As the discussion continued, Rarity was pleasantly surprised that she didn’t have to guide the conversation very much at all. Everyone took a turn and was supportive of the group. Ideas built on each other until they ran out of time. And still, Rarity watched the group’s members continue to chat as they left the shop. It had been a successful night.

  The next morning, Rarity called Sam. “You don’t know anyone who might have Martha’s phone number, do you?”

  “No. I don’t know anyone who’s ever talked to her before,” Sam responded. “However, there is a welfare check line you can call and leave the information. Just let them know that she didn’t show up for a book club meeting and the group was worried.”

  “You don’t think that’s a little overkill? What if she just decided not to come back? She wasn’t very happy with me or the group last week,” Rarity reminded her friend.

  “So? You can’t make her madder than she already is if she’s just ghosted you. And it might teach her some manners.” Sam rattled off a number. “Call and report her. You won’t let this go until you do.”

  That was true. Sam knew her too well. “Okay. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

  Rarity left a message on the machine explaining who she was and why she was calling. Then she went on with her day. By the time she arrived at the bookstore, the man on the bench was back. He stood when she started unlocking the bookstore and she held the door open for him. “Dying to get the next book in a series?”

  He smiled and pulled out a card. “Actually, I’m Drew Anderson, Sedona Police Department. I wanted to talk to you about Martha Redding.”

  Chapter 4

  Rarity flipped on the lights, then went to the counter to stash her tote. She pointed to the sofa near the fireplace. “Let’s sit down. Did something happen to Martha? Is she okay? Did someone take her kidney?”

  “Wait, what?” He followed her to the sitting area and pulled out a notebook. “No one took her kidney, at least, we can’t confirm that happened. Why…do you ask?”

  “Sorry, I saw something on television the other night. It was out of Tucson, I think. Or maybe Texas, the show didn’t really say. Anyway, there’s this gang that sends someone out to get to know you, then you wake up in a bathtub in a pile of ice.” She perched on the edge of the chair and took a breath. “I’m surprised you guys weren’t alerted to the issue.”

  “I don’t think it’s a real issue. That’s been an urban legend for years.” He pointed to the flip chart. “Whose number is that?”

  “The store’s. The group was worried when Martha didn’t show up last night. Well, she wasn’t very happy with the idea of having to talk about personal things, so there was a chance she just decided to drop the club. It happens. But the group wanted to have a way for us to alert each other if someone wouldn’t be able to attend. So, they’re going to call in ‘sick’ if they can’t come.” She paused, thinking about last night. “But you were out there on the bench last night. Watching the bookstore. You already knew that Martha was missing.”

  He studied her and then nodded. “We found this book club event in her appointment book when we searched her house. When she didn’t show up last night, we started checking out other avenues. When you called for a welfare check, I wondered if you knew more.”

  “I don’t understand. Why did you search her house?” Rarity was getting a bad feeling about this entire thing. People didn’t just go missing from Sedona, did they? It was a small town—less than twenty thousand people—at least that was the number claimed on the city website. Rarity had studied Sedona carefully, including its crime rate and city structure, before she’d cashed out some of her deferred comp to buy the bookstore and her house.

  “We had a barking dog complaint on Sunday. When no one answered the door, we worried she might have been in danger. There wasn’t anyone in the house besides the dog.” He glanced around the bookstore. “Was Mrs. Redding a frequent customer?”

  Rarity shook her head. “Actually, I’d never met her before last week. She came to the last meeting. She bought the book and left. Actually, as grumpy as she was to the group, I wasn’t sure she was coming back.”

  “She was grumpy? Was there an altercation? Did one specific person seem to have any issues with Mrs. Redding?” Now Drew Anderson was interested in her story.

  “She didn’t want to talk about personal things. This is a cancer survivors’ group. Everything we talk about is personal. She didn’t get in a fight with anyone. I just think she wasn’t comfortable sharing information about her personal life.” Rarity sank into the chair. “I can’t believe she’s missing. What did you do with her dog?”

