Page 35 of Secrets in the Stacks

Rarity grabbed a formal bag big enough for her keys, her phone, and a packet of tissues. Then she gave Killer a quick hug and a lecