“No, I walked in, called out for Harper, then went to the back where she was the day before.” I paused, trying to think. Something had been weird the day before too. Loud voices. Loud male voices. Or at least one male voice. “She’d been arguing with someone on Tuesday when Aunt Jackie and I were in the shop. I wonder if I told Greg that. Yesterday was a little crazy.”

  “He’s in Bakerstown today with Doc Ames. I guess you’ll have to tell him tonight when he gets home.” Amy patted my arm. “Let’s talk about Saturday. What time are you showing up at the community center? Justin’s already committed to helping me with decorations, so we should be good there. I just don’t want everyone to be there before you are.”

  “Greg and I were going to pick up Aunt Jackie and Harrold at one since the party starts at two. Which will give Aunt Jackie an hour to change around everything before people start showing up. I hope he’ll still be able to get away from this case for a few hours on Saturday.”

  Amy sipped her coffee, but I saw the same worry in her eyes. We both knew how Greg got during an investigation. He took his job seriously. But if I had to be at this party to celebrate our engagement, he had to be there too.

  I took a deep breath and smiled. “Why am I even thinking about that? Of course he’ll be there.”

  From the look she gave me, I didn’t think Amy believed me.

  Chapter 6

  Deek came in at eleven, and Evie was scheduled to join him at noon. I was handling the start of the lunchtime coffee rush and the South Cove Rumor Society at the same time. Okay, so the Rumor Society wasn’t a real club, but for the number of people who came in to find out more about the murder at Harper’s shop, it might as well have been. I handed an iced coffee with two pumps to my latest customer, who wanted something sweet and vanilla in her coffee. I wished I had some murder mysteries up on the counter. I could have sold them a book when they asked me about what I’d seen. “Nothing, Mrs. Parks. Just a dead body, but have you read The Murder on South Cove Hill? It’s a page turner.”

  Deek glanced over at me. He was stocking the treat shelves. “What did you say?”

  I felt my eyes widening as Mrs. Parks walked out of the shop. I excused myself and turned my back on the next customer. “Did I say that aloud?”

  “Just the part about some book.” He took in the line at the counter. “Why don’t you go in the back and cut another cheesecake. I’ll handle this.”

  What he didn’t say was “before you scream at someone,” but it was implied. I took off my apron and threw it in the dirty clothes. I was tired and wanted to go home to my dog and that pint of ice cream in the freezer. Vanilla rocky road.

  Maybe I should have eaten something before I came to work. Footsteps sounded on the stairs, and I watched as Evie came down from her apartment. She didn’t have Homer, her dog, with her and she was dressed for work. I glanced at my watch, but she was an hour early. “What are you doing here?”

  “Deek just called and said I needed to come early to replace you before you attack our customers.” She studied me. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Nothing’s wrong with me. I’m just tired of answering questions about the murder.”

  Evie frowned. “Wait, there was a murder? Where? Did they catch the guy?”

  “Did you not just hear me saying I was tired of questions.” I glanced up at her. The easy confidence she always portrayed was gone. In its place was fear. “Sorry, like I said, grumpy. Anyway, I can’t believe you didn’t hear about this from anyone.”

  “I only talk to you guys and Sasha. Oh, and Homer, but he rarely adds anything to the conversation.” She smiled to put me more at ease. The woman was filled to the brim with sweet.

  “Sorry, you’re right.” I glanced out the doorway. There was still a line, but not quite as long. Deek was dealing fine. “A woman was killed at the designer dress shop. I went to pick up my and Aunt Jackie’s dresses, and I found the body. That’s all.”

  “Man, you’re a cool one. I would be totally freaking out. I’ve never even seen a dead body before.” She shivered. “I can’t believe you’re upright. I would still be lying in bed with chattering teeth.”

  “I’m fine, but Deek’s right. Having you come in early isn’t a bad idea. Thanks for bailing me out.”

  “Oh, Jill, there are so many things I need to thank you for, so don’t worry about me working an extra hour. Besides, if I’m going to buy you anything for your engagement party, I need some overtime to pay for it.”

