Page 25 of Secrets in the Stacks

“I knew them all. Catherine went to my church. She was so helpful after, well, after George got sick. He’s better now, but back then, I didn’t know what to do. Catherine came over and helped me walk down the path where I needed to be heading. She was very kind. I’ll miss her.”

Rarity didn’t want to push her, but this was the first time Shirley had even mentioned knowing Catherine. “I’ve heard she was a very caring woman. My neighbor, Terrance, he said she was kind to him as well. And very generous.”

Shirley laughed as she stepped away from the railing and went back to the makeshift bar. “That was true. Catherine never knew a charity she didn’t love or a cause she didn’t support. For someone who said she moved here to get away from the limelight when her husband died, she was active in everything. At least she was until Darby was born. Then she became almost a shut-in. Darby didn’t even have a babysitter during her childhood. If her mom couldn’t be there, Catherine stepped in. She was devoted to that child.”

“Which all makes it even harder to figure out any reason anyone would want to hurt her. I’m thinking the motive had to be robbery.” Rarity sighed as she sipped her wine.

Holly came out on the deck and set down two more bottles of wine. “I heard what you just said. According to the police report, Darby said nothing was missing. Hi, Shirley. Hi, Rarity. I like seeing you all more than just at the book club meeting on Tuesdays.”

Rarity moved back to her chair, where Killer was sitting up, watching the new arrivals. “Well, we could skip the book club if we don’t think we need it.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Holly removed the top from one of the bottles and grabbed a soda for herself. “I’ve got tons of data we need to talk about. And we need to figure out if we’re continuing this arrangement.”

“If you’re talking about me having babysitters, my vote is no.” Darby came onto the patio and curled her nose at Holly’s soda. “I’m having a glass of wine. Homework is done, and I don’t have to think about statistics until next week.”

“What? Are you saying you don’t love having people around twenty-four seven?” Sam followed Darby out on the patio with Malia. Each woman carried a couple of pizza boxes. “Grab your drinks. Holly and Malia need to eat and get back to work, so we’ll have Rarity explain what we’re doing with Darby’s library first. That way if they have any great ideas, they can shoot us a text.”

Rarity took a sip of her wine, then stood. Her gaze fell on the gate where the intruder had left the yard the other night, and a shiver went through her body. Keep it cool. She cleared her throat and looked down at her notes. “Okay, so everyone’s probably aware that Darby’s house was broken into sometime Wednesday night. I’m assuming the guy came in when the doors were unlocked, then left later after he searched the study. We know he didn’t get the entire study searched because at least a few shelves didn’t have the books on the floor. I’d like to start there. Please pull aside anything that appears to be a first edition. If you’re not sure, come see me, and I’ll explain what to look for. But if you’re still unsure, leave it down off the shelves. I need you to write the title, author, publisher, and copyright date on a form. I’ve made forms and tucked them onto clipboards with pens for your use. So if you run out of forms, just ask, and I’ll give you more. When you leave, give me your clipboard, and then over the next week or so, I’ll give Darby an offer on her grandmother’s library. Which is one of the reasons we’re doing this. From my initial review of the study, the bookstore would like to buy a majority of these books, if Darby wants to sell. No rush, though. The second part is more important. We need to find out what the guy who broke in was looking for. Darby thinks there might be at least one more first edition here. Or at least the thief thinks there is. And sometimes, that’s just as important.”

“You think he killed Darby’s grandmother over a book?” Malia shook her head. “That’s cold.”

“A book or the money it represents. People do a lot of things for money.” Rarity took the box Sam handed her and took out a couple of slices of veggie pizza. She set them on her plate and passed the box to Holly next to her. “Any questions?”

“Was he looking for the book when he killed her?” Darby asked as everyone looked at her. Her pizza sat on the plate, untouched.

“We don’t know. At least, I don’t know. We’re guessing here. But we know you didn’t kill your grandmother. So we need to find a reason someone else might have.” Sam pointed to Darby’s food. “Now, let’s eat and talk about something fun. Who’s been out on a trail lately?”

The dinner went by fast, and Holly and Malia insisted on working in the study for a few minutes before they left. When Holly handed Rarity the paper, she tapped her pen on the clipboard. “I’m afraid I only reviewed about twenty. There are an awful lot of books in this room. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Rarity tucked the page into her notebook. “That’s twenty that don’t have to be researched. Every little bit helps.”

Holly shook her head. “Sometimes, you’re just a little too positive for me. I bet you drove the cancer pod you were in crazy. Tell me the truth, did they plot your demise in front of your face?”

Rarity felt her lips twitch. “The others in my cancer pod were supportive and happy to get my one-a-day mantra, I’ll have you know. Those affirmations have been part of my life since Sam brought me a book filled with positive mantras for my first week of chemo. I had a new one for every treatment day. And it worked. Cancer-free after all these years.”

Malia handed Rarity her clipboard. “Don’t mind her, Rarity. She’s not a positive mantra fan. I used to slip them into her pocket so she’d find them when she took off her coat.”

“Or in the wash. I found the first one she left in the wash. I started watching for them after that. Who wants little pieces of paper lint on their sweaters?” Holly shoulder butted Malia.

The book club was in rare form tonight. Rarity watched as the two women continued their bickering as they made their way out the door and back to work. And best of all, they were all there to help support Darby.

Chapter 11

Rarity spread out the lists she had collected after finishing the inventory of the Doyle library. It had taken longer than she’d expected, so she and Killer hadn’t made it home until late on Sunday. After a quick swim, she’d put some soup on for dinner and then sat at the table with the paperwork she’d brought back.

She’d gone through most of the pages, and except for a few first editions that seemed to be in excellent shape, the library wasn’t unusual. Or—she rephrased the thought—the library wasn’t unusual enough for someone to break in and steal it or kill someone over a book. Unless they’d already gotten what they were looking for. And if that was true, she wouldn’t know.

She pulled the lists together and put them in a folder. Then she tucked the folder away into her tote. Killer was lying on his bed near the back patio door, where he could watch for any backyard intruders. So far, he’d been less than successful in finding any intruders. Or she could reframe that and say he’d been ultra-successful since no one dared to come into his yard.

Rarity scooped the little dog up and carried him over to the couch. It was time for some relaxing before she looked at her need-to-do-around-the-house list and completed a project. She turned on the television, and a local news channel came on.

Drew was being interviewed outside the police station. She turned up the volume.

“No, I don’t think we have a serial killer on the loose in Sedona.”

“Catherine Doyle, a local philanthropist and community leader, was killed in her home. Should the rest of the townsfolk be worried about their safety?” The reporter, a young woman who looked fresh out of college, pressed on.

“Like I’ve said before, I’m not at liberty to discuss an ongoing investigation, but it’s not a serial killer, or aliens, or a conspiracy. It’s a murder investigation. Maybe you should do a piece on the festival last weekend or the shops on Main Street. We have several that you’d probably love to explore.”

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