With Sherry being suspect number one in the killing of Alicia Sanchez, I should have been over the moon. Instead, I was worried. Greg didn’t think she killed anyone. And if he thought someone was innocent, he would work even harder to find the person that actually had done the deed. If he didn’t find anyone before Sherry was arrested, it would haunt him.

  As I suspected, Greg was already out of the house when I woke the next morning to my alarm. I went through my morning routine, promising Emma a run when I got home, and then started up the street to the coffee shop and my early morning shift.

  I guess if I didn’t own the shop, working this shift might get boring or tedious. But I loved my commuters as well as the quiet time the early morning gave me. Of course, as the days warmed toward summer, my quiet time got shorter and shorter. Visitors who were staying at the bed-and-breakfasts in the area liked to stop at the store and get coffee and a bit of reading material before heading to the beach or to a day of sightseeing. And once they tried one of Pies on the Fly’s treats, they usually came back.

  Today, I didn’t have reading time since I was busy building snack bags for Saturday’s readathon. The back room was stuffed with boxes of books we needed to get out on the shelves as well as the makings for crafts and the snack bags. It was a good thing I didn’t have to do any bookkeeping or marketing this week. I doubted I could find my desk, let alone use it until next week when all of this stuff was gone.

  Pat Williams came into the shop just after one of my regular commuters left. From the look on her face, she’d been talking to Sherry. I waved her over to the counter where I had bags set up to fill. “Can I get you some coffee?”

  “That would be nice.” She pulled out her wallet, but I shook my head.

  “Coffee’s on me this morning.” I poured large cups for both of us and walked around to sit next to Pat. I was pretty sure I knew what she wanted to talk about. “There’s sugar and creamer on the counter over there.”

  “I take mine plain.” She took a sip. “It’s better this way. Especially when the coffee’s this good. I’ve been known to doctor up bad coffee, but that’s not something I have to worry about here.”

  I realized we were making small talk, but if that helped Pat settle, I’d accept it. “I’m glad you came in. I needed a break from the snack bag prep. We’re expecting over two hundred kids this weekend for the festival. I think my idea for a readathon was a little ambitious. Maybe I should have capped it.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine. Your shop is so open and friendly.” She smiled as she sipped her coffee. “We’re having a ‘bring in summer’ sale on anything without sleeves or above the knee. Business has been picking up. Sherry always worries during the winter, but that’s why I keep telling her we need a website. People don’t want to just go for a drive when it’s chilly outside.”

  “That sounds like a great idea. I know our sales have picked up since we set up a website. One of my staff, Deek, set it up. If you want, I could send him over. Maybe you could hire him freelance to set up your system. I’m sure it will be worth it.” I grabbed a piece of paper, but Pat stilled my hand.

  “Maybe this fall. Or once this thing with Sherry gets fixed. You know she couldn’t kill anyone, right?” Pat’s grip on my hand where she’d stopped me from writing down Deek’s number was tightening. Tears were forming in her eyes. “She’s not the nicest person, but she’s not a killer. You have to know that. You need to tell Greg.”

  I knew this was coming. “Pat, Greg does know Sherry. And he feels awful about this, but her actions are what’s putting her into trouble here. If she hadn’t verbally attacked Harper here at the council meeting and then went over to her store too… What on earth was she thinking?”

  Pat picked up a napkin and started picking at it. “I know. She feels awful about it but she was reacting. She thinks having a designer in town is going to hurt our sales. But in fact, it’s been helping. Women want choices they can afford. Especially in today’s economy.”

  “I think you’re right. Surely Sherry has an alibi for the time of Alicia’s death.” I saw the answers on Pat’s face before she even spoke.

  “She was shopping in Los Angeles, then came home alone. She’s been drinking more, and I’m pretty sure she was drunk that day too. Sherry’s been upset about Greg’s and your engagement. She doesn’t want the guy for years, until he’s happy with someone else, then she’s all heartbroken. Sometimes, I just don’t get her.” Pat dropped the napkin she’d shredded into strips onto the counter. Then she drank more coffee.

