Page 42 of Dying to Read

Rarity examined the return address. Nothing she recognized. It had been sent from Denver. Who did she know in Denver with a first initial ofKwho would send her a gift?

She sank on the stool she kept behind the counter and stared at the journal. The answer to her question was nobody. She didn’t know anyone who lived in Denver. And she wasn’t expecting any gifts from anyone else.

The bell over the door rang and two women walked in, chatting. Rarity tucked the journal and note back into the envelope and put it under the counter. She wasn’t about to take on any more mysteries. Not until she found the answers to the two, or more, mysteries already front and center in her life.

No, today she was a bookseller. She’d put on her sleuthing hat tomorrow night during the book club meeting. She focused on the two women and their banter. “So how can I help you find yourperfect read?”

* * *

Rarity kept her bookseller focus on right up until the Tuesday Night Sleuthing Club opened the next evening with a pan of Shirley’s brownies on the table. The smell of deep, dark chocolate filled the room. One of these with black coffee could keep you up for days, but the insomnia was worth the price of the treat. Rarity watched as her friends chattered while everyone got settled. There’d been no book discussion scheduled this week. Their nonsleuthing members had called off after the last meeting. As one would expect in a small town when a murder investigation was going on and the club was involved, everyone knew what they were doing. Add in Jonathon’s attendance, and the chance of the group only talking about a book wasslim to none.

Everyone had their notebooks out and a pen in hand. It was time to evaluate the clues. Rarity turned the discussion to Shirley first. “What happened in the meeting at Sedona Memory Care yesterday? Can you update us?”

Shirley had taken the last bite of her brownie. She held up one finger as she washed the treat down with coffee. “Sorry, you took me by surprise. The meeting was civil. They aren’t kicking George out. The doctor and the charge nurse both believe that there is no indication that George is violent now or since he’s been in the facility. Poor Kathy broke down in tears. She’d been more worried than I’d realized about what might happen to her dad.”

“Drew got the report from the nursing home this morning,” Jonathon confirmed. “He’s not as convinced as George’s medical providers, but he’s willing to beopen minded.”

“Well, George didn’t kill that awful man, and Drew might need to work harder to find out who did.” Shirley stared at Jonathon then continued. “Sally wants us to know that William Jully’s memorial is being held at the Christian church in Flagstaff on Thursday at ten. If anyone wants to come. She’s having a hard time finding friends and family to invite.”

No onesaid anything.

“The social worker told her that she was working that day and would be unable to attend. Right there, during the meeting. I guess she works part-time at the Flagstaff facility.” Shirley brushed off her hands and grabbed the afghan she was working on.

“Jully worked at the Flagstaff home before coming to Sedona,” Rarity added. “Gretchen from the animal shelter knew him from there. She said he was horrible there like he was in Sedona. I wonder if the social worker knew him from there?”

Shirley shrugged. “I would assume so. Members of the admin team seem to work together. At least they do at the Sedona home. Do you want to take a ride tomorrow and see if there is anyone besides the social worker there willing to chat for a minute about the guy? I need to visit anyway in case I need to move George in the future if any other episodes occur.”

“After Mommy and Me, that would be great. Katie can hold down the fort while we’re gone.” Rarity paused before turning to the whiteboard. “Moving George is your coverstory, right?”

Shirley smiled and nodded. “I know what to say without jeopardizing the case.”

Jonathon held up his hand. “I’ll write here tomorrow. I haven’t been hanging out much this trip.”

Rarity wrote on the whiteboard,Find out more about William Jully when he worked at Flagstaff Extended Care.“Anyone else have any reports or information to give?”

Holly raised her hand. “I found the final probate report on Ruth Agee. Once probate is completed, the court documents are public record. She died on November third and her estate was distributed last month. She didn’t have relatives, but there were some charity bequests and a late-in-the-game change. She left a good amount of her estate to William Jully. The new will was signed by Ruth in October and notarized by the business office manager at Sedona Memory Care, McKenzie Jones. I wonder if she knew her boss was coming into a windfall. Or if she only notarized the signatures.”

The group looked at each other. Finally, Malia stood to get another brownie. “We’re saying someone who was charged with caring for the elderly instead befriended them, then got them to change their will so they could gain financially when someone passed on? Or worse, when Jully pushed them into their next reality? He was a Dr. Death. Right here in Sedona.”

“Potentially a Dr. Death,” Jonathon pointed out. “I don’t think anyone’s upset enough about his death to try to protect his legacy. But there could be someone.”

“Like Lizzy Hamilton. I’m not sure she’s put together enough to pull off a lawsuit.” Rarity nodded at Holly. “Anything else about the will?”

“Something weird, not about a will. It was about Lizzy Hamilton. Her sister filed for conservatorship, saying that Lizzy isn’t fit to handle her own affairs.” She looked around the group. “The judge asked to talk to Lizzy directly and the interview is going to happenthis Friday.”

“Wait, Lizzy thinks she’s getting sprung from the facility, but really, this sister is clamping down tighter on her ability to get out.” Rarity shook her head. “I’ve talked to Lizzy. I’m not sure she could survive in the real world. She’d fall for the first scammer who told her thathe loved her.”

“Maybe she did?” Jonathon was writing inhis notebook.

Rarity set the marker down. “Jonathon, do you want to share with the restof the class?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. But I’m beginning to think that Lizzy’s the clue here. Or the tip of the iceberg. Who’s going to the funeral with meon Thursday?”

Holly shook her head. “I’m working nights. I’ll be crashed.”

“Funerals freak me out.” Malia crossed her arms in front of her. “Not I, saidthe red fox.”

Rarity saw the answer on Shirley’s face. She didn’t want to go. Jonathon nodded when Rarity met his gaze and she wrote their nameson the board.

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