  Drew looked up sharply. “What did you just ask?”

  “What did you do with the dog? You didn’t leave it at the house alone, did you?” Rarity saw the answer in his eyes. “Oh, no. You did. Did anyone at least stop by and feed it?”

  “We’re not evil, Ms. Cole. Of course, someone is feeding the dog. I stopped by yesterday to walk through the house one more time. I think, though, we’re going to have to take it to Flagstaff tomorrow if someone doesn’t show up to care for it.” He closed his notebook. “So if there’s not anything else…”

  “I will.” The words were out of her mouth before she could even ask what kind of dog it was. Big, if the bag of dog food she’d seen in Martha’s cart was a clue. She could tell he didn’t understand what she was saying. “I’ll take care of the dog until Martha comes back or we find out more.”

  “You barely knew her.”

  She nodded. “That’s true, but if I’m going to be part of this community, I want to do my part when I’m needed. That dog needs me. And I have a big backyard. It will be a good trial for me to care for someone besides myself. What’s the dog’s name? Do you know?”

  “According to his tag, it’s Killer.” He waited a beat, letting that sink in. “Look, you don’t have to do this. No one expects you to take on dog-sitting duties just because you’re the newest member of our community. She had to have relatives somewhere.”

  “So, I’ll take Killer until you find Martha or her next of kin.” Rarity shivered a bit. The air-conditioning must have been set too high.

  “I’ll stop by the shop with him and his food just before you close.” Drew stood and tucked his notebook away. “My dad said you were a kind soul. I guess he was right.”

  “Your dad? Don’t tell me he’s a customer.” Rarity racked her brain for an older gentleman who had come into the bookstore recently.

  “You met my parents on a hike last week.” Drew picked up a book someone had left on the coffee table, then set it back down. “I keep telling them they’re going to get hurt out on those trails.”

  “Oh, yes, Jonathon and Edith. I guess I thought they were tourists.” She leaned forward, remembering more about the couple. “Wait, you’re the guy who stood up my friend Sam for dinner.”

  “In my defense, one, I was working. And two, they never told me they’d invited someone. Please tell your friend that I’m sorry they led her astray. I’m not looking for a wife. Or a girlfriend.” He turned toward the door. “I’ll see you tonight.”

  “For your information, I don’t think Sam is looking for a proposal, just a date. It can get pretty lonely out here. Maybe you should consider making it up to her,” Rarity called after him, but Drew just opened the front door and left. “What an idiot. Sam’s better off not meeting him.”

  A few minutes later, the door flew open, and Shirley came hurrying inside. “I can’t believe it, can you?”

  “I take it you heard about Martha?” Rarity stood at the counter, checking new books into her system before putting them on the shelves. She needed to stop ordering books until she started selling more than she brought in during a week. But she just kept running into books she thought she’d like so she ordered them for the store. It wasn’t an exact science.

  “I was getting my hair done at the Curl and Dye this morning. Everyone was talking about it, even Pastor Evans’s wife, Chloe. And she never gossips about anyone. That’s how I knew it was true.” Shirley picked up one of the books Rarity had just scanned. “Is this for sale? I’ve been meaning to read it.”

  “Of course,” Rarity smiled. Shirley and her husband might just keep the bookstore running until she got a solid customer base. “And George’s books came in.”

  “Thank you for reminding me. I forgot last night.” Shirley dug in her purse. “He’s found four more he needs ordered.”

  “You guys are my best customers so far.” Rarity tucked the list by the cash register. “I feel so bad for Martha. Do you think she’s just off visiting someone? Maybe she’s just fine, and Drew Anderson’s storming around her house for nothing.”

  “Rarity, I don’t know a lot about Martha, but according to Chloe Evans, there’s no way she would have left her dog without boarding him somewhere. She loved that dog.”

