadn’t heated up the asphalt. Killer had a fake grass pad out there too, and he quickly smelled the area and did his business. After cleaning up, they went back inside, and Rarity locked the back door again. She washed her hands, then got out one of Annie’s peanut butter treats from the fridge. As she was giving it to Killer, she heard the bell go off on the front door. “I’llbe right out.”
Killer got there first and headed straight for his bed to enjoy his treat. Rarity looked around the area, but no one was standing in the entryway or by the register. Nothing looked out of place. She hurried and scanned the bookshelf aisles, but there was no one there. Then she went to the front door and stepped out, the bell ringing behind her. People were walking on the sidewalk past the businesses. Some stopped at the walkway to Madam Zelda’s fortune-telling shop, pointing and talking. But no one seemed to be focusing onthe bookstore.
She turned toward Sam’s crystal shop, but she didn’t see her friend in the windows or out front. Finally, still confused, she went back into the bookstore and looked up at the bell as she shut the door.It rang again.
She had heard the bell ring out front. She knew it. So why wasn’t anyone there?
Chapter 5
Killer was doing his host rounds just before the Tuesday night club was to start. He went to greet the regulars, getting loves and pets from each of them, then he would go and sit in front of anyone new. Rarity was amazed at how the dog always knew just the right pose to make the newcomer notice him, and she was sure he was assessing their dog affection as he watched. Then, if they returned the next week, they went into the rotation. If anyone missed a week, Killer didn’t greet them with the others.
Her dog was brutalon attendance.
He always stopped at Shirley last, and as soon as she gave him a treat, he’d go back to his bed to watch the meeting. Rarity sent up a thought to Martha, Killer’s first owner, about how much Rarity loved this little guy. She thought if Martha was listening, she’d be proud of her dog and his ability to make people feel welcome. Or maybe not. Martha hadn’t been much of a people person the one time Rarity had met her.
By the time the meeting was to start, only four members had shown up. Holly, Malia, Shirley, and Sam. The sleuthers’ club subsection. The other four women who loved the club, but not sleuthing, had stopped by earlier that day to pick up the book they’d be reading for the next two weeks and had told her how sorry they were about Janey, even though they’d only met her the one time.
Rarity knew they didn’t like being part of the mystery solving, so they’d probably assumed that unless Janey’s death was ruled an accident or suicide, the Tuesday night group was going to be trying to solve it. Rarity didn’t hold it against the four. They all were women with families still at home. The book club outings were just a way for them to talk to people besides their kids.
The door opened, and Rarity glanced up, expecting to see a customer. Instead, Jonathon Anderson, Drew’s father and a retired NYC police officer, strolled into the store. He waved at the club members as he walked by and then met Rarity at the counter. He gave her a hug. “I bet you didn’t expect me tonight.”
“Actually, no, this is a surprise. Drew didn’t say anything about you and Edith coming to visit.” She really liked Drew’s parents. She patted his arms. “You’re just in timefor book club.”
“I know. I figure you could use some of my specific skills this week. Let me buy the last book and the next one so I’ll have some reading material when I head back to Drew’s. Edith stayed home this trip.” He walked over and picked up the books from a display Rarity had set up by the register. “These are great. I haven’t read either one.”
Rarity took the books and rang them up. “They’re a little out of your typical reading genres. One’s a women’s fiction, and one’s a domestic suspense. Edith will probably steal them from you when you get back home. How’s that grandbaby?”
“She’s growing like a weed. Edith’s always out buying her new clothes. Someday, Drew should have a kid. That way he’ll get some of the inheritance money that Edith’s bound and determined to spend on onesies and fancy strollers.” He gave her his credit card. “I was sorry to hear about your employee. Drew’s been busy since I arrived, and we haven’t really talked, but I hear she was a very nice young woman.”
“Janey was special. I didn’t know her well, but I liked her. And I thought she was going to be great with the new book clubs for kids. Shirley’s taking them over for a while until she decides if she wants to continue.” Rarity blinked back tears. It didn’t seem like she’d known Janey well enough to cry at the thought of her death, but it was the loss of all that potential amazing life she’d had cut short that made Rarity sad. She finished the transaction and handed Jonathon’s credit card back to him. He had a backpack on his shoulder. “Do you want a bag?”
“Nope, they can fit in here. I’ll go over and get some coffee so we can get started.” Jonathon squeezed Rarity’s hand. “Let’s do coffee this week. I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, so whenever you can fit an old man into your busy schedule, I’llmake it work.”
“Tomorrow, seven thirty at Annie’s?”
He grinned. “I’ll be there with bells on. I’ll have to get up early anyway if I want to see Drew before he heads to the station. You know how he gets during aninvestigation.”
As she moved the book club sign into the walkway for any random customers, Jonathon made his way into the group for hugs and hellos, coffee, and a plate full of Shirley’s cookies. Killer came up to greet Jonathon after he’d sat down, and Rarity got out the list that Shirley, Holly, and Malia had helped make on Sunday after they’d found out aboutJaney’s death.
“I guess we’re ready to start. The rest of the book club members came in today to get the new book and to wish the sleuthers good luck in our new investigation. I’m afraid our secret mission for the club isn’t much of a secret anymore. But before Drew can shut us down, he’ll have to deal with his father, Jonathon, who is our true secret weapon.” Rarity smiled at Jonathon. “Thanks for coming up from Tucson to help out.”
“If you talk to Drew, I’m just here to see some old friends. Of course, he’ll call it meddling, but let’s just try to keep our activities out of the official range of interfering-with-an-investigation area, and we should be fine.” He smiled at everyone. “I’m very glad to seeyou all again.”
