“I’ve always had bad timing.” He nodded. “Have a good day, and thank you for this, I think.”

  “I’d say let me know what you find out, but then I’d get the lecture about staying out of your investigation. I’ll pass your note to Sam.” She smiled and left the office, waving at the receptionist as she walked through the lobby and out onto the street. That hadn’t been as bad as she’d thought, except the fact he’d asked her for coffee. She liked Drew as a friend, but he didn’t push the bells for her. Now, Archer, if he’d asked, then maybe. But she might just be imagining any interest on his part. He might just be drumming up business for his hiking company. She decided her best option was to forget about all men and hurry to the bookstore to open. She needed to be there in case she had customers today. A girl could only hope.

  Later that day, the front door blew open, and Madame Zelda stormed inside. “I can’t believe you called the cops on me.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Rarity lied as she glanced around the bookstore. Thankfully the last shopper must have just left. “Why would I call the cops?”

  “You were at the police station this morning. I saw you when I was running. And then I get a visit from Anderson? Why on earth would you think I killed Martha?” Madame Zelda pounded the counter with a finger. “I was the one who told her to come to your stupid book club. Maybe one of you guys killed her.”

  “And any of us in the book club would have motive, how?” Rarity shot back.

  “Did you even talk to her? Martha was the meanest woman I’ve ever met. She thought everyone was out to get her and wanted her money. Of course, she didn’t have much, but she thought she was loaded. I agreed to read her weekly to try to bring some positivity into her life. And then she actually started dating and bought that dog of yours. I might not have been a good friend all our lives, but I was her only friend.” Madame Zelda paused and looked around, then sat down on the bench by the counter. “Look, I’m sorry I came busting in here. I just assumed you’d talked to Anderson.”

  “You’re right, I did.” Rarity let that sink in for a minute. “So, if you didn’t kill her, who did?”

  Madame Zelda stared at her for a full minute. Then she shook her head. “I have no idea. Anderson asked where I’d been Thursday night after eight, which must have been when she died. I had an alibi. And no, I wasn’t with Kelly O’Reilly. I had a date with a different man. Anyway, all I can think about was that she was so happy she had kicked cancer’s butt a second time.”

  “Wait, what do you mean, a ‘second time’?” Rarity thought about Martha’s reaction at the book club.

  “She’d gone to a new oncologist, and he found a second lump in her breast. She was doing some new type of experimental treatment. She didn’t lose her hair or anything. Just took a pill in the morning and at night. She’d just found out her last set of scans were clear a few weeks ago.” Madame Zelda sighed. “It’s sad to beat cancer twice and then get killed for no reason at all.”

  Rarity didn’t believe Martha’s death was random or motiveless, but she didn’t say that to Madame Zelda. “I guess that’s why she was so touchy about her cancer history at the meeting. All she wanted to do was talk about the books, not what brought us together.”

  “Well, yes, and no. Like I said, Martha was like that. Prickly. I used to call her ‘Cactus’ when we were in school. It didn’t matter what you said, she’d take offense.” Madame Zelda smiled at the memory. “I’d better get back to the shop. I have readings this afternoon. Thanks for trying to find out who killed Martha. I appreciate it, even if your aim was off-target this time.”

  “Thanks for coming in to talk. Now I know more.” Rarity walked her to the doorway, where Madame Zelda stopped to look back at Killer, who was sitting by the counter, watching them.

  “She would have loved you taking care of Killer. She adored that dog.” Madame Zelda left the store and hurried over to her own, not looking back.

  Rarity closed the door and looked back at Killer. “Well, I guess I need to update our murder book for the next meeting. We get to cross off one suspect. The problem is, we don’t have another. Yet.”

  Sam called that night after dinner, and Rarity told her all the juicy gossip about Madame Zelda. “So then she told me that Killer had a good home with me. Or something like that.”

  “Wow, I miss all the fun. I can’t believe she just ran into your shop and yelled at you for ratting her out.” Sam giggled. “I’m so glad I didn’t go to the station this morning.”

