Wild Blue Mysteries Boxed Set

by Diane Bator

  “Great. I’ll keep that in mind.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t offer.” Stocky and hardworking, Nate always smelled like he needed a shower. He loaded the dolly, whistling all the while, and deposited stacks of boxes in the back room. A whiff of peppermint wafted through the air while he snapped his gum.

  She ventured back into the store to check on Laura’s progress. There was an impressive selection of colors and designs of journals, so they selected a few different ones along with a rotating wire rack. “Add them to our order. I have a feeling they’ll go over well.”

  “You’re the boss.” Laura saluted.

  “Yes, I am.” She glanced up at the jingle of the chimes. “When I say I’m fine, I mean it.”

  Ray stood in the doorway. “Everything okay?”

  “Fine. Everything’s just fine.” Laura stared at the computer screen.

  “Great.” Katie scowled.

  “Good.” Ray looked from Katie to Laura then snorted. “Women.”

  Nate burst through the back doorway. The breeze that followed him caught his clipboard and launched a flurry of papers into the air. Pink and white sheets of paper swirled around him like dandelion fluff. Once they glided to the floor, he gave an exaggerated shrug, tugged up his waistband and crouched to retrieve them.

  “How’s it going?” Ray walked over to Nate.

  “Hey, Ray.” He grinned. “Coming to dinner tonight? Hannah’s making pot roast.”

  “As long as my car runs. The food in the home tastes like Styrofoam, not like Hannah’s. She takes after her mother, that one. My nephew, her dad, was lucky to have met her mom.”

  “And I lucked out when I met Hannah.” He beamed with pride. “How’s your car running?”

  “Sporadically.”

  Nate rolled his eyes. “I thought Danny took a look at that thing last night? What were you two doing out there anyway?”

  Ray’s face reddened and he cast a sheepish glance at Katie. “We got to talking, then I went home.”

  “Get him to take another look at it, and this time make him actually fix it. He’s supposed to help me with the muffler on my truck before I get another ticket or Katie yells at me again. Not sure where his head is lately, though. He keeps taking off on me.”

  “Probably work,” Ray mumbled.

  Nate brightened. “Hey, I have a great idea. You could bring her out for dinner.”

  “Who? Katie?” Ray looked her way.

  Katie shot him a glare. “Excuse me. ‘Her’ is in the room. I thought you were just there last night?”

  “He’s at our house nearly every night.”

  “Sure. We’ll be there,” Ray said. “She doesn’t have a life anyway. What time?”

  “The usual. Sixish?” Nate raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “I’ll give Hannah a call, but you know she expects you anyway.”

  “What’s she cooking?” Ray waved a hand. “Doesn’t matter, I’ll be there. I’ll bring some of those chocolate puffy things the kids like from the bakery.”

  Katie cleared her throat. “Excuse me.”

  “What do you say, Katie?” Ray turned to face her. “You want to go to Nate and Hannah’s for dinner tonight?”

  She gritted her teeth and signed the shipping forms, ignoring Ray’s question.

  Nate wore his happy-go-lucky puppy smile. “You should come. I think you’d like my brother-in-law. He’s a cool guy. You’ve probably already met him anyway. I thought he said something about stopping at the bookstore yesterday.”

  The back of Katie’s neck prickled. Was he the man Laura told him was in the store or the man gawking in the window after she’d closed?

  “My wife’s an awesome cook.” Nate winked. “If you don’t like her brother, at least you’ll love her pot roast.”

  She struggled to find excuses. “Thanks. I have plans. Besides, I have books to unpack.”

  “Okay, but don’t say I never invite you. Hannah would love some female company. She’s badly outnumbered.” Nate shrugged, his dusty plaid work shirt leaving a haze in the air on his way out the back door. “Have yourself a good one, Katie.”

  He drove away in a cloud of dust.

  Katie cringed. How awful was his brother-in-law if he needed to be set up on blind dates?

  Chapter 17

  Danny

  “You’re not going to like this.” Bobby’s tired voice dragged Danny out of a deep sleep.

