“Okay, I didn’t like him before, and this just moves the needle further toward the creep category. I wish we had some solid evidence to give Drew that he killed Martha. It would kill two birds with one stone.” A thought started to form as Rarity unpacked her lunch. She looked at Malia. “Do you know if his realty office is open on Mondays?”

  She shrugged. “I think so. He typically hangs out at the Garnet on weekends, so I guess he works the other times.”

  “I think I’m going to call and make an appointment for Monday morning and see if I can find out where he was when Martha died. If we can break his alibi, Drew will have to look at him again.” She unwrapped the French dip. “I love this sandwich. It’s the best one I’ve had from there.”

  “I love the avocado toast they serve at lunch.” Malia’s phone beeped. She glanced at the display. “And I have another delivery. If I’m lucky, I may be out of the building for the rest of the day.”

  After Malia left, Rarity looked up the realty phone number and made the call. “Hi, this is Rarity Cole, owner of The Next Chapter. The local bookstore? I’d like to talk to you about a marketing idea that might be good for both of our businesses. Will you be available at nine on this coming Monday? I’ll stop by then, but give me a call if you won’t be at the shop.”

  She left her cell number and hung up. She ate her lunch and then took Killer outside for a bit. When she came back inside, she wandered through the bookshelves, restocking books that had been left out and making notes of any of the bestsellers that were close to being out of copies.

  Then she went back to the counter and waited on customers to come into the shop. After an hour had passed without the door opening, she glanced over at Killer. “What do you think? Close up early? Maybe switch out our open times to mornings and evenings?”

  She wondered if her accounting system would tell her when the most sales happened. She opened her computer and started looking at reports that she could run. As she did this, the bell over the door rang. She glanced up, thinking her busyness could have brought in someone. She waved at the newcomer. “Kim, come on in. It nice to see you.”

  “Better than our last meeting, right?” Kim shut the door and hurried over to the counter, pausing to snatch a thriller that Rarity had just gotten in that week. “I don’t have a lot of time, but I needed a new book. I also wanted to follow up on our conversation about you looking for a local oncologist. Have you found someone?”

  “Not yet. I scheduled a mammogram, and the office there set me up to meet someone afterward to at least review my chart. They said if I didn’t like this one, they had more choices available.” Rarity scanned the book. “Why?”

  Kim pulled out a credit card, then replaced it and pulled out another one. Kim Hunt was printed on the card. “I just wanted to put a plug in for the practice where I work. Dr. Conrad is amazing and has a really high survival rate for his patients. That’s what you really want in a doctor who deals with cancer, am I right?”

  Rarity wrote Kim’s name in her notebook. She hadn’t written down Kim’s last name when she came to the book club. And it was hard to add people to a mailing list without a name or email address. “I don’t know. I visited the spa where Dr. Conrad works, and it just felt a little off. So you work there too?”

  “I don’t work at the spa, I work in the main offices in Flagstaff. Like I said, I’m more about scheduling his appearances and such.” She took back her credit card. “Seriously, Rarity, I’m worried about you. I want to make sure you have the best care. You should at least schedule a visit. I can set it up for you.”

  Rarity tucked the receipt into the book and handed it back to Kim. “Sorry, I’m just not into all of the New Age stuff. I want a doctor who is affiliated with one of the local cancer facilities. They have the history and experience dealing with these things.”

  “But, Rarity,” Kim started, but Rarity held up a hand.

  “No. I’m not going there. Martha went there. I know the spa didn’t kill her, but it sounded like it gave her false hope. I’m all about being positive during treatment and staying upbeat. But that place is way too woo-woo for me. Malia would probably like it. Maybe it’s my age, but I want a real doctor.”

  “Dr. Conrad is a real doctor.” Kim spun around on her heel and hurried out of the bookstore. She slammed the door after her.

  Killer stood and barked at the door as the sound woke him from his nap.