  “Brat. Anyway, she has an alibi for the time and date of Martha’s death. Which was Thursday after eight, by the way.” Rarity rolled back her shoulders. They were aching from unpacking books most of the day. “Maybe I should have opened a store that sold something soft and light. Like a candy store.”

  “We already have one. And besides, you love books.” Sam yawned loud enough that Rarity heard it over the phone.

  “You better go. Are we still on for Saturday morning?” Rarity pulled out her calendar. She’d called and made their reservations that morning before she’d chickened out, like Sam had earlier. Except Archer hadn’t been the one to take her reservation. It had been a woman who’d answered the phone. Rarity tried not to read anything into that. The woman might just work for him, but it had put a bad taste in her mouth anyway. Especially after her mental gymnastics when Drew had asked her out.

  “I’ll be there with bells on,” Sam responded.

  It was after she ended the call that Rarity realized she hadn’t told Sam to call Drew about coffee. She’d call back now, but Sam was obviously tired. If Rarity told her now, Sam wouldn’t get to sleep. She’d stop by Sam’s crystal store tomorrow.

  * * * *

  Friday morning, Rarity decided to take a swim before going in to the store. Killer sat in the water on the top stair, watching her swim. When she finished her laps, she sat next to him and held him out into the water away from her. He dog-paddled to the step again. She repeated it a few times until she was certain that if he fell in, he could get back out. She didn’t let him outside by the pool unless she was with him. But you never knew.

  She got dressed, and they headed to the bookstore. There were never any neighbors out when she walked to or from work. She wouldn’t even know the houses around her were inhabited, except the music and lights that went off after dark. She hadn’t known her neighbors in St. Louis either. But at least she’d seen them out and about.

  She walked by the bookstore and went into Sam’s crystal shop. The bell rang over the door, and she heard Sam’s voice coming out of the back.

  “Sorry, we’re not quite open. Come back in an hour.”

  Rarity called out, “Sam, it’s me, Rarity.”

  Sam popped her head out from behind a curtain that covered a doorway. “Sorry, I thought you were a customer. Come on back, if you don’t mind the dust.”

  “Are you cutting rocks?” Rarity hadn’t been in Sam’s studio before.

  “Polishing.” She pointed to the table. “I’ve got to get necklaces made out of all that by the first of the week. We’re supposed to have a convention coming into the hotel on Wednesday, and I want to have plenty of stock available.”

  “What kind of convention?” Rarity picked up a black stone and felt its cool, smooth surface.

  “Medical. Either equipment or doctors, but the last time one of these came to town, I sold out of everything. Bored doctor wives have the money to buy nice souvenirs.” She pointed to the stone in Rarity’s hand. “I’m not surprised you were drawn to that one. It’s Shungite, known for its healing properties as well as for cleaning and aligning your molecules. You always pick just the right stone for what you need.”

  “I just picked it up, you don’t have to give it to me.” Rarity tried to return it to the table, but Sam wrapped Rarity’s fingers around the stone.

  “It’s yours. It called to you for a reason. Why else would you be here in my shop this morning?”

  “Honestly, I came to tell you that Drew said if you wanted to get coffee without the parents, he’d be willing. So now I’m out of it, and you two can make your own love connection.” Rarity put the stone in her jeans pocket. It was pretty and somehow, keeping it felt right.

  “He did? I really thought he was more interested in you.” Sam let the statement hang in the air.

  Finally, Rarity caved. “Fine, he asked if I was dating anyone, but I told him no, I was taking a break.”

  “So, I’m his second choice?” Sam picked up a stone and started to clean it with one of her cloths. “If I wasn’t so desperate just to have someone to hang out with, I might be offended.”

  “Drew’s a good guy. And he was already planning on calling you for coffee. Don’t go there if you’re not serious.” Rarity nodded to the clock. “I’d better go and open the shop. I’ll see you tomorrow morning?”