  “Pat, why are you friends with her? You seem normal. Reasonable. I’m not saying Sherry isn’t, but you two just don’t seem like a natural friendship.” I saw the jolt run through her. “I’m sorry if that’s too personal.”

  She held up a shaky hand. “I’ve been telling myself that I’m the only one questioning our friendship. I guess I didn’t know that others were as well.”

  “I should just stop talking,” I joked, but Pat didn’t smile.

  Instead, she looked sadder than she had when she walked in the door. “Sherry didn’t use to be this way. We’ve been friends since high school. She was the cheerleader, and I was the hanger-on. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be her friend. Sure, she asked for help with homework, a lot, but not everyone had my brain. I was the first female National Scholarship winner in my high school. I had my choice of colleges, but I followed Sherry to a state school. We shared a dorm room. We were on an adventure together.”

  “It’s good to have strong friends like that.” I’d been a loner in high school and college. Not wanting to let anyone get close.

  “It was, until she got rushed to the sorority. Then I was left in the dorm and she went to live with the sisterhood. Friends aren’t half as cool as sisters.” Pat shrugged and ran a finger over the lip of her coffee cup. “When I left school that year to go to one of my first choice schools, I didn’t think I’d ever see Sherry again. But as soon as I graduated, she was at my parents’ house, welcoming me home. I guess she’d flunked out first year and had been working at the mall since then.”

  “And your friendship struck up again.” I guessed the rest of the story.

  Pat nodded. “Sherry’s so proud of her sorority sisters, but no one has any time for her. They all graduated and went on to good careers or married well. I think that’s why she wanted Greg. He was cute, successful, and, in Sherry’s mind, on a fast track to someone important. She didn’t want to be stuck in a small town and married to the dullest man in town. Sorry, I know Greg isn’t dull, but Sherry didn’t know what she was throwing away. As fast as they were married, she wanted something or someone else. Her next step.”

  My heart ached for Greg. From the look on Pat’s face, she’d worried about him as well.

  “He was a stepping-stone to something or somewhere cooler. Once she married him, she wanted him to take her to the top, or she’d find the next stone. Don’t look at me that way. I know what Sherry did was bad. I told her to think about what she had. But just because she was a horrible wife doesn’t mean she’s a killer.”

  After Pat left, I thought about our conversation while continuing to stuff snack bags. When Deek came in, I let the conversation go and put the bags into the office. “Hey, you didn’t get back to me.”

  He grinned as he tucked his bag into a cubby and then went to wash up and put on the CBM apron. “Thanks for your help, but I think I found a publisher.”

  “The one Amy told me about?”

  He nodded, but then went to work on setting up the coffee station the way he liked it. “Yeah. It’s a good deal.”

  “Are you sure? Are you giving him money?”

  Now his shoulders did tense. “Not much.”

  “Deek. You know that the one rule for writers is that the money flows toward you, not toward the publisher.”

  He turned to me. “You don’t understand. Brandon has had books on the New York Times list. He’s a professional. All he’s asking for is help getting the book cover and some edits.”

  “You need to talk to a few of those authors I mentioned. Will you do that before you sign anything?”

  He ran a hand over his blond dreadlocks. “Yes. I already had this fight with my mom. She’s saying the same thing. I promise, I’ll call three different authors and tell them about my deal. I just need to hurry before Brandon goes on to the next book he was interested in. He only has so much time.”

  “Your book is so amazing. If I were a publisher, I’d be waiting months for your decision. And paying you an advance.”

  He sighed. “It really doesn’t work that way anymore. With so many houses combining, it’s hard to get a book even looked at.”

  “Which is why I gave you those names. People who owe me a favor and are knowledgeable about the book business. I just don’t want you to make a quick decision and regret it. I’m not trying to be parental here. If you choose the wrong publisher, it can cost you tons and set your career off on the wrong foot. And your story is terrific. I don’t think I’ve seen the hero’s journey done that way.”

