Page 43 of Dying to Read

She glanced around the room. “Anything else we should belooking into?”

“I’m going to go talk to Terrance and find out why Drew thinks he’s a good suspect. I know he didn’t like Jully because of the way he treated the residents. But maybe there’s something more. Something more direct.” Shirley didn’t look up from the crocheting project in her lap. “I couldn’t go when Kathy was here, but I can go now. I trust Terrance and I don’t think hekilled anyone.”

“Now we have to prove that and find out who did kill Jully. I think the suspect pool is opening up a little. Drew needs to do a deeper dive into Jully and his history.” Rarity glanced at Jonathon. She didn’t want to be the one to tell Drew that he was looking at the wrong suspects. But it wasn’t fair for Jonathon to have to be the Drew whisperer either.

The smile on his face proved to Rarity that even though Jonathon didn’t read minds, he did have a little insight into people. And he’d understood her look. Jonathon’s insight was a lot like the amazing Kresto, who performed at kids’ birthday parties all over Sedona. The magician even had a little bunny that lived inside his black top hat. At least it did during the party.

If only solving a murder was as easy as a magic trick. And killers were simple to pull out of a hat, likeKresto’s bunny.

Rarity looked at her meager list on the whiteboard. There was one more thing. Something she’d heard at the festival. “We need to talk to Sally and try to find out what she thought she was hiding when she threw away that file and from whom.”

If the woman would even consider telling her the truth. From what Rarity could see, Sally was all about herself and her job. If she thought the secret would destroy her memory care center, she would hold it forever. Or at least until someone with authority asked. Authority was the one thing Rarity didn’t have. And something that Sally would never give up. Even during a casual conversation with someone considered a friend.

Chapter 17

Archer came to the bookstore as the book club ended. Rarity was finishing cleaning up with Jonathon and Sam when he came inside. Rarity felt a smile come out of nowhere when the door opened. The other two left quickly after Archer’s arrival.

“Do I know how to clear a room or what?” Archer looked around and found Killer sleeping in the bed by the fireplace. He went over and grabbed the pup. “Anything else that we need to do before I walk you home? Dana’s with Dad. He’s asleep, but I don’t like leaving her there for long alone with him. Sometimes he has bad dreams.”

“You didn’t need to worry about me getting home. I’m sure Jonathon or Sam would have stayed and walked with me.” Rarity walked over and kissed him and then tucked her murder book into her tote. “And you didn’t scare them off. I think they know that alone time is precious lately for us.”

“Well, whatever happened and why, I’m glad it’s the two of us.” Killer barked at him, and Archer laughed then clarified his statement. “Sorry, just the three of us. I would have thought you would have left him home today.”

“I didn’t want to ask Terrance to watch him. With Drew clearing George, Terrance is next on the list. Shirley’s going to talk to him and see why Drew even thinks he’s a suspect.” She locked up the bookstore and turned on the security alarm. “You didn’t send me a journal, did you?”

“No. Was I supposed to? Don’t tell me I missed something important like your birthday. But no, that’s in October. Who’s sending you journals?” He set Killer down after he’d clicked on the leash. “Ihaven’t been that bad of a boyfriend that others are taking my place already. Have I?”

“I haven’t been interviewing any replacements,” Rarity teased. “I don’t know who sent this journal. It had a note, but no name, only an initial. And something about documenting my new journeys. I guess it could be someone who knows I’m new to Sedona. It’s a beautiful notebook. It would make a lovely diary of all the trails we’ve covered and the ones we want to hike. I’m probably thinking too much about it.”

“Tell me about your visit to the other bookstore. How does it feel to own a piece of literary history?” Archer’s voice came over from the darkness next to her.

“I don’t know. That Daisy woman I asked you about, she was there yesterday. But she was weird. I wondered if they got a better offer for the book after I bought it.” Rarity leaned into Archer’s shoulder. “I don’t get how the value of expensivebooks is set.”

“Maybe it’s that beauty is in the eye of the beholder thing. Anyway, thanks to you, my family has two of our heirloom books back in our possession. Maybe we should loan them to you to display at the store. That way you don’t have tobuy your own.”

“Sure, and if they get stolen, then both your dad and Dana will hate me forever.” Rarity nodded toward Terrance’s dark house. “He must be out on patrol tonight, or out with his friends. I wish he and Shirley were still hanging out. He misses her.”

“Shirley needs to make her separation from George legal. It would probably save her some money and she wouldn’t have to feel bad about seeing Terrance.” Archer reached for Rarity’s keys. “I don’t like talking about divorce, especially coming from a broken home, but Shirley’s the only person in her marriage now. George isn’t the man she married anymore. It was that way for my mom when Dad went crazy after Grandma was killed. All he could talk about was revenge. Finding the people who had killed her. Mom, Dana, and I, honestly, ceased to exist for him. He never came back. Even now, he talks more about that day than any other day in my lifetime. Or at least he did last week. Now, he sleeps.”

They went inside, and Rarity set her tote down and took off Killer’s leash. “I’m sorry you’re going through this with him. What do thedoctors say?”

“He’s slipping away. They were saying six months; now it’s a couple of weeks. I’m not sure he’ll even be around that long. He’s not eating and only takes water when he takes his meds.” Archer fell into a chair, his head in his hands. “I don’t want to burden you, but it’s bad. Dana sits there, not watching television. Not reading. Just listening for his next breath. We talk about our memories growing up. The things we did before Grandma was killed. After that, well, Dad wasn’t around much. Mom took on the role of sole provider, so she was working a lot. It wasDana and me.”

Rarity sat next to him and put her arm around him. “I’m so sorry, Archer.”

“We were supposed to be talking about Terrance and Shirley. I sidetracked the conversation.” Archer leaned into her. “I’m glad I cantalk to you.”

“I’m here, anytime.” Rarity glanced at the kitchen. “Have you eaten? I can make something.”

“Dana cooked. She’s like me, cooking and keeping busy helps her deal.” He sat up straighter. “But you’re probably hungry. I could grill somethingif you want.”

“Shirley and I went down to the Garnet for dinner before Katie left. I’m good.” She leaned her head down to his. “Look at the two of us, trying to take care of the otherthrough food.”

“Food is love.” He reached up and pulled her into a kiss. His phone rang, interrupting them. He glanced at the display. “Sorry, it’s Dana.I need to go.”

Rarity watched as he headed to the door, answering the call as he walked. He’d left his truck at the bookstore, so he had to go back into town before he could even head toward his dad’s apartment. She stood at the door watching him run up the street. Killer barked after him. She scooped up the little dog and went inside, after checking for lights over at Terrance’s house. It was still dark, but it had only beena few minutes.

“Let’s go find a movie.” Rarity locked the door as she headed back inside. Tomorrow would be soon enough to worry about the men in her life. Besides, she and Shirley were heading into Flagstaff to see what they could find out about William Jully. Focusing on one mystery at a time in her life would probably be best.

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