  The guest room at Hannah’s was more comfortable than his bedroom at home, and Danny teased her all the time about stealing both the bed and the feather pillows. He groaned. “I already don’t.”

  “No, I mean you really won’t like this.”

  “Then don’t tell me.” He yawned. “Can’t it wait until I get coffee?”

  “You need to hear it then you need to get back here. I need more eyes and ears.”

  Danny braced himself. “Okay. Fire away.”

  “Maddox’s sidekick, Roland, left town.”

  “Joseph Roland left town? Where'd he go?” He leaned up on one elbow, senses on full alert.

  Bobby snorted. “I’m not a psychic. He grabbed a limo to the airport then caught a plane to Greece.”

  “Greece?”

  “I’m just the messenger. Dunnsforth’s wife and kids landed in France, but I doubt they’re still there. From what I gather, she wanted sun and beaches. Either she killed Dunnsforth, knows who did or she’s got the missing money. ”

  Danny scrubbed his face with one hand. “Where’s Maddox?”

  “In and out of meetings with lawyers and police. He’s keeping his nose clean but making a lot of phone calls. We’ve picked up some of them on the cell phone Paulina left behind. Nothing incriminating, though. It’s almost like he’s waiting for her to check in with him. Weird after he threatened her life. Al and Chevy have made themselves scarce. Nobody’s seen them since you left town.”

  He groaned. “Keep an eye out for them.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice. You do the same.” There was a brief silence. “Did you find Paulina yet?”

  “I think so.”

  “Not positive?”

  “Not yet.”

  “You’d better hurry up and be sure or get back here to help. I have some leads, but I’m not sure where they’ll take us.”

  “Any word on who shot Dunnsforth?”

  Bobby hesitated. “The muddy shoes we found in Paulina’s apartment made her look guilty until we looked closer. The shoes are the same size as hers and similar in color to the dress with the bloodstains, but they have a special arch support inside. None of Katie’s other shoes have the same insert.”

  “So you think someone else was the shooter and they got the shoes mixed up at some point?” He swung his long legs out of the bed. “How would that happen? Someone else had to be in her apartment before we were.”

  “You confirmed the scarf is hers and we didn’t find another one anywhere else. From the evidence, I’d say that yeah, someone framed her and we’re looking for a different shooter.”

  “Did you search Margaret’s and Heather’s closets?”

  “Yup. Interesting fact. Margaret uses the same brand of arch supports we found at Paulina’s house, but she insists she’s never set foot in the place. Heather has inserts in her shoes, but hers are more for comfort. Personally, you couldn’t get me into a pair of those shoes if you tried. We did find something interesting in the Dunnsforth house though. A blue and silver scarf exactly like Paulina’s.”

  “Interesting. Paulina’s was a gift from Maddox. I don’t think she had her scarf when I took her to the motel. Anyone could’ve found it at the party and planted it. Keep digging. I want proof.” Danny hung up and blew out a long breath.

  The scent of coffee and bacon wafted up the stairs. Hannah was up and getting everyone ready for another day of school and work. He smiled. Danny wanted a similar kind of life. A great wife, adorable kids, a nice house in the country and a job he loved. He liked his job, for the most part. A h
ouse was next.

  If Ray thought the photo of Paulina looked like Katie, he was obligated to take a closer look. If it wasn’t her, he’d return to Newville and help search for her body. Maybe he’d get lucky and Maddox would ship him to Europe to look for Dunnsforth’s wife instead.

  He had a better chance of finding Paulina in Packham in the bookstore.

  Chapter 18

  Katie

  The store buzzed with people coming and going all day Wednesday. Katie and Laura restocked shelves and keyed the new stock into the computer. When they finally took a break at noon, Katie sent Laura to lunch then sat behind the counter reading a magazine. In her lunch bag was the tuna sandwich Hilda made that morning and, despite her protests, chocolate chip cookies and an apple. The same lunch her mom made back when she went to grade school.

  She sighed. If only she could call her parents without putting both them at risk. Her mother would tell her to own up to her mistakes. Her father would hire the best lawyer they could afford. She wouldn’t be safe, but at least she’d have her family around her.