  He smiled then, and I knew I had his attention again. “Thanks. I appreciated your notes. I hadn’t thought about combining a few characters to do the same thing.”

  “I love a good mentor character.” I waved at a customer who’d just come into the shop. “Please contact some other people and see what they say. Then you make up your own mind.”

  He nodded and went to join the customer who had just picked up one of the new releases. I heard him start his bookseller spiel. “I’ve read that, and if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller, you can’t go wrong.”

  The guy knew his books. Now we just had to get him up to speed on the publishing business so he wouldn’t hurt his own chances of being on that shelf someday. I started my shift-closing chores and made notes on where I was on the prep work for the readathon.

  I had just grabbed my tote and had said goodbye to Deek when Greg came into the store. I stepped toward him. “Hey. Do you have time for lunch?”

  “What did you say to Pat?” Greg took me by the arms and pulled me to a small alcove where the horror books were shelved.

  “To Pat? Not much. She mostly did the talking. A lot about her relationship with Sherry. And why she’s still friends with her even though she’s not a very good friend back.” I studied his face. “Why? What did she say? And better question, how did you know she came to talk to me?”

  “She said she did. She said talking to you made her realize she couldn’t let Sherry take the blame for something she’d done.” He ran his hand through his short hair. “Jill, Pat just confessed to killing Alicia.”

  Chapter 13

  “That’s crazy.” Amy repeated the exact words I’d said to Greg less than an hour ago. I’d stopped at Amy’s office to see if she could come to lunch after Greg had turned me down. He’d walked me to city hall, then gave me a quick kiss and told me he wasn’t going to be home for dinner. “There’s no way Pat could kill a mouse, let alone a person.”

  “I know. She’s saying she was protecting the business. That she was concerned Harper’s design studio would kill Vintage Duds. Yet when she came to the shop and talked to me, she said she knew it was going to help the business, not hurt it. She’s just trying to protect Sherry. Honestly, I think she believes Sherry actually killed this woman.” I searched through my salad for another piece of the crispy chicken, which was the real reason I ordered the item. I didn’t find one, but I did find an orange slice. Which was almost just as good. “Greg’s keeping her for a few hours, but if he keeps her too long, he’s going to have to release Sherry. I think he’s trying to blow holes in her statement so he can just send Pat home. This is getting crazy. I’m not even sure if he’s started looking into the husband at all. Or even Harper’s history. Maybe she has a skeleton or two in her closet that wanted her dead.”

  “Harper’s sister did look like her.” Amy looked up at me when I didn’t say anything. “I know, I’m not supposed to, but the file was on Greg’s desk and Marvin had sent me over to see if he was available for a meeting. He wasn’t in his office, so I was looking for his calendar when I found Doc Ames’s report. The picture must have been from her wedding.”

  “No wonder Greg can’t keep anything under wraps. He leaves too many folders on his desk.” I sipped my iced tea and pushed my half-eaten salad away. I was here more for the conversation than the food today. Emma and I were going running as soon as I got home. I had too much energy floating around to settle down to read. “You’re lucky it wasn’t a picture from the autopsy.”

  “Ewwhh. I didn’t even think about that. I should be more careful opening folders on Greg’s desk.” Amy pushed her basket of fries toward me. “I never have to worry about that when I snoop on your desk. Or Marvin’s. Although I did find one of those bedroom glamour photo shots of Tina one day when I was straightening things up.”

  “Okay, so now I’ve lost my appetite.” I grabbed some fries. “Just kidding. Anyway, I swear this investigation is getting crazier by the minute. First you have Harper, who doesn’t recognize her sister lying dead on her dressing room floor. Then her boyfriend just happens to be a lawyer and won’t let her talk. Then the victim is reported weeks ago on social media as missing by her overprotective husband who kind of gives me the creeps. But the police don’t take his report until just before she was found dead. And now we have Sherry and Pat getting involved in the carnival.”