  Rarity went over and picked him up, hugging him close. “It’s okay, buddy. Kim just didn’t like what I was saying about her boss. I guess I need to learn to keep my opinions a little closer to my chest.”

  Killer licked her on the hand, and Rarity set him back down. She checked the time. Almost five. She’d been open long enough for a Saturday. At least until she figured out how to use the purchase reporting download she’d just found. But that was a project for Tuesday. She had already set up her hours for Tuesday through Saturday for the rest of the month. She’d look at the facts before making any more changes.

  She decided to lock up. It was time for the weekend and maybe even a glass of wine after the run-in she’d just had with Kim.

  Sam called on her phone right after she and Killer arrived home. “Where are you?”

  “I shut down early, why?” Rarity set Killer’s food down on the floor and picked up his water dish to rinse and refill it.

  “I was going to see if you wanted to eat dinner with me at the Garnet.”

  Rarity set the water dish down and took the phone out to the deck. “Sorry, I ate lunch there. I’m just going to grill something here and have a salad. You can come over if you want.”

  “No, I already told Holly I’d meet her there. I just didn’t want you to be alone. Everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine. I’ll tell you about my day another time. Go have fun. Tell Holly I said hi.” She ended the conversation and then looked at Killer, who’d finished eating and was out on the deck watching her. “Sam’s having dinner with Holly, and I saw Malia earlier today. We’re beginning to fit into Sedona. I have friends besides just Sam now.”

  Killer lay down, still watching her.

  “Yeah, I know, I probably lost a potential friend in Kim today. But some people just aren’t meant to fit into our social circle.” She stood up. “I’m swimming before dinner, then I think we should find a movie to watch and have some popcorn. It’s date night.”

  Killer’s ears perked up at the word popcorn. Rarity had found the little dog had an affinity for the microwaved treat a few weeks ago when she’d first gotten him.

  He made her smile. And right now, that was all the social interaction she wanted.

  * * * *

  The next morning, Sam showed up at the house with muffins. Rarity opened the door, then picked up the almost-empty bag of popcorn off the end table to throw away.

  “Wild night at home?” Sam asked as she set the muffins on the counter.

  “Movie and popcorn. I’m surprised Killer didn’t sneak out of the bedroom last night and finish it off.” Rarity poured another cup of coffee and set it in front of Sam. She grabbed napkins and opened the plastic case around the muffins. “How was dinner with Holly?”

  “Both Holly and Malia showed up. Malia was just getting off her shift so she joined us. I guess she talked to you earlier yesterday?” Sam took a muffin and set it on a napkin, breaking a bite off.

  “She delivered my lunch. She says that this Kelly guy is a real piece of work.” Rarity sipped her coffee and watched Killer out on the deck chasing bugs.

  “Malia said you’re going to go talk to him at his realty office. Do you think that’s a good idea?” Sam pointed a new piece of muffin at her before popping it into her mouth. “What if he really killed Martha? Do you want to be alone with him?”

  “Good point. You can come with me. On another subject I need you to come up with three or four books for me to order for your customers. Maybe something like the power of crystals in healing? Not too out there, but something tourists would buy to take home and learn more about your shop.” Rarity had made a list last night during the movie of possible shops she could do a book venture with. “I’ll pay for the bookmarks—they will have the names of your shop, my store, and the three or four books you recommend.”

  “‘Available at The Next Chapter’? I like it. Great idea.”

  “Thanks, but I can’t take credit for it. It was Archer who came up with it. And he did all the marketing for it. I should thank him. Maybe invite him to dinner or something.” Rarity pulled out her planner. “Or I could take him cookies?”

  “I think you should invite him to dinner. That way, you can figure out if he’s interested in you or just the potential marketing adventure.” Sam sipped her coffee. “Are you going into town for groceries today?”

  “I thought I would sometime this weekend. Do you want to tag along?”

