Page 10 of Dying to Read

Rarity wanted to remind both of them that she was standing right there.

Archer grinned. “You can go ahead. I’ll escort Miss Cole home.”

Jonathon looked between Shirley and Terrance. “I’m missing something, but I’m not going to ask. I’m already in hot water with Sam. I don’t need two Sedona women mad at me.”

“Sam’s not mad,” Drew started, but then he slapped his dad on the back. “Well, at least she’s not mad at me. Things could be worse.”

Chapter 4

Rarity’s phone rang at six the next morning, and she sat up in bed to answer it. “Drew, please tell me we’re not going on a hikethis morning.”

“No, why would I call…” Drew paused. “Never mind. I don’t want to know. Anyway, Shirley asked me to call you. She’s talking to her daughter, Kathy. She won’t be at work today.”

“Please don’t tell me that George passed on.” Rarity was instantly more awake, and she threw off the covers and went to the kitchen to make coffee.

“George is fine. William Jully was found dead in his office. It looks like an overdose, but George was seen leaving his office last night afterwe all left.”

“When we stopped by his room, George was insistent that William had killed a woman named Ruth Agee. And that the man was sneaking into residents’ rooms at night.” Rarity let Killer out in the backyard and stood by the open door, watching him. The sun hadn’t risen yet, so the world was still in that predawn glow that happened before sunrise.

Drew swore. “George told you that?”

“Me, Archer, and Terrance. Terrance calmed George down.” Rarity could see the top of her neighbor’s deck as she waited for Killer. “Terrance was good with him.”

“And there’s another problem. The night nurse told me that Terrance and the victim came to blows Friday night after we all left. She’d called and asked Terrance to come in and see if he could calm George down after he argued with Jully. Then, after Terrance gotGeorge to sleep, Jully found him in the hallway and ordered him out.” Drew paused for a second. “It’s never simple here, is it?”

“Terrance wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Rarity said. “You can’t think he went back and killed him over a fistfight.”

“People he doesn’t like seem to have a habit of getting hurt,”Drew muttered.

“What are you talking about?” Rarity felt shocked at Drew’s statement.

“Rarity, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but Terrance was in a bar fight when he was in the service. He was lucky that he had a solid alibi for later that night since the guy was sent to the hospital. He was questioned, though. Now we have a similar situation except he was standing up for George. Terrance is a white knight with questionable tactics.” Drew blew out a long breath. “Of course, I might have done the same thing.”

“Terrance and George are friends. Well, as far as George can be friends with anyone. Terrance said he helped him with the security system wiring.” Rarity sighed as she continued. “Of course, he was hiding knowing himfrom Shirley.”

“Which explains the disappearing act when Shirley walked toward us. Does she know he’s hanging out there?” Drew asked.

Killer came inside, and Rarity closed the door. “She knows he’s working there and that he has a friendship with George. She’s not happy about either. So why is Shirley at the home? You can’t believe that George killed someone. He was such a nice man before this whole thing happened.”

“She’s helping with George. He got upset during questioning. Besides, you know I can’t discuss an open investigation with you.” He paused. “I’ll send my dad down to help you today with the teenagers’ event. He’ll love me.”

After the conversation with Drew, Rarity went to pour more coffee. There was no way she was wasting emotion on William Jully. She’d only met him once, and he’d been a jerk then. She was also not going to worry about George. Drew knew that he wasn’t in his right mind but also that he wouldn’t kill anyone.

She didn’t have to open the store until nine, so she went to her bedroom and grabbed a suit. She was taking a swim before she went in.

When Katie arrived at the bookstore later that morning, Rarity pulled her aside and told her about the nursing home administrator’s death. Katie blinked and glanced around the still-empty bookstore. “For such a small town, you guys have a lot of unexplained deaths or murders. I’m beginning to be a little concerned.”

“I promise we’re not Cabot Cove.” When Katie stared at her, Rarity added, “The town inMurder, She Wrote. The television show?”

Katie still looked blank. “Sorry.”

“You realize now I feel old.” The show had been a favorite of her grandmother’s. Rarity went back to tracking her book order for the festival. “Never mind. That’s not your problem. Let me know if you need anything for the book club.”

“And count me in for help as well.” Jonathon walked in with three coffees and a bag of chocolate croissants. “I live to serve.”

“You’re not Shirley, but I guess you’ll do in a pinch,” Rarity teased as she took the coffee tray from him and set it on the counter. “You’re here almost as much as my part-time employee.”

“And he’s great at intimidating the kids when they go off to find a dark aisle where they can make out,” Katie added as she grabbed her coffee. “I’m going to go set up the club area.”

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