  “Aren’t you saving up for a house? You don’t need to be getting me an expensive gift.” I tucked everything back into my tote, and for the second time this week, I got ready to sneak out the back door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “If you need someone to take your shifts, I can do it. It would give me a great excuse. My sister’s kids are on spring break. She keeps asking me to come over and hang at their pool, but I don’t want to be around those kids. Blood kin or not. It’s not worth it.”

  I paused at the door. “I didn’t know your sister lived here too. I thought it was just you and Sasha once your grandmother passed on.”

  “Her grandmother, not mine. I’m related from Sasha’s dad’s line. Still a cousin, but we were raised with more money and fewer kids around us. My sister is trying to single-handedly fix that oversight from our parents. She already has four kids. I told her I’d help with her college costs, but she just laughed at me, saying that wasn’t her future. Just mine.” Evie picked up the cheesecake I’d cut before she’d gotten downstairs. “And if you want me to help you investigate this murder, just let me know. I had fun the last time.”

  I went back to my desk and wrote down “Harper and Alicia Sanchez” on a piece of paper. “Nothing but internet searches, but if you could find something interesting. I came up blank. Maybe you have a better feel for this since Harper is more your age.”

  She took the paper and tucked it into her jeans. “As soon as I’m off work, I’ll check it out. Homer and I aren’t doing anything tonight.”

  I thanked her and went out the back door, locking it after me. Then, instead of taking the pathway to the road, I walked down the alley that would take me toward my house. I would have to go onto the road just past Harper’s shop, but at least I’d miss all the people who wanted the dirt on the latest murder. I was surprised Darla hadn’t shown up at the coffee shop this morning. The girl was always looking for a scoop for her articles at the Gazette.

  When I went past Harper’s building, there weren’t any cars in the back parking lot. Apparently, she was still out dealing with this murder at the shop. I’d stop by tomorrow and see if I could get the dresses. Looking up at the apartment above the shop, I saw a woman looking down at me. I waved, thinking it was Harper, but instead of waving back, she moved away from the window. Maybe she hadn’t seen me.

  I considered knocking on the door, but thought I’d give her another day. I’d be upset if someone died at the coffee shop, so I could understand if she didn’t want to talk to anyone. I rounded the corner and ran straight into Toby Killian. He was my barista, Greg’s deputy, and our renter. And he didn’t look happy with me right now. “Hey, Toby, what’s up?”

  “Greg sent me to walk you home, but Deek tells me you’re in the back. Then Evie comes out and says you just left. I assumed you’d walk through the pathway between your building and the antique store, but no, you decide to walk the empty alleyway. Are you crazy?” He was out of breath, and I didn’t think it was from running after me.

  “If the alleyway was empty, isn’t that a better place for me to walk rather than the crowded sidewalk? I was safer here, at least.” I stepped around him and started walking to Main Street.

  “No, Jill. You weren’t safer. What if this killer had been following you? You could be dead, and then Greg would kill me for not watching out for you.” He hurried to catch up. “My truck’s back at the shop. I was going to drive you home.”

  “Then go get it, and I’ll beat you back to the house.” I turned onto Main Street. Traffic wasn’t bad yet, but it would be tomorrow. Thursdays were always good tourist days since people came in early for a longer than normal weekend.

  “No, I’ll walk with you to the house, then walk back up to move my truck back to the station. Man, I wish the council had approved those side-by-sides. I wouldn’t have to drive my truck for little errands like this.” He nodded to a woman sunning herself in front of the bike shop.

  “You didn’t need to drive me home. I suspect this means Greg’s going to tell me I can’t walk to or from work now? What did he find out that has him worried?”

  Toby didn’t answer.

  I stopped and waited for him to turn around.

  “Jill, you know he hates it when I spill case facts to you. Don’t ask me. You’re putting me in a bad position.” He tucked his hands in his jeans and didn’t meet my gaze.

