“Get her down,” I tell them and head back toward Beckett’s canopy. I don’t have any sort of power over the crew, but the two men renew their efforts with more vigor, so I’ll call that a win.
When I get back to the main commotion, no fewer than four people—Richie included—shuffle me away from the crane and tell me to stay somewhere safe, like I might be the next victim. It’s ridiculous, but a part of me shares their worry, so I move to the edge of the street to watch in concern.
I’m helpless, and I hate that feeling.
I need a distraction before I start coming up with questionable plans to rescue Bonnie. No one needs me climbing up the crane to try to help her out of the harness. Not that Richie would ever let me get that far.
Dexter finds me a moment later, thankfully providing me with the distraction I need. “I got that info you were wanting, Jonah!”
“Finally some good news!” I wrap an arm around his shoulders and walk us to an awning overhanging the sidewalk so we’re relatively alone. “Tell me everything.”
“Her name is June Harper,” Dexter says proudly. Yeah, okay, I shouldn’t have sent my assistant digging, but I couldn’t help it. “Moved here a couple of years ago. She used to work for a district attorney in Denver before she bought the hardware store here in Laketown from the old guy who owned it before. She hasn’t dated anyone since coming here, and the only person she talks to is the author, McAllister.”
“June and the author aren’t dating, are they?” What was the guy’s first name? Henry, according to the tabloids, but Bonnie calls him Hank.
Dexter shakes his head. “Nope. McAllister never leaves his house.”
“Except when he and Bonnie are out on a date.” During my run last night, I ran past the ice cream shop here in town and saw the two of them sitting cozy in a corner booth. There might be more truth to theHot Scooparticles about their relationship than I originally thought. “Okay, so she owns the hardware store?” That’s impressive. “Any idea why she left Denver?”
“Because the city left a bad taste in my mouth,” a feminine voice says behind me.
I whirl around, tongue sticking to the roof of my mouth as I realize I’ve been caught. I recover quickly, flashing her a smile even though she looks none too happy to see me. “June Harper.”
“How did you find all that out?” she asks Dexter.
Dexter turns a deep shade of red, which is impressive. Not much can stun him, but it seems June has slipped under his skin with a single question. “Oh, um, well, I asked around.”
Letting out a heavy sigh, June closes her eyes, like she’s praying for patience. “This town…”
“I think this town is charming outside of its ghosts,” I say.
She opens her eyes, brow furrowing. “Ghosts?”
I nod toward Bonnie. “Apparently we’re being haunted.”
“That’s not a…” She trails off as she seems to realize what she’s looking at. “Is that why everyone is freaking out? Is she stuck up there?”
“Something went wrong with the crane, and no one can get her down.”
“Poor thing.”
“Oh! That’s not good,” Dexter says. “Has anyone called 911?”
“Maybe go check on that.” I give him a narrow-eyed look that he properly interprets, nodding once before scurrying away and leaving me alone with June. “I’m sorry I had him look into you,” I tell her, though I’m not sure I mean it. “You can’t fault a guy for being curious.”
“Maybe not, but I can fault him for using small town gossip as a reliable source.”
“Was any of the intel wrong?”
It seems to cause her a great deal of pain to admit, “No.”
“I think it’s sexy that you own the store,” I tell her. “And now it makes sense how you can leave whenever you want.” I tug at her apron.
Call me crazy, but her glare is magnetic. And it’s so unlike the looks I usually get that I’m desperate for more of it, even if that means making her dislike me even more than she already seems to. Glutton for punishment over here.
“Do you ever actually do your job?” I ask her.
She rolls her eyes. “Not when you’re around.”