  Sam nodded. “Can I? I am totally out of food since I was working on stock all last weekend for the convention. And today would be better. Unless you have plans.”

  “No plans either today or tomorrow. Do you have your list with you? Or do you want to go this afternoon?”

  “I have my list. I’m a good scout. I’m always prepared. Although I don’t think that was the Girl Scout motto. Anyway, I can leave anytime you’re ready.”

  “Let me finish my coffee. I want to ask you something.” Rarity went through her conversation with Kim the day before. When she finished, she didn’t meet Sam’s gaze. “Do you think I was insensitive?”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Sam refilled her cup. “If I remember the first conversation about this, she was pushy then, too, about her ‘doctor.’ Maybe she gets a bonus for bringing people in? You know, like a referral fee?”

  “I hadn’t thought of that. It felt more personal than just money, though.” Rarity thought about the support groups she’d gone to in St. Louis. “I remember one lady got kicked out of one of my support groups the year I was in treatment because she was pushing her own line of skin care treatment. Radiation is really damaging to the skin, so having a good skin cream is crucial. I guess she was selling it out of her trunk after the meetings. I never got asked, but one of the ladies told me later it was amazing.”

  “I guess you lucked out, then.” Sam nodded to the sink. “The stuff you have over there is really nice. I tried to buy it on my last shopping trip, and it was way out of my price range. So I sneak some when I come over here.”

  “No wonder you’re always so willing to do the dishes.” Rarity made a mental note about buying Sam some bottles of the cream for her birthday. “It is pricey, but I agree it’s magic on dry skin.”

  “I didn’t like the higher-priced stuff at the spa, though. It was all too flowery-scented, and the lotion was a little watered down, didn’t you think?” Sam walked over to the sink and squirted some of the cocoa butter hand cream on her hands. “The smell of this makes me think I’m on the beach relaxing. The stuff at the spa smelled like the church with all those funeral flowers.”

  “You’re so bad.” Rarity finished her coffee and went to let Killer inside. “I just need to change clothes. I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

  “I’ll chat with my favorite little man, then.” Sam clapped her hands and called Killer forward. “What are you dragging around? Is this one of your babies?”

  “He loves his toys.” Rarity moved toward the bedroom.

  “Rarity, I don’t think this is one of his toys. I think it was meant for you.” Sam held up a baby doll that had had her eyes punched out and a noose around her neck. The rope was what Killer had used to drag the doll inside. It was almost as big as he was. He jumped to try to take the doll away from Sam, thinking this was another game. But it wasn’t a game. At least not one that either Killer or Rarity should be playing. “There’s a note. ‘Stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. Or else.’”

  Rarity pointed to the table. “Set it there. And call Drew. We need him over here.”

  By the time Drew got there and had his officers canvassing the neighborhood, the morning was gone. Rarity leaned back in her chair, her arms behind her head. “I hate to tell you to leave, but how much longer are you going to be here?”

  He looked up from his notebook. “Why? Do you have a date?”

  “Yes.” When his head jerked up, she laughed. “Sam and I were planning to go to the grocery store this morning. Now it’s almost noon, and with this heat, my ice cream is going to melt before we get it home.”

  “Take a cooler with those ice pack things. That’s what Mom does.” He looked up from his notes. “I can lock up if you want to go. I just want everyone to finish their canvassing before I go back to the station.”

  “I hope someone got pictures of whoever did this. I’m getting a little tired of not knowing my enemy.” She rubbed her neck.

  He started to say something, then paused as his phone rang. “Sorry, got to get this.” He answered with one word, then nodded and grunted through the conversation. When he finished, he wrote a few things down, then stood up, closing his leather notebook. “I’ll be out of your hair, then. If you have to go into Flagstaff today, just be careful.”

  “The canvassing is done. Did anyone see anything?” Rarity tried to watch Drew’s expression. The man had a horrible poker face. She could have guessed the answer before he spoke.