  Laura returned from lunch and set a paper bag on the counter. She removed a plastic takeout container from the bag. “I got you a slice of chocolate cake. Seems like you can really use it today. Sometimes PMS can be a killer. Or cause killings.”

  Katie checked out the dessert. Triple layer chocolate cake with white shavings on top. A chocolate fix wouldn’t do any harm, except to her waistline. “It looks great. Thanks. Do you think maybe things like this are why we get PMS?”

  “Yes. So we have a good excuse to eat them.” Laura grinned then gave a low whistle and leaned on the counter, her gaze focused on something outside the front window. “Yum. He’s better than chocolate cake any day. Actually, I wouldn’t mind covering him in chocolate cake.”

  Katie looked up. The man from the salon passed by the window. His hair was shorter but rumpled like he’d just rolled out of bed. Her heart skipped a beat. “Wow.”

  “Ah!” Laura’s eyes widened. “You like the bad boys.”

  Katie blushed. “No, I just…”

  “Hey, you don’t have to explain yourself to me, honey.” Laura grinned. “You going to eat that cake or should I shove it in the fridge for later?”

  “Put it in the fridge. I need to get change. I’ll eat it when I get back.”

  Ray showed up a few minutes later and leaned on the counter to peruse a magazine. Not his usual perch.

  “Where were you all morning?” Laura frowned.

  “With my nephew. We’ve been working on my car and needed parts. He’s gone to pick up some things then he’s taking me out for a late lunch. Is that a crime?”

  “Of course not.” Katie entered another stack of codes into the computer. “She just missed arguing with you all morning.”

  “So he dropped you off here while he went to get parts? That sounds fishy.” Laura brushed her hair back. “Is he coming to pick you up when he’s done or are you meeting somewhere nearby?”

  Ray scowled. “What’s it to you?”

  “Nothing, I just hoped he’d pop in to say hi again.” She motioned to Katie then walked away in a huff.

  Katie's gaze met Ray’s. “What was that all about?”

  “Got me.” He shrugged then headed for the door and stood watching though the glass like a child waiting for the school bus.

  “Well enjoy your lunch.” She pulled out the bank deposit bag and counted some cash into it. “I need to run to the bank to get change.”

  “You can’t leave.” Ray blocked the door. “He’ll be here any second.”

  Katie laughed. “Why do I have to be here? He’s your nephew. He’s not going to steal anything, is he?”

  “No.”

  “Good. Laura can watch the store, I can go to the bank and you can go have a nice lunch. See you later.” She pushed past him and let out a sigh, nearly running into a customer in dark clothes heading into the store. He smelled of cinnamon gum and cookies, as though he’d just left the bakery. She ducked around him without bothering to glance up. What on earth is wrong with that man?

  The customer stopped, probably thinking she was a lunatic, but she didn’t look back. All she wanted was to get out of the store and to the bank for change. The sunshine warmed her face and a sweat broke out across her nose. Maybe she’d find a bench to sit on for a few minutes and just breathe.

  By the time she returned, Ray and his nephew were gone. She barricaded herself in the back room and savored the chocolate cake over a novel. The front door opened around two, and Mark sauntered in carrying a white box from the bakery up the street.

  Mimsy strolled in behind him and smiled. “I brought cookies. I didn’t think you’d get out much today. Are you expecting Christmas next week?”

  “Soon enough.” Katie flipped open the bakery box lid and kissed any thoughts of a diet good-bye. Inside lay a dozen of the bakery’s famous Blue Ribbon Chocolate Chip and Macadamia Nut Cookies. Between the cookies and the chocolate cake earlier, she’d have to run for a week straight to burn them off. “Thank you. These look amazing.”

  Laura volunteered to make a pot of coffee in the back room, something they hadn’t done since the day the store opened.

  Mark didn’t even bother to browse or have a cookie. He shot out the door unencumbered by his grandmother.

  Ray came into the store and seemed drawn to the counter by the scent of fresh baked cookies. He kissed Mimsy’s cheek. “You’re an angel. Bless you and the cookies.”

