Page 1 of Secrets in the Stacks

Chapter 1

Rarity Cole stood beside the fireplace in her bookstore, surrounded by the chattering women of the Tuesday night Survivors’ Book Club. In only six months, the group had gone from Shirley, the lone member that first week, to a group of ten. Some members came off and on, but her sleuthers crew, they came every week. Darby Doyle was their newest member. She came weekly for the support and the friendships. Darby was a year out from treatment, but her first annual mammogram was coming up, and the girl was worried. She’d already put off college while she was healing, so now she was busy with school. And Darby was also Rarity’s newest part-time help for the bookstore.

“So next weekend is the fall festival. The Next Chapter—which means Darby and I—will be manning a Healing through Reading tent, and on the side will be our book club’s hydration and cooling station. That way, if someone buys a book, they can wander into the cooling station and do some reading.” Rarity handed out the schedule on a clipboard. “Now this is a volunteer opportunity, but if you can’t attend, I understand. Just give me a call if something comes up and you can’t keep your scheduled time.”

Malia Overstreet held up her hand. “I’m working at the Garnet Friday and Saturday nights, but I can do an early afternoon shift at the cooling station. I didn’t sign up last week because I didn’t know my work schedule.”

“There’s a couple of spots that only have one person Saturday afternoon, so you’re welcome to fill one or more of those.” Rarity glanced around the room. “I appreciate you all helping out with this. When the council rep came and asked me if I’d combine the cooling booth with the bookstore, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to pull it off.”

Holly Harper pointed to a place on the schedule for Malia to sign up. Probably the slot where Holly had been alone. Then she turned toward Rarity. “We’re a team, Rarity. If you need something, we’ll be there. It’s the code.”

And it was the code. When her last mammogram had turned into an unexpected callback for additional scans, the entire book club had gone with her. And then they’d had dinner in town to celebrate the negative results. Rarity had moved to Sedona knowing only one person who lived here. Now, less than a year later, she had a tribe. “You’re all the best. Thank you.”

Holly air-hugged Rarity from her chair. “Not a problem. So let’s talk about this book. Who thought the mystery was rushed?”

Malia sighed. “It pains me to say it, because I loved the first book by the author so much. But everything hinged on one clue. If she hadn’t found that diary, the mystery wouldn’t have been solved. I don’t like books like that.”

An hour later, they were breaking up and heading out the door. Darby cleaned up the coffee-and-lemonade area before stopping at the register, where Rarity was doing her closing checklist. “Hey, do you mind if I take a few cookies? I’m running home to see my grandmother for a few minutes to check on her. I’m sure she’d love the treat.”

“Of course. Take as many as you want. If not, they’ll be in the break room tempting me all day tomorrow. I appreciate the help today. Tomorrow’s a class day, right?” Rarity finished counting the money and put it into a bank bag. She leaned down to the floor and opened the safe, tucking it inside. She did a deposit midday, so usually, there wasn’t a lot of money in the bag. And the safe was secure. Drew Anderson, one of Sedona’s police detectives and a friend, had checked it out a few weeks ago when she’d mentioned leaving cash in the store overnight. She’d gotten the lecture about never letting anyone know there was money, but once he saw the safe, he had changed his mind. The prior owner had secured it in the floor, and there was a piece of flooring that went over it. If it was ever broken into, it was someone who knew the building.

“It’s Math for Business Decisions day. Seriously, I feel like I’m just an idiot every time I walk into that class. I just don’t get the theories. And now, it’s too late to drop it. I just hope I get a bump in my grade for my hard work and participation, because my tests are harsh.” She studied Rarity. “You run a business. How much math is there?”

“I run a retail business. There’s still a lot of math, but mostly accounting.” She started turning off lights. “Bring in your book the next time you work, and maybe I can help you with the concepts.”

“That would be cool.” Darby tucked the leftover cookies in her striped tote and then put it over her head and arm. “I’ll see you Thursday. Night, Killer.”

Killer, Rarity’s Pomeranian, walked over from his bed by the fireplace where he’d been sleeping. He eyed the water and food dish that had already been dumped out for the night. Rarity picked him up and rubbed his nose with hers. “You ready to head home for the night?”

He cuddled into her arms as she struggled to put her jacket on and her tote over her shoulder. She picked up her keys and headed to the door.

When she got outside, she turned around after locking the door. A man sat on the bench near the sidewalk. She focused on him as her eyes adjusted to the dim light. “You could have come inside.”

Archer stepped closer and took her tote from her. “I’m enjoying the night air. Mind if we walk to your house?”

“You’re the one who’ll have to walk back here after dinner.” She clipped Killer’s leash on, leaned into Archer Ender’s side, and put her free arm around him. Rarity wasn’t quite ready to use the label, boyfriend, but if they continued down this path, she could be convinced.

“I’ll survive. How was your book club?” He’d become a regular visitor on Tuesday nights after she closed her bookstore. She figured he didn’t like the fact that she was walking home alone so late. And he liked her company.

“Good. I knew Holly would trash the book we read because of its plot line, but even Malia saw the problem, and she loves this series. They’re becoming really solid reviewers.” She thought about tonight’s discussion and smiled.

“Proud mama moment.” Archer glanced up at the sky. “It’s going to be a clear night. If you’re planning on swimming, you probably should let me make dinner. Otherwise, it’s going to be too cold to swim later.”

She laughed. “Maybe I’m a polar bear. Too cold is kind of relative, but I won’t fight you if you want to cook tonight.”

“Done deal.”

They walked in silence for a while, and as they turned onto her street, he glanced at a text that had beeped. “I’m going to be shorthanded for the festival booth. Calliope has a conflict and can’t work Friday night.”

“Hot date?” Rarity didn’t like Archer’s receptionist, secretary, and accountant. Calliope was basically Archer’s administration staff, all rolled into one. And the feeling was mutual. Calliope saw Archer as her property, and Rarity was seen as the interloper.

“I don’t think she’d blow me off for a date.” He held his hands out for Rarity’s keys as the two of them stepped on the porch. “But you never know. She’s still acting strange. Like I betrayed her when we started dating.”

Rarity didn’t respond. She just took off Killer’s lead and turned on the lights in the living room.

“Come on, I’ve told you there was nothing going on between me and Calliope.” He moved to the kitchen and opened the fridge, getting out two chicken breasts.

Rarity paused before going into the bedroom to change into her swimsuit. “I know you did. But did you tell her?”

---