  “No. Everyone has been out or not answering when the officer knocked. We’ll reach out to those home owners, but a lot of these houses are vacation homes. When it’s hot, like it is this week, they stay home.” This time he looked her straight in the eye. “And we don’t know when it was thrown in your yard. Terrance says you have a lot of people over.”

  “You, Archer, and Sam are considered a freaking crowd to Terrance. Oh, and when you break into my back yard,” Rarity nodded to the doll in a bag on the table, “Don’t forget your evidence. I’d throw it away if I had to look at it much longer.”

  “Rarity, I’m trying. It’s just that there’s the murder, and now this? Maybe I made a mistake sending you to the spa. Maybe that’s what has you in the killer’s line of sight.”

  “What?” Rarity said. But it came out more like a high-pitched squeak and not a real word. “You think it’s someone from the spa?”

  He picked up the doll and stared at it through the bag. “I didn’t say that. But do me a favor. Stay away from that place. I don’t want either of you or any of your freaking book club members to come even steps away from the spa. I would hate to scare someone into doing something stupid.”

  Chapter 21

  On Monday morning, a knock sounded at her front door. With Killer at her feet, Rarity went and opened it. She’d been up and at the table for a few hours already, working on a plan for the rest of the year. She needed to find some hobbies that were a little less intense. Like maybe skydiving. “Terrance. What are you doing up this early? I thought I was the only one with a built-in alarm clock. Do you want to come in for coffee?”

  “No, that’s fine. I just wanted to check on you to see if you were okay. I saw the cops were here a long time on Saturday.” His brown eyes gleamed with the hint of gossip.

  “Not much to say. Just a lot of paperwork. I wish it was more exciting, like in the movies, but I guess that’s just acting, right?” She leaned against the doorjamb like she didn’t feel she could stand unassisted much longer.

  “Oh, I’m sorry to have bothered you. I know it can be stressful. Just know I’ll be watching your house from now on. Just in case. I would hate to have anything happen to my favorite neighbor.”

  “From what the police said, we might be the only ones here through the heat wave.” She waved toward the empty houses. “I don’t get spending so much money for a house and just letting it sit unoccupied. If this was my vacation house, I would be coming here every weekend if it was up to me.”

  “They’re mostly older people. They live in one house until they’re bored, then move to the next. I like staying put, myself. It helps me pretend I have roots.” He smiled gently, but Rarity could see the emotion didn’t hit his eyes.

  “You have roots. You’ve been the only neighbor who has even reached out. So you have me.” She glanced down at Killer. “Are you part of any civic or community groups here? I only have the one book club so far, but I’m not sure it’s a match for you.”

  “I’m not so much into people. I did my time with the social interaction, but I do need to get down to the bookstore. I’ve been meaning to find a new book. I enjoy a good mystery now and then.” He nodded and then stepped toward the stairs. “I’ll be going now. Just glad everything’s all right.”

  “Thanks, Terrance.” As Rarity closed the door, she wondered if she’d been wrong. Maybe her mystery-reading neighbor was just the one to join their sleuthing club. Even if he hadn’t had cancer. She’d bring it up on Tuesday. They already had a woman actively going through the treatment, and they’d added Sam who hadn’t had cancer at all. Maybe there was room for a lonely older man who was looking for a community? She went back to her calendar and made a note on Tuesday’s entry page.

  Today she needed to research the oncologist whom the scheduling person had set her up with. It was probably fine, but sometimes you could get a feel for someone from their profile. And if this was someone Rarity was going to work with to plan her ongoing health and survival plans, she wanted to know more about the doctor than just her name.

  It was almost ten by the time she finished her research. She felt good about this new doctor. Not too young, not too old. She’d been working with the cancer center for a few years. And Rarity had Google-mapped the address to the place next Monday. She’d have her mammogram, then meet with this doctor. And as a treat, she’d take herself to lunch somewhere nice in Flagstaff.