  “I hear you. I won’t break the guy’s heart. Anyway, I’ll have the coffee ready and waiting.” Sam walked with her toward the door. “Look, it must be all this talk about dating, but I’ve been thinking about this Kelly guy we found in Martha’s planner. If he was seeing both Madame Zelda and Martha, maybe he’s the killer? Maybe he didn’t plan for either of them to find out. And he might not have known they knew each other. It could be that Martha found out, and they got into a fight about his being with both women?”

  “Not my case to solve. I did my citizenly duty and pointed Drew to Madame Zelda. It will only take one or two more dead ends for him to think I’m a kook.” She paused at the door. “I don’t think this will stop our group from investigating more, though, do you?”

  “Great idea. I’ll call Holly and see if she’s around. She’s good at this puzzle-solving thing. And it’s nice having another friend in the area.” Sam looked back at her workshop and sighed. “I’m not sure why I’m wasting my time thinking about Martha’s death when I need to be focused on creating more stock. Too many things roaming around in my head.”

  “My counselor said that balance is all about being fully present in whatever you do. So when you’re at work, you focus on work, and when you’re home, you focus there.” Rarity glanced outside, where the sun was already heating the air. “I’m not sure it works that way.”

  “It doesn’t for me. I’m always worried about something that I can’t do anything about. That’s why I make lists. It helps me remember what I need to get done.” Sam rubbed Killer’s head. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning. And if I hear anything else about our new suspect, I’ll let you know.”

  “Thanks.” Rarity hurried to the sidewalk and then to her bookstore, opening the door, but then setting Killer down in the shade outside. She had a patch of rocks where normally she’d have a small yard. He ran over and watered his favorite rock. Every morning and whenever she let him out, it was the same place, same rock. When he was done, Killer hurried inside and ran to his water bowl to refill. “You’re just a pile of trouble, little man, aren’t you?”

  Killer ignored her and went to his bed, where he found the bone he’d been chewing on yesterday. Another day had begun.

  Rarity kind of felt sorry for Kelly O’Reilly if he didn’t kill Martha. If he did, she was certain that the powerhouse team of Sam and Holly was going to find out how, where, and why, and have him locked up before he could say it wasn’t me.

  Chapter 11

  Rarity sat drinking coffee and talking to Sam the next morning. They were early for the hike, but there were a lot more people milling about today than the last time they’d taken a tour. “Is weekend traffic always this much better than during the week?”

  Sam yawned and nodded. “Yes, but it depends. Next week is that conference at the convention center, so a lot of these people are probably here early for the conference.”

  “That makes sense. Did you talk to Holly?”

  “She had to work, so we met up about ten at the Garnet. I stayed up way too late to be hiking this morning.” Sam grinned and sipped her coffee. “But Holly’s going to see what she can find with an internet search on our Casanova and see if there’s any fire to the smoke.”

  “I just don’t see any other motive for Martha’s death.”

  A woman sat down next to her, fanning herself. “I swear if we don’t get this thing going, I’m going back to the hotel and ordering room service for the next week. I can watch television without anyone trying to steal the remote from me.”

  “Sounds like a plan, but you’d miss all the beautiful sights the town offers.” Rarity tried to add encouragement. Maybe the woman was a reader, and she could mention her store. “I’m not often out either, and this is my second hike with the company. I loved the first one.”

  “Honey, you’re a lot skinnier and younger than I am.” The woman smiled as she fanned herself. She held out a match to the fan she held in her hand. “Here, take a fan. One of the doctors from the convention was handing them out like candy last night at the reception. You’d think he’d save his marketing dollars for those who could send people his way, not a bunch of doctors.”

  Rarity took it and snapped it open. The sound of it made her smile—it felt like a real Japanese fan. “Thank you. This is really high quality.”

