Page 29 of Dragon Detective

“Well, when you do, remember me,” she said brightly. “I’ll give you a great cut on whatever I sell.”

“I’ll keep you in mind. It beats holding a yard sale.”

She shuddered; her hand fluttered against the lacy collar at her throat. “You can never do such a thing. I repeat, never sell anything from that attic at a yard sale.”

“Why not? Some of it is basically trash, though I guess someone else might believe it’s treasure.”

“What treasure?” she barked. Her gaze traveled to the solitary window on the fourth floor. Funny how attics had the best view, this one high enough to see over the tallest trees in my backyard. I should put a deck up there. I could sit there in the evening with a beer or a glass of wine and take in the view.

“I was referring to the saying, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” I said. “Although, in this case, I guess we should say woman’s treasure, don’t you think?”

“Oh, yes. Anyway.” She stood. “Let me know when you plan to go through the attic, and I’ll come right away to help.”

“It’s dusty up there.” She was old. I wouldn’t want to compromise her lungs.

“I can wear a mask.” Her gaze slid toward the window again. “Or we can open that up and turn on a fan.”

“Alright.” I stood as she hurried back down the path, then grabbed my nearly empty water glass. I took it inside, where I rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher, something I’d had installed within a day of moving in since there wasn’t one.

Since I needed more paint for the bedroom I planned to start tackling this afternoon, I grabbed my card and opted to walk to Shriek & Nail. Before I left, I collected my library books that were nearly due. I could drop them off, chat with Bailey if she was filling in, and see if my books on hold had come in. I was eager to read the next installment in my favorite series, one that featured a woman sleuth traveling through Egypt during the early 1900s. She was falling for the cocky hero, and I couldn’t wait to see what trouble they got into next.

I locked up and left a note on the door for Reylor, telling him where I hid the spare key in case he arrived here before me and wanted to go inside. I might even be back before he returned, though if I got chatting with one of my neighbors, he might beat me here.

The sidewalk was busy with moms pushing strollers and businesspeople striding toward either Mystic Mocha for a coffee or the Salty Fang Pub for lunch. My belly rumbled, reminding me it had been some time since I’d eaten a muffin. A woman could not live on muffins and coffee alone.

I strode up the walk and entered the library, going over to the desk to unload my books. As I’d thought, Bailey sat behind it.

“Covering for lunch?” I asked.

“Yup.” She gave me a smile, and her hand stroked her distended baby belly. “This may be my last time for a while since this little one will be with us soon.”

She was married to Katar, the orc who ran Monsters, PI. They’d met while he was solving the case of a missing orc tome that was stolen while on display at the library. She’d worked as the librarian back then, though now she now held the prestigiousposition of curator of the orc king’s precious books. They rotated them through the library so that the community could enjoy them. On the side, she filled in at the reception desk at Monsters, PI, though I heard they’d hired a full-time receptionist recently. Just in time.

“I don’t suppose my books on hold have come in yet?” I asked, nodding to one of my neighbors sitting in the open area beside the stacks on my left. “How’s it going, Victor?”

Victor Drake huffed my way and raked his hand through his silver hair. About sixty, he ran the only other B&B in town, three doors down from mine. I’d stayed there for a few nights while negotiating the sale of my building, and he’d mentioned that he rarely had a vacancy, especially during high season. The only reason he’d had room for me was because he’d had a late cancellation.

“Ignore him.” Bailey rolled her eyes. “He brought an attitude with him today, and he hasn’t shrugged it off yet.”

“Did he say why he’s upset?”

“Not so far, but I didn’t ask.” Her smile rose. “Let me go grab those books for you. If you’ll wait here? They’re in the back room.”

“Sure. Thanks.”

She strode down the hall, and I went over to stand beside Victor. “Hey.”

He glared up at me, his finger holding his place in the book he was reading. “What do you want?”

“Just saying hello. Being neighborly, and all that.”

“Go take care of your own business and leave me to mine.”

Snooty today? Weird. He was pleasant when I stayed at his B&B.

I wasn’t sure why I didn’t pivot on my heel and stride back to the desk. I didn’t owe him anything. But when I moved here, I was determined to become a welcome part of the community,and I could only do that by making friends. He and I should naturally gravitate together since we ran the same sort of business. I could send guests to him if I was full, and he could do the same. We’d already swapped recipes when I stayed there, and I had to admit, his lemon poppy seed cake was amazing. The recipe came out perfect every time. He’d complimented me on my apple pie, and I’d shared my mom’s secret crust ingredient.

“What are you reading?” I asked.

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