  “Next you’re going to tell me that they were all part of some fashion slave workhouse scandal.” Amy leaned closer. “I saw a police bust on one of those cable stations. They had people and sewing machines shoved into this huge room like they were sardines. Made me glad I never learned to sew.”

  “Because you’d be afraid that someone would kidnap you and put you behind a sewing machine?” I dipped a fry into my leftover ranch dressing. “Not sure it works like that.”

  Amy shrugged. “Or worse, Justin would expect me to sew his loose buttons on his dress shirts. Can you believe he even asked if I owned a needle and thread? He was hoping to save some money at the dry cleaners. I told him I don’t sew.”

  “Greg handles his own uniforms. He even does most of his laundry. Of course, after I blue-dyed a couple of T-shirts when I threw them in with a new pair of jeans, I don’t think he trusts me.”

  We finished lunch and parted ways in front of Lille’s. Amy was going back into town to work, and I was heading home. But instead of going home, I hurried across the road and went to Harper’s dress shop.

  The sign in the window said that the shop was closed due to a death in the family. That was ironic. Had Harper just not looked closely at her sister on her floor, or was there another reason she didn’t want to identify her? I checked the doorknob just in case, but it was locked. I knocked a few times, hoping Harper would answer the door and I could “thank” her for the dress. Again. And if she happened to tell me something about her sister? Well, Greg couldn’t fault me for that.

  Austin called out from his sun chair in the front of his bike rental shop. “She’s not there.”

  I tried not to jump at the sound of his voice. I hadn’t seen anyone watching me. And Austin and I didn’t have the best relationship anyway. Not since he’d broken Sadie’s heart and I tried to get him arrested for his ex-wife’s murder. Or at least that’s how he saw it. “Hey, Austin, I didn’t see you there. Do you know where she is?”

  “She left with that dude that’s been hanging out here for the last week. If you ask me, he’s the one your guy should be asking questions about. He seems a little too clean cut.” Austin’s gray hair was long and pulled back into a braid. He wore cargo shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, his typical look. Austin thought anyone who wore a suit was suspicious.

  “I think he’s a lawyer.” I tried to explain the reason he might be wearing business attire.

  “Figures. I assumed either a cop or a lawyer. No one else would wear that monkey suit on a normal day.” He leaned back to enjoy the sun. “The man is always out to get you.”

  Since his eyes were covered by sunglasses, I couldn’t tell if he’d closed them or not, but I figured it was his way of telling me that our conversation was over.

  I crossed back over the street and hoped I wouldn’t be stopped before I got home. I hadn’t learned anything new about Alicia’s death today, but I didn’t want anything to interfere with my run with Emma today. And if someone said something important, I’d have to let Greg know, and he might change his mind about it being safe for me to run.

  Austin’s words hung with me, and the more I thought about it as Emma and I ran on the beach, the more I thought he might be right. I needed to talk to Harper. Maybe she’d tell me what was going on with her sister if I came about it from the protection angle. This husband seemed like the type to not take kindly to a wife just up and leaving. Or maybe I was just reading too many mysteries lately.

  I was surprised to see Greg’s truck in the driveway when I got back from the beach. He leaned over from his place by the stove and gave me a kiss. “I was about to turn this off and come and find you. But I knew you had Emma so nothing could happen.”

  I watched as he leaned down and hugged my—I mean, our—dog as well. “I had lunch with Amy after work.”

  “She told me. Amy also said she saw you going over to Harper’s shop.”

  Busted. I took a spoon out of the drawer and tasted the spaghetti sauce he was stirring. “Harper wasn’t there. Austin said she and the dude took off earlier. He doesn’t like Harper’s boyfriend.”

  Greg snorted. “Austin doesn’t like anyone with a real job.”

  “Hey now, I run a business just like he does, and it’s a real job.” I dropped the spoon into the sink. “The sauce is amazing.”

  “I know. Secret family recipe.” He grinned as he checked the oven. “Garlic bread will be done soon, and we can eat before I get called back to the station. And Austin doesn’t like you, which proves my point.”