Page 51 of Dying to Read

Marsha had lost a portion of their gift from Ruth Agee to a man she didn’t like and who had wound up dead. Marsha had even told Shirley and Rarity about his issues. That he’d been fired for inappropriate relations with a resident. Was she trying to throw a smoke screen over her guilt?

Before she could do more research, Katie and Jonathon came in the front door, chatting. “We come bearing food. Manna from heaven, to use a season-appropriate phrase.” Jonathon held up the bag. “I was in the Garnet getting my lunch when I ran into Katie. We’re going to have double chips and queso since I ordered some too. Great minds and all.”

Rarity cleared off the table in the back and then went to put up the “Closed for Lunch” sign she rarely used. Friday was a good enough reason to take a little time to eat with friends and catch up on whatwas going on.

* * *

Saturday afternoon, the bookstore was slowing down enough for Rarity to consider taking off for the quilt show. Jonathon had come in to work and had hidden back in the break room during the book club. Now that it was over, and the kids had dispersed, he was in his normalwriting spot.

“I have to say, the noise level didn’t hurt my word count as much as I’d assumed it would.” He had gone back to refill his coffee cup and was now leaning on the counter with Rarity. “It’s like having the television on at home when Edith’s out. I don’t want to be talked to or entertained, but I don’t wantto be alone.”

“Well, I think Killer and I are taking some me time and running to Flagstaff to see the quilt show.” Rarity focused on Shirley, who was restocking next month’s book club book on the shelf by the register. They kept extra copies for all the book clubs as well as a flyer with the yearly schedule and club picks on a shelf near the checkout. Rarity liked to think of it as an impulse shelf. You didn’t have to attend the club to read the book your friends were all reading.

“Go ahead and leave. I’ll be here until closing and then I’m running over to see George. Now that he’s been cleared of hurting William, he’s being moved back to his prior room. I’m sure Lizzy won’t like me there, but I’m his wife. Not her.”

Jonathon and Rarityshared a look.

Shirley must have seen it, because she laughed. “I know, it’s complicated. And I’m not jealous of Lizzy. But I’ve loved George since we were kids. That’s not going to change because he doesn’t remember our vows. And he’s been a little under the weather, so I’m concerned.”

“I hope he’s doing all right.” Rarity closed her laptop and tucked it into her tote bag. She didn’t add what she wanted to say—I hope he recognizes you.“Katie, are you working Monday?”

Katie had come over from the shelves where she’d been adding new books. “I’ll be here at noon. I’m bringing my laptop to work on a paper, in casewe get slow.”

“I can work for you if you need to do schoolwork.” Shirley turned toward Katie. “I’ll probably be baking if I don’t.”

“It’s fine. I like working here when it’s quiet.” Katie grabbed another stack of books to shelve. “Besides, with all the rare booksshowing up lately, shelving and cleaning the store is like being on an Easter egg hunt. You never know what you’re going to find.”

“Well, there’s only one more book on the Enders’ stolen book list, and that’s a first-edition Nancy Drew. Archer is convinced that the last book was in his grandmother’s library. Well, unless the books are showing up for a different reason.” Jonathon adjusted his laptop screen. “At this point, I think the thieves are on a restitution tour. Trying to get the books returned before Archer’s dad leaves this world.”

Rarity needed to think about that theory. Was someone who had been involved in the death of Marilyn Ender trying to make things right with the family before it was too late? Who knew about Archer’s dad being sick? Archer hadn’t shared much with Rarity; he’d been trying to handle everything on his own.

And she still didn’t know who killed William Jully. She would run the idea of Marsha Graves and her charity by the sleuthing group on Tuesday night. She didn’t want to kick the idea up to Drew unless they thought it might be a motive too. Would someone kill a rival over an inheritance? Money makes people do a lot of crazy things.

She said goodbye and then walked home to get her car. She didn’t mind the stroll, and it would give Killer a little more exercise before being tucked into the front seat of the car while she drove. The quilt show was outside, so they’d be able to walk around. Rarity brought a specially made tote that had slots for a water bottle, puppy bags, and even Killer if hegot too tired.

As she drove to Flagstaff, she thought about Marilyn’s death and the missing books. Why would someone go to all the trouble of stealing them just to return them years later? Marilyn was supposed to be out of the house. Had her death been accidental? She’d walked into the robbery and surprised the thief, who then turned into a murderer. The theory made sense, but the copy ofThe Fellowship of the Ringhadn’t been the one that was reported stolen.

She thought about an article about an art theft that had occurred a few years ago. The thieves had been working with a family member who had lied about the value of the painting to the insurance company for the claim. And the guy had known the man the police had arrested for the break-in. They’d gone to school together and planned the whole thing. The one man got caught when he’d triedto sell the painting in a California gallery. That’s how the police and insurance company found out the actual value ofthe painting.

Had Archer’s dad lied when he filed the insurance claim on the books? Jonathon had told her that Drew was working that angle, but he’d been busy with the recent murder. Pulling up old, closed files wasn’t a high priority for the insurance company. Maybe they should be happy the books were returned. But Rarity could see that Jonathon still wanted to solve the case, even all these years later.

It was a beautiful spring day at the park. This was the same park that had hosted the artists and their booths last year when she’d bought the painting she had in her living room. She ran into several moms whom she’d met through the book clubs and chatted for a while. Being alone didn’t mean she was lonely. She was an adult woman. She could do things by herself without Archer by her side. Besides, he’d be bored stiff if he’dcome with her.

Sometimes you had to have a me day. Killer barked at her, indicating he wanted some water. “Okay, a me and Killer day.” She took him over to the side of the booths where there was a big shade tree and took out his collapsible water dish and the water bottle. As he was drinking, her phone rang.It was Archer.

“Hey, what’s going on?” She leaned against the tree, watching Killer drink all the water and then wander off to drain his bladder. What goes inmust come out.

“I hate to do this since I know you’re probably busy at the shop, but when you close, can you do me a favor?” Archer sounded distracted.

“I’m not at the shop. I went to a quilt show.” Rarity picked up Killer’s bowl and tucked it back into her tote. She stayed under the tree as she talked to Archer. “Can I do it when I get back?”

“Are you in Flagstaff?” he asked, histone hopeful.

“Yes, at that same park,” Rarity said then paused, thinking he probably didn’t want to chat. “So what can I do?”

“We rushed Dad to the hospital. He was having trouble breathing, and Dana was watching him, so she called the ambulance. They’re probably sending him home soon and officially making the hospice decision, but I left my laptop at the house. I need the chart I made with his stats for the last week. The doctors want to see it before they make the decision.” He paused. “I’d hoped that he wouldrecover from this, but as much as Dana and I want him to bounce back, he isn’t.”

“I’m so sorry, Archer.” Rarity’s heart hurt a bit for what he wasgoing through.

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