  That afternoon, the rest of the Survivors’ Club visited the shop to check in with Rarity and see what she thought about Martha’s disappearance. Even though everyone said they hadn’t known Martha well, they all said the same thing. She wouldn’t have left the dog.

  It was nearly time to shut down the store, but Rarity still hadn’t seen Drew again. She glanced at her watch as her stomach rumbled. She’d been distracted by the people dropping in at the shop to close for lunch, and none of the town’s three diners delivered on Wednesdays. Mostly her customers had been a lot of lookers and few buyers. She needed to set up a fridge in the office area and fill it with microwavable dinners and sodas for days like this. Especially since it would be a while before she felt comfortable enough to hire someone to help.

  The door opened, and Drew stood there. “Are you ready?”

  “I’ve been waiting for you. Are you going to bring him inside?” Rarity put her tote on the counter.

  “I’ll drive the two of you home. I picked up some fried chicken and fixings at Carole’s for dinner so I hope you like chicken.”

  She frowned, but quickly pushed past it. He was being nice. That’s all. She was doing Martha, and probably him, a big favor. She held up a finger. “Let me double-check the back door and turn off the lights. Just stand there and I’ll be right out.”

  When she came out of the back, he was reading the back cover of a spy novel. Apparently, he had the same taste in books that his dad did. She picked it up off the shelf when he set it back down. “Clancy. He’s one of your father’s favorites too. Did you know that?”

  He nodded. “I wanted to be in the CIA because of all the books Dad had around the house. It’s just harder to get an invite than I thought possible. Are we ready?”

  She handed him the book. “We are now. Take this as a thank-you for what you’re doing for Killer. I know it would have probably been easier to dump him at the humane society.”

  “I don’t run away from problems.” He took the book and smiled. “Thanks for this. You didn’t need to, but it is thoughtful. I might just have to buy my books here rather than take a trip into Flagstaff.” He held the door open for her.

  A large Dodge truck sat on the road in front of her shop. A large dog crate was in the back-seat area. Rarity wasn’t tall enough to see what was inside. But thinking of adding a new pet, even if just a temporary one, to her life gave her a sense of peace. Like her new roommate was not only meant to be, but that he was going to be one of the best things to happen to her for a long time.

  Drew held open the truck door for her and she climbed into the seat. She turned to look at the dog, but the opening was turned away from her. When Drew got into the driver’s seat, she put on her seat belt.

  “Thanks for the ride home. I typically walk back and forth. I guess that would have been impossible with the dog and his belongings.”

  “Yeah, Mrs. Redding seemed to have a lot of stuff for one dog. There’s wet and dry food, treats, toys, chew bones, you name it. Her place looked like a pet store.” He started the truck and pulled into traffic.

  “I bet he misses her.” Rarity pointed to the street where he needed to turn. “I’m down that way.”

  “I know where you live. You realize I’m a Sedona police detective, right? I had to do a background check on you before you were approved for a business license. We take security very seriously around here.” He turned on a blinker and waited for a car to pass them.

  “So, who is Martha’s next of kin?”

  He turned his head and glanced at her. “What are you talking about?”

  “Don’t tell me she didn’t get the background check when she moved in.” Rarity glanced out at the windows at the houses with their lights just coming on for the evening. They looked like homes. Rarity’s house typically looked like no one lived there. A condition that was going to get her robbed if she didn’t change her ways. Anyway, having a dog would help scare away strangers.

  “She didn’t open a business, so no, we didn’t get a background check on her. And she’s lived here a long time, so we don’t have much information on her family. Which is a problem now.” He pulled into her driveway next to her bright red Mini Cooper. The driveway was supposed to be one car wide, like the garage, but Rarity’s car was so small, Drew could fit his full-sized truck on the side. He turned off the engine. “I’ll help you get everything inside, and then I’ll let him out. He’s used to seeing me, so maybe it will help the transition. Are you used to dogs?”