  “Yeah, the guy said he had thousands made. He would have been better off by getting a real medical degree than just getting a PA degree. Now he’s trying to convince medical doctors that he can cure cancer? I may not have a medical degree, but I can smell a rat a mile away.” The woman saw Ender pull his bus up to the curb and stood up. “Being a doctors wife means you get the 411 on all the new advancements as well as the fake cures.”

  Rarity had to smile, the woman was funny. “You sound like you didn’t like this guy.”

  “I didn’t. Not one bit. Of course my husband thinks I’m overreacting, but seriously, he’s trouble. I thought snake oil salesmen died out with the Great Depression, but instead, they’re alive and well and scamming our elderly population in Arizona.” She waved. “I’ll see you on the trail.”

  “Well, aren’t you just making friends.” Sam joined her and leaned forward to read the fan. “Donald Conrad, ‘medical specialist in cutting-edge cancer recovery treatments.’ Well, at least he’s not claiming to be a doctor. I hear that’s kind of a no-no.”

  Rarity held the fan down. “Yeah, but it does feel kind of scammy, doesn’t it? I’ve heard there are all kinds of people out there trying to say they know the cure for cancer. No chemo, no surgery, no pills, just use this lotion or do yoga. And of course, think positive.”

  “Come on, folks, let’s get moving. The bus will leave in five minutes, so if you’re not on it, there’s no refunds,” Archer called from the steps of the bus. He met Rarity’s gaze and smiled. Then he disappeared back inside the bus.

  “Well, I guess that’s our cue.” Sam took the fan and threw it in the trash. “You don’t need that. You’ve paid your dues.”

  Rarity followed Sam to the bus, but she turned once to stare at the trash can where Sam had thrown the fan. What was bothering her about the guy? The fact that he was playing on other people’s fears? Or was it more?

  “Rarity? Are you okay?” Sam asked from the bus stairs.

  She hadn’t noticed that she’d stopped walking while she tried to ferret out the connection. She shook her head and hurried to catch up. “I’m fine. Just woolgathering I guess.”

  Just like the last hike, the next few hours were filled with beauty and a good workout. Sam and Rarity were sipping water at the halfway point when Archer joined them. “Are you enjoying the hike?”

  “It’s so beautiful here.” Rarity glanced around the small area where they’d stopped. “I can’t believe any place on earth looks like this.”

  “It started as a cattle trail, then was upgraded to a wagon trail. Lots of history in this one spot.” He squatted down and picked up dust from the trail. “Who knows whose boots have walked here before?”

  “You like history?” Rarity asked.

  “I love it. I was a history minor in college, but I knew I couldn’t make any money as a high school teacher. And I didn’t want to stay in school long enough to get my master’s. But I still write articles now and then. It’s fun.” He stood and kicked at a rock in the trail. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  “Yes, we are.” She stepped toward Sam, who was watching the two of them chatter. “This is my friend I told you about. Sam, this is Archer Ender.”

  “You run the gem shop.” He held out a hand to shake. “I’ve bought some things to give as gifts there. Your work is very popular in my family.”

  “That’s nice to hear, and thank you for your support.” She shook his hand. “I love living here in Sedona. It always feels just a little different, even if you’ve been on the same trail before.”

  “I’m not sure I could live anywhere else.” He looked at his watch and then to his assistant. “Time to get this group heading back. I bet you two need to open your stores soon.”

  “I’m hoping for a strong weekend, so yes, I guess I’d better get moving.” She glanced around the area one more time. “But it is breathtaking. I hate to leave.”

  “Then you’ll just have to come back again.” He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. “Did those books come in yet?”

  “I’ve got them stocked and a sign on the counter saying, Ask me about trail books.” She took the paper. “What’s this?”

  He nodded. “I’m giving one to everyone as they leave the bus. It’s a map to your store and a list of the hiking books you have for sale. I wanted to wait until I saw you to make sure the books came in. Hopefully this will help steer some business your way.”

  Sam glanced over at the paper after he left. “That’s a nice promotion. I wish I had a trail rock available.”