Murder of a Bookstore Babe

Wally sat down beside her. “Do you have any idea where Risé and Orlando are staying?” It was getting warmer as the sun grew stronger, and Wally rolled up the sleeves of his denim shirt. Since he’d been off duty when Skye called, he wasn’t in uniform and wore jeans and sneakers. “The emergency number the police station has for Tales and Treats is disconnected—it must have been for their house in the city—and there’s no other phone listed.”

“No, I don’t know where they’re staying.”

“How about employees? Does anyone local work for them?”

“They have one clerk,” Skye answered, then shook her head. “I could try to get in touch with her, but she doesn’t exactly live in any one place.”

“Great.” Wally shook his head. “Any other ideas before we start trying to track her down?”

Skye opened her mouth to suggest asking Xavier but instead said, “Can I go inside?” Even though she couldn’t see why Simon would care if she told Wally that Xavier and the store owners were friends, she had promised not to reveal anything he had told her yesterday. So letting him know that she was going to disclose that relationship seemed like the right thing to do.

“Why? Nothing’s going on in there right now.” Wally absently rubbed the muscles in his tanned forearms. “I had to call for help to lift the cabinet. Even though it weighs a ton, I could slide it off, but Reid insists it has to come straight up.”

“I . . . uh . . . need to tell Simon something.” Skye made her voice sound casual.

Wally raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“I’ll tell you after I talk to him.” Skye tilted her head and tried to look innocent. “Okay?”

“Fine.” He jerked his head toward the store. “Don’t touch anything.”

“Sure.” She got up, then hesitated. “I’ll be back in a second.”

“Go.” Wally’s tone was irritated.

Simon was taking pictures of the cabinet from various angles when Skye approached him and said, “I need to tell Wally about Xavier’s connection with this store.”

“No.” Simon stopped what he was doing and turned toward her. “You promised not to tell anyone, particularly Boyd.”

“We need a phone number for Orlando.” Skye ignored the accusation in his voice. Simon knew the situation had changed, and he was being unreasonable. “The emergency contact info at the police station must be old.”

“Then you don’t have to tell Boyd about the investment, just that Xavier and Orlando are old army buddies, right?”

“Yes.” Skye thought for a moment. “That’s all I’ll say as long as this is an accidental death.” She gestured to the cabinet without looking at it. She really didn’t want to see poor Risé again. “But if the situation changes . . .”

“Right.” Simon sighed. “I know.”

Xavier was getting out of the hearse when Skye walked outside. His normally pale complexion was even pastier than usual, his expression was apprehensive, and he was wringing his hands. She should have realized that when Simon called him for a pickup at Tales and Treats, he’d be worried the victim was one of the store owners. Poor guy. The loss of Risé would hit him hard. He didn’t have many close friends.

As soon as Skye explained Xavier’s friendship with the store owners, Wally hurried over to the hearse.

The two men spoke quietly for a couple of minutes; then Skye heard Xavier say, “They’re staying at the Up A Lonely River Motor Court. They’re supposed to move into their apartment above the store Monday afternoon after the building inspector green-lights the remodeling.”

Darn! Skye exhaled loudly. Her godfather, “Uncle” Charlie Patukas, was the owner and manager of the motor court, president of the school board, and Scumble River’s most influential citizen. He was also one of the biggest gossips in the county. They’d have to be cagey if they didn’t want news of the fatality to be all around town by nightfall. It would be even worse if Skye’s mother were the dispatcher on duty, but May didn’t work on Sundays.

Before Wally could make the call to Orlando, Anthony, one of the part-time police officers, parked his truck behind the hearse and jumped out.

He waved a fistful of bright orange straps and said, “I brought these. Dad uses them to move appliances when he’s on a job alone.”

“Good thinking.” Wally smiled. “Glove up. Then go on inside and get things set with Reid. I’ll be there in a second.”

Anthony touched his finger to the brim of his baseball cap. “Sure thing, Chief.” He nodded to Skye, then rushed past her into the store.

While Xavier got the gurney and body bag from the back of the hearse, Wally joined Skye on the sidewalk. “Would you mind calling Orlando at the motor court?”

“Not at all.” Skye powered up her cell phone. “What should I say?”

“Just tell him there’s an emergency and he’s needed here immediately.”

“Okay.” Skye started punching in the number to the motor court, one she knew by heart. “Should I mention our missed appointment if Uncle Charlie wants to know why I want to talk to Orlando?”

“That’s a great idea.” Wally squeezed her free hand. “The longer we can keep the death quiet, the better.”