  “As your boss or as your landlord?” I saw the pain in his look when he met my gaze. “Oh, never mind. You know I wouldn’t fire you or kick you out. But there must be some reason Greg’s getting a little protective around this murder.”

  He didn’t say anything else until we were at the house. When I moved to go into the gate, he grabbed my arm. “Look, Jill, I can say this. We can’t find a connection between the dead woman and Harper, which means this might be a random killer. There’s a string of break-ins in the city that have escalated from just stealing things to killing people who happen to be there. He’s worried the guy moved from the city to here. So yeah, you’re going to get some extra attention.”

  “Aunt Jackie works nights. Maybe we should close the store.” Fear stabbed me in the stomach as I thought of Jackie and Harrold in danger.

  “Either Deek or I will be working that shift with her. Besides, Harrold brings all his friends in for a few games of bridge. I think she’ll be fine. It’s the early shift where you’re alone that we’re more concerned about. We’re telling all the business owners to be on high alert.” Toby pulled me into a hug. “Stop worrying so much. Nothing’s going to happen.”

  But that was the problem, I thought as I opened the door and greeted Emma. Something bad had already happened at our newest business owner’s shop. And unless we found out that the murder was something personal, South Cove would always be in fear until this guy was caught.

  My mail was in the box already, so I pulled it as I came through the front door. Emma was waiting, doing the happy dance since she’d heard Toby’s voice, but my babysitter had taken off as soon as I’d opened the door. He’d heard Emma’s happy barks, too, and knew there was no chance for anyone to be actually inside my house with my dog. She didn’t like strangers, especially not in her house. I’d heard about her reaction before when someone had tried to break in. She wouldn’t let anyone she didn’t know get over the threshold.

  “Sorry, girl, your buddy had to go back to work.” I pointed to the kitchen as I shut and locked the front door. “Ready to go outside?”

  Her short bark and mad dash to the kitchen door was all I needed from her as a yes. As I waited for her to want to come back inside, I flipped through the mail. Bill, junk, bill, junk, and a letter from Vintage Duds. I’d signed up for their newsletter to try to find some good designer jewelry for my aunt for gifts, like her birthday or Christmas. Aunt Jackie liked high-end items. My wallet liked gifts I didn’t have to spend a week’s worth of wages from the bookstore on. Greg had started talking to me about what I was putting away for retirement. He had a pension and another retirement account. I needed to check and see what we did a few years ago when my aunt had brought up the subject. I knew she’d set up the program for the bookstore, but most of my employees weren’t looking at retiring. They were trying to live in our high-cost-of-living area and still eat real meals. Or in Toby’s case, save for a house. It was always something.

  I opened the Vintage Duds envelope expecting to find a sale flyer. Instead, I had a personal note from Pat, Vintage Duds’ co-owner and Sherry’s friend. I read the note twice, the content surprising me.

  Pat had sent me a “congratulations on the upcoming wedding” note. She wished me and Greg a happy married life. One line stuck out, and I read it a third time. She knew Greg deserved to be happy, and she thought I was the woman to do that.

  I tucked the letter away in the spice cabinet. I didn’t know if I was going to show it to Greg or not. On one hand, the note was about our upcoming wedding, but on the other hand, it was addressed to me. I decided I’d show it to him as soon as this murder investigation was over. He had enough on his mind other than what his ex-wife’s best friend thought about our upcoming nuptials.

  I brewed a cup of coffee and sat down at the table, going over the last few loose threads for the party on Saturday. We still needed to pick up the dresses and check in with Sadie about the food. Amy was in charge of the decorations, so I wouldn’t need to deal with that. Darla was in charge of the music, which meant Matt was probably DJing the event. I wrote down to pack some slippers from my closet into my tote so when we started dancing, I’d be able to kick off my shoes without going barefoot. I had some cute ballet-type slippers that would be perfect with the dress. If I’d ever get the dress.

  My phone rang as I was writing up a new list to keep on the table so I could cross things off when they got done. It was Greg. “Hey, sweetheart. Are you coming home tonight?”

