Page 41 of The Library of Second Chances
“Except Logan Lancaster,” Pete snarked, crossing his arms as he leaned back in his chair.
“Yet another blunder by the city, hiring that guy.” Marty shook his head. “Did you hear about what he did in San Diego?”
Lucy looked from Pete to Pam, but they looked as confused as she was. When Logan was first introduced as the new consultant, she’d meant to search for more about him online, but she’d been so busy she’d never gotten around to it.
“What did he do? Bulldoze the waterfront and throw up some gaudy condominiums?” Pete was leaning forward on the table again, eager to hear the gossip.
Marty raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised the group wasn’t better informed. “No. He blew the whole thing. Spent over a year there working on a new waterfront project to replace their old port. Some ‘live, work, play’ concept. Apparently, he was dating the daughter of the biggest investor in the project and dumped her before he crossed the finish line. Her father pulled his money out of the deal and convinced every other deep pocket in town to follow suit. Logan was chased out of town with his tail between his legs.”
Lucy was too stunned to speak. Had he used this man’s daughter to grease the wheels of his project then let her go once he’d gotten what he needed from her? She’d heard the way he charmed Mildred that first night and then Missy in the flower shop. Maybe he was the type of guy who used his good looks and charm to weasel his way into the hearts of women who could help him achieve his professional goals. Was that why he wanted to help her buy the building? Did he think she’d be so grateful she’d just turn to putty in his hands and go along with his ideas for the waterfront?
“Lucy?”
Pam’s voice startled her. She was so caught up in her thoughts, her mind racing with questions, she hadn’t heard Pam’s question. She stilled her bouncing foot.
“Sorry, what did you say?” Lucy looked around the group and realized all eyes were on her.
“Has Logan mentioned what happened in San Diego? You’ve spent the most time with him.”
“No.” She shook her head. “He’s never said a word about San Diego.”
“Isn’t that alone suspicious?” Pete raised an eyebrow as he looked around at the others.
It was, and Lucy vowed to investigate it more later.
The group promised Marty they’d look out for the restaurant at the forum, even if Mildred couldn’t make it. Lucy didn’t have much of an appetite and only took a few bites of her burger when it came. She was too preoccupied with thoughts of Logan and whether their time together had been sincere or not. Maybe those looks he gave her that made her feel as if he could see into her soul was just something practiced, like the prosecutor on the television show she watched practicing the facial expressions and eye contact his jury consultant taught him.
As they walked through the square back toward their respective shops, Lucy told the others she was veering off to check the Little Free Library.
Pam’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, is your friend still leaving you books?”
Pete stepped forward, effectively blocking their path. “Wait, what did I miss? Dish!”
Pam looked to Lucy for permission to proceed, and Lucy nodded, shrugging a shoulder as Pam told him about Gatsby’s Ghost.
“So he knows who you are, but you don’t know who he is?” Pete was as intrigued by the story as he might be about a whodunit thriller.
“No, he doesn’t know who I am either.” Then she realized he might. She wasn’t really sure. “At least, I don’t think he does.”
“How does he sign his notes? What kind of books is he leaving you?” Pete was in full detective mode now.
“He signs them all Gatsby’s Ghost, and it’s all kinds of books. It started because I left a book about Hemingway’s wife, and then he left me one about F. Scott Fitzgerald. You know I love the twenties.” Lucy’s birthday party the previous year wasThe Great Gatsbythemed.
“Hmm.” Pete tapped a finger along his jawline. “Who do we know who also loves the twenties?” His mouth fell open dramatically. “Frank! Maybe my dear Frank is thinking about stepping out on me.” Shaking his head, he frowned. “But he hates reading. Who else?”
Pam laughed. “Basically everyone who came to her party all dressed up last year?”
Everyone had really gotten into the spirit with their flapper costumes and tuxedos. It had been one of the best birthdays she’d ever had, which she’d desperately needed with Carter newly gone off to Chicago.
“I still have the invite list. I’ll have to check it when I get back to the store.” He winked and then clapped. “I love a good mystery.”
After they said their goodbyes, Lucy checked the Little Free Library and was disappointed to find nothing new from Gatsby’s Ghost. Back at the bookstore, she removed the “Gone to Lunch”sign from the window while silently hoping no one came in. She wanted to look into what Marty had said about Logan’s project in San Diego.
The story wasn’t hard to find. Every major newspaper and online outlet in San Diego had multiple articles on Logan’s deal gone wrong. They hadn’t spelled it out, but the insinuation was clear: Logan had used his relationship with the investor’s daughter to seal the deal. His only mistake had been breaking up with her before the project was complete.
At first, Lucy couldn’t reconcile what she was reading with the Logan who’d taken her on the historic tour and gazed at the gingerbread detailing like most men would a steak. Or the Logan who’d taken her to dinner and broken down some of her walls. Or the Logan who was helping her buy her building.
But then she remembered the Logan who was going door-to-door charming the downtown merchants, like Missy. The Logan who dramatically ripped up the former development plans and tried to sweet-talk the town at his first meeting. The Logan who was making offers to Mildred behind Marty’s back.
