Page 54 of Stitched Up in You
“I’m creating several state-of-the-art medical clinics,” he boasts.
“Well, that’s… fun, I guess,” I say, searching for the right word. The longer we go along on this trip, the more obvious it is that Frank Stein has no idea how to have fun.
“Oh my gosh, it’s a bookstore,” I blurt, as my gaze lands on a chalkboard easel that’s been left on the sidewalk to pull in customers. The storefront is black lacquer with large windows showcasing shelves of books and what looks like an old study. Fake cobwebs litter the shop windows, a skull sits on the display table with an old textbook and quill, and the lettering reads Little Ghouls’ Bookstore.
“Look how cute! Come on,” I say, and maneuver around him to make my way up the short steps, not bothering to ask if he wants to come.
“I’ve got a phone call to take. You go ahead and I’ll be up in a minute,” he says, staring down at the phone in his hand.
“Whatever,” I say, excitement thrumming in my stomach as the bell jingles overhead when I enter the little shop.
The soft sound of music greets my ears, the melody whimsical but somehow familiar, as if I've heard it before but can't quite place where. The floor is black-and-white checkered marble, and the cozy room is filled with shoulder-high bookshelves that line the walls, and there is multiple round displays covered in books.
Nestled behind a wrought-iron gate is a lit fireplace and a pair of comfortable reading chairs and couch. “This place is beautiful,” I breathe.
“Hello and welcome, we’re having a fifty percent off sale on all nonfiction, and today’s readings are on the house. If you need any help just let me know,” a feminine voice says.
“Okay, thank you,” I say, raising my voice a little so she can hear.
After a few moments of checking out the shelves, I make my way deeper into the store, and the sweet scent in the air increases the further I go.
“Hello,” a voice calls behind me.
I turn toward the sound, finding a tall blonde woman, a little older than me if I had to guess, standing beside a round table at the back of the store. Candles dot the surface of it along with a large globe, smoking incense stick, and a deck of tarot cards.
“Hi,” I say, as I take a step near, “you’ve got such a cool store. It’s so cute.”
“Would you like your fortune? It's free,” she says, a smile pulling across her lips as she gestures at the table.
I take in her costume garb, a red skirt, wide leather belt buckle, and short-sleeved blue blouse like what I’d imagine a for real fortune teller would wear.
“They only take a few minutes if you’ve the time,” she says.
I glance back at the storefront exit, wondering when Frank will get off his phone. When I turn back around, I notice how pretty she is, high cheek bones, baby-blue eyes and wide red lips, she could be a model anywhere.
She beams another smile, one that seems genuine, and I decide to take up her offer.
Frank can figure himself out, and the fortune telling looks like it’ll be fun.
“Heck yeah, I do,” I answer, and pull out the chair to have a seat.
Chapter 21
FRANK N. STEIN
“Where is she?” I growl into the receiver of my phone, knowing Mikael will be able to find her easier than I can as I glance around the empty bookstore.
“You didn’t see her leave the bookstore and she’s not inside it?” Mikael asks over the phone.
“She’s not here,” I snarl, and make another round through the place. I’ve been in every room and broken into two above stairs when I couldn’t find her inside. I’ve been through the store top to bottom. It’s been more than twenty minutes since she went inside the bookstore, and I haven’t had sight of her since.
“You’re sure she was wearing the shoes when you left?” Mikael asks.
“Positive. I tracked her onto the balcony just this morning,” I answer, making my way back outside onto the sidewalk.
The line goes silent but for the light clicking of the keyboard while I fume. Taller than everyone by half, it should be a simplething to find her, no matter how tiny she is. I’m also positive she never came back out of the bookstore.
“We should be able to track her location down to her footsteps then, and I don’t see the device anywhere on the map. It’s like it’s not turned on,” he says.