  “I was home last night.” He chuckled.

  “Okay, I’ll rephrase. Are you coming home at a time I’ll actually be awake?”

  “I think so. We’re waiting for DNA and fingerprint results on the victim. Your new designer isn’t being very cooperative with the investigation.”

  I sighed. “I heard that from Esmeralda, but I thought maybe she’d warm up and actually answer a question or two. She can’t still be in shock. I mean, I would be upset if someone was killed in the shop, but at least I’d be trying to help you find the killer.”

  “I’m stopping by Vintage Duds this afternoon for my chat with Sherry, then I’ll be home. So six at the latest.”

  “She’s working today?”

  He grunted. “I talked to Pat yesterday. She gave me Sherry’s schedule. Apparently, there’s a rumor that someone from the city paper is going to be there, so she wants to be the face of Vintage Duds, rather than Pat. But at least it gets her in the shop. Pat said she hasn’t been working more than twice a week, if you’re generous with the word work.”

  “Ouch. That’s rough.” I decided not to wait. “She wrote me a letter congratulating us on our engagement.”

  “Sherry?”

  I probably should have waited to tell him, but I wasn’t good at keeping secrets. At least not with Greg. “Pat. I’ve got it in the spice cabinet. You can read it when you get home.”

  “Did she threaten to kill you or me?”

  I felt confused by the question. “No?”

  “Then we’re at a good place. Pat has wanted to shoot me since I divorced Sherry.” He groaned. “Sorry, I’ve got another call coming in. See you around six.”

  “I’ll take some chicken out to grill.” And then I realized he’d already hung up the phone. Either way, we needed to eat, so I took out the chicken to thaw. I set an alarm on the stove for five p.m. Hopefully they’d be thawed by then, and I could soak them in barbecue sauce. I got out the makings for a pasta salad and put water on to boil in two pans. One for boiling eggs, one for the pasta. Then I started dicing and slicing veggies. I’d make enough pasta that I could make me a lunch out of it as well. I was starving.

  By the time Greg arrived, the chicken was marinating and the pasta salad was chilling. All we had to do was warm up a vegetable and we’d be set for dinner.

  He locked his gun in the gun safe in the den, then took off his shoes. “You should be proud of me. I didn’t even think about killing Sherry.”

  “Not once?” I thought he was probably trying to look like the good guy.

  He grabbed his work boots. “Okay, maybe once, but I resisted. I’m running up to shower and change. Did you set up anything to grill?”

  “Chicken that’s been marinating in sauce for about an hour. I didn’t know if you’d need to go back in.” I poured him a glass of iced tea and handed it to him.

  “I’m planning on not going back. Unless something breaks tonight. Toby’s on watch and Tim’s on call, so I’m home and doing my usual ‘not thinking about a solution’ method of investigating. Do we need to go over Saturday’s schedule?” He took the tea and drank down about half of it before setting it down on the table.

  “Timing probably. And I need to get those dresses from Harper. Will she be able to open tomorrow?”

  He frowned and paused at the stairwell. “She said she was calling you today about the dresses. I’ll follow up and pick them up tomorrow morning. It will give me an excuse to ask her a few questions without her lawyer boyfriend butting in.”

  “Unless he’s sleeping over.”

  He shook his head as he headed up the stairs. “You always know how to ruin a good plan.”

  Chapter 7

  Greg was still home when I came down on Friday morning after getting ready for work. He nodded to the plate on the table. “Just eggs and bacon, but there’s still fruit salad in the fridge. Coffee or OJ?”

  “Both, but I can’t stay long. I’ve got commuters showing up in an hour, and it takes me fifteen minutes to walk to work.” I sat and picked up a slice of bacon. As I devoured it, I noticed my dog watching me with a bit of drool on her chin. “Emma, you have food in your dish.”

  “Oh, but human food is so much better,” Greg said as he set the coffee and juice in front of me. “And you just got ten more minutes to eat since I’m driving you to work today. And you’re off tomorrow and Sunday, so we’ll see where we are on Monday.”