  Katie raised an eyebrow, skeptical the man had ever set foot inside a church. “Laura’s making cinnamon coffee in the back room. Why don’t you stay for a cup?”

  “Oh, I have to stay,” Mimsy smiled. “I need help.”

  “With what?”

  “Plants.” She frowned. “I’m doing some…research and need to learn about man-eating plants and some of those tropical ones they use for medicines.”

  “Research? For a…?” Katie was about to say book, but Hilda had asked her not to spill Mimsy’s secret.

  Laura leaned on the counter and shot her a scowl. “She’s just here to hang out. Isn’t that allowed?”

  “Of course but—”

  Mimsy didn’t seem to notice their exchange. “Actually, darlings, today I’m here on business. I need some good books about tropical plants.”

  Katie led them both to the gardening section.

  The scent of coffee followed them through the store. Katie’s knees were weakened from the smell. Then the front door opened and a tall dark-haired man entered. Not just any dark-haired man. The one from the salon who gave her a sense of déjà vu and had walked past the store earlier. She swallowed hard and tried not to stare.

  “Well, well, look who’s back in town.” Mimsy fanned herself with one hand like a Southern lady about to swoon. “Hello, handsome.”

  The man’s dark hair no longer curled up from his collar in delicious handfuls. His jawline reminded Katie of marble sculptures in books about Greek mythology. He smiled then wandered around the bookstore reading titles over the top of his sunglasses.

  “Got it done already?” Ray came down the stairs.

  When the man in the leather jacket looked up and grinned, all Katie’s thoughts left her head. There was something so familiar about those eyes her stomach churned.

  She straightened her ponytail and strolled toward the man in tight blue jeans, a black leather bomber jacket and dark sunglasses. Tunnel vision made her walk right into the small table full of books she’d set up that morning. Both she and the table hit the floor with a clatter. The pain in her thigh would probably leave a bruise. “I’m such an idiot.”

  A strong, tanned hand reached out to help her up.

  Katie’s gaze followed the hand up a leather sleeve to the electric blue eyes peering over the sunglasses. She could neither speak nor think.

  “Are you okay?” His voice was suede-soft and his lips so inviting, she licked her dusty ones.

  Mimsy wandered by still
fanning herself, her voice louder than it needed to be. “Laura, darling, can I get some ice water? I think I’m having a hot flash. I thought I was long past those sorts of things.”

  “I’m fine. Thanks.” Katie avoided his offer of help, aware she was dusty and disheveled from unpacking boxes.

  “That’s good. Do you work here?”

  “I sort of own here.” She righted the table and picked up the books.

  “Even better.” He slid the sunglasses to the top of his head. “I could use your help.”

  “You could?” Katie, sure she was having one of Mimsy’s hot flashes, seemed to melt like a gob of peanut butter. Her breath stuck in her throat. “Okay. What can I do to…for you?”

  The stranger’s eyes crinkled in the corners as a slow grin grew. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties. “I need a gift for a seven-year-old boy’s birthday.”

  “Oh.” Katie shut her mouth and chastised herself. He was married with children. Paulina would have enjoyed the challenge. Katie took a small step back. “We have a lot of children’s books.”

  He seemed to enjoy her discomfort and followed her toward the children’s section. “It’s my nephew’s birthday. I figured books might be the way to go this year.”

  She was caught off guard. “What does he like?”

  He stood so close her toes tingled. “He loves to read. He likes this little mouse guy who writes books but I can’t remember his name.”

  “Geronimo Stilton.” Relieved to be on familiar territory rather than thin ice, she smiled. “My nieces love those books, too. I just put the newest one in the series on the shelf today.”

  Katie handed it to him, touching his hand for a split second. The smells of leather, cologne and cinnamon around him made the room full of books seem small and stuffy. She recognized the scent. He was the customer she’d run into on her way to the bank. Had he returned simply to meet her? “We have a lot of superhero books, too.”

  “Superheroes are cool, but I think your first pick is the best. I already got him a set of tools so he can help fix things around the farm. Do you carry magazines?”