  “I had one a year ago. My boyfriend had a Boston terrier, but when we split up, the dog went with him.” Rarity unlocked the house door and held the door open so Drew could bring in the cage.

  He set it in the middle of the floor. “Go make sure all your bedroom doors are shut, as well as any outside doors. We don’t want him running away or getting stuck under your bed.” He nodded to the front door. “I’ll go get the rest of the stuff. Don’t let him out until I’m back inside.”

  “Yes, sir.” She gave a quick salute, then ran to shut all the doors. After checking the door to the garage and the one to the deck, she went to the kitchen, got a bowl, and filled it with water.

  Then she sat cross-legged on the floor in front of the cage. She leaned against the couch and called the dog to the front of the cage. Nothing happened. “Killer, come here, boy. I want to be your friend. We’ll have a happy dog zone. As long as you don’t chew up my house while I’m gone, I’ll give you whatever you want. Food, water, toys, you name it. How does that sound?”

  A whimper came from the back of the cage.

  “Oh, buddy, you’re scared. It’s okay. You’re just going to stay with me until they find Martha. Then you’ll go back home with your best friend. Maybe I’ll come over for a visit if you want.”

  Drew came in and pointed to the dog food. “Where do you want it?”

  “Put it on my counter, the island part. I’ll need to find somewhere to put all the food, so he doesn’t get up and eat it in the middle of the night. Or while I’m at work.” She held out her hand. “Give me one of those bowls, and fill the other one up with dry food. You can bring it over, and maybe he’ll feel safe enough to leave the cage.” Rarity poured the water from her bowl into one of Killer’s dog dishes. She took the second one from Drew when he came back after filling it. “Can you open the cage now?”

  “Are you sure that’s what you want?” He sat on the floor next to her. “Maybe we should just put the food and drink into the cage—that way you don’t have to worry about anything.”

  “I’m not having a dog in a cage in my house. Pets are part of the family.” She glanced over at him, trying to size him up. “Didn’t you have pets when you were growing up?”

  “The barn cat kept having babies in the barn. My mom would give them all away, and Captain Marvel would have another batch.” He blushed. “I haven’t told that story in a long time.”

  “Which part embarrassed you? The one where you cared for a cat or the fact that you named her Captain Marvel?” Drew was getting more and more interesting.

  “I loved the comic book. I guess I was hooked on law enforcement early on.” He reached out and opened the cage door. “Killer, come on, boy. Come out and meet Rarity. She’s going to be taking care of you for a while.”

  Rarity saw the movement in the back and then a small Yorkshire terrier hurried out of the cage. She wanted to reach out and hug the little guy, but she could see he was shaking and scared. “Hey, Killer, how are you today?”

  The dog barked at her, letting the action make him fly up on all four legs.

  “Is that so? Do you want some water?” She pushed the bowl a little closer and then met Drew’s gaze. “You made him seem a little bigger than he is.”

  “Big-hearted little fellow. I want to use him to find Martha’s kidnapper, but the police chief thinks it’s too soon. They think Martha is off on a huge shopping spree and she’s just forgotten about her dog. Or maybe she told her daughter, and the girl blew off taking care of the dog.” He tapped his fingers on the floor, and Killer came to him.

  “Your police chief doesn’t have pets. And he’s an idiot.”

  Killer looked up at her when she said that and barked again.

  “I think he agrees with you. And since I want to keep my job, I’ll leave it at that. Shall we eat?” He stood and dusted off his jeans. “I set the bags in your kitchen.”

  Killer whined at his feet asking to be picked up. He did and gave the little dog a hug. “Now, you be good for Ms. Rarity. She’s going to take good care of you.”

  “Maybe you should take him.” Rarity stood and petted the dog’s body. He wasn’t shaking as much. He liked Drew. “I’ll pull out plates. Maybe we can eat outside so Killer can explore the back yard.”