Page 44 of Dying to Read

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Katie arrived so she could man the register during Shirley’s Mommy and Me class. Killer and Rarity were in the back room, working on business plans. At least that’s what she told herself she was doing rather than hiding. Jonathon joined her after a few minutesof the class.

“I love my granddaughter, but I can’t be around so many kids at once. No wonder I took extra shifts when Drew and his sister were young. The noise.” He settled at the other end of the table. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”

“Believe me, you’re not a bother.” Rarity snuck a look toward the madhouse that was the front of the shop. “I’m thinking that maybe I’ll be apuppy parent.”

“Oh, you’ll get baby fever. Then you can make the decision. Besides, when they’re yours you have control over them. Most of the time.” He peered at his screen. “I’m having trouble with this book. It’s the same main character because I want to have a series if the first one sells, but I’m worried it won’t and I’ll have two booksI can’t sell.”

“I heard from an author that he advises people to not even try to sell the first three books because you don’t know what you’re doing until book four.” She leaned back from the laptop.

“Well, aren’t you Little Miss Sunshine today.” He chuckled as he stood to get more coffee.

“Don’t kill the messenger.” she held up her cup and he refilled hers as well. “Hey, I have a question. Do you know Daisy Wellings? At least I think her last name is Wellings. She’s Arthur’s daughter?”

“She took her last name back when she got divorced. She came back after her mother died to help Arthur with the store, at least that’s what I heard. The son, he died a few years ago.” Jonathon sat down at thetable to talk.

“That’s sad, to lose a child. Even if they were older.” Rarity opened her website and started scanning for out-of-date information. It was like playingwhack-a-mole.

“Nick was a problem child. He was in prison for armed robbery when he died. Wasn’t his first offense either. I arrested the kid several times when I was on the job in Sedona. I guess he was a bad apple.Daisy was a good kid from what I heard. She was living with her first husband in town before Arthur moved his shop. And I went to work in New York.” He sipped his coffee. “I haven’t thought about Daisy and Nick Wellings for a long time. I can’t remember her first husband’s name, but there was a big scandal when she was caught cheating on him. Edith would know more. She and the women’s group here in town always had the gossip.”

“She seemed a little off when we were talking. At least when she found out I lived here in Sedona. Maybe it brought up bad memories.” Rarity made a note about a sale that had ended. She always reviewed the website and then went to make the changes afterward. That way she didn’t miss something.

“Well, if I knew about the affair, you can be sure most of town knew about it. She may not see Sedona as a friendly place for her. Even though it was years ago. People tend to remember the past. Even when they should let it go.” Jonathon opened his notebook and started writing. Apparently, his writing block had disappeared.

Rarity went back to her website review, thinking about what Jonathon had said. Archer’s dad seemed to be locked in the past with his concern over who had killed his mom. Shirley was locked into a past in her marriage. Terrance was in love with a woman who couldn’t even think of another man. Even though her husband didn’t remember their vows.

Sometimes life wasn’t fair. But at least she could make sure that neither George nor Terrance were charged with something they didn’t do. There had to be something in Jully’s past that had caught up with him. And the fact that he was named in a patient’s will was a great place to start. Maybe Jully had been the cause of RuthAgee’s death.

That would be something that Sally would want to hide. Even if she had nothing to do with the situation. It had happened on her watch. She’d probably hired William Jully. This was the time that Rarity wished she was a real investigator or law enforcement so she could get the woman in a room and ask some questions.

Like all those cop shows on television where the guilty party confessed because they knew they’d been caught.

Wishes and horses,she thought. Another error on the website caught her eye. At least she was productive as she avoided the shop filled with moms and babies and thought about killers andtheir victims.

That sounded bad, especially together. Rarity decided to focus on the website changes.

When Shirley came back to find them, she sank into a chair. “Those babies were so vocal today. I’m surprised Killer didn’t start barking with them during story time.”

“Killer’s afraid of kids. They move too fast.” Rarity glanced under the table where Killer was sleeping in his bed. “So your class went well?”

“Katie’s still out there dealing with the line for next week’s book.” Shirley rolled her shoulders. “I suppose we should go get her something to eat before we leave.”

“I can get her lunch when I go out for mine,” Jonathon piped in. “I need to stretch my legs anyway. Are you two heading to Flagstaff now?”

“I’m ready if Rarity is.” Shirley looked over at Rarity, who was closing her laptop.

“I should have left Killer home; I don’t want to bring him along and leave him in the car.” Rarity stoodand stretched.

“If you’re coming back here, leave him with me. I’ll walk him when I go get lunch and watch him while I’m writing. He’s not a bother.” Jonathon snapped his fingers, and Killer went over to him. “Unless you don’t want to.”

“I’m fine with it if you are. I don’t want to mess with your writing time.” Rarity tucked her laptop into her tote and grabbed her wallet. “We’llbe back soon.”

“As long as you’re here by five. Drew’s taking me to dinner tonight. The women took off for Tucson this morning.” He closed his laptop and moved to the door leading to the shop. “I told Edith I wanted to hang around for this investigation.”

“You could go home and do egg hunts,” Rarityreminded him.

“And again, there’s another reason why I’m staying here. At least until Drew heads for Tucson for Easter.” Jonathon winked. “There’s a method to my madness. This way Edith can go crazy withbaby’s first Easter stuff, and I don’t have to look at pink dresses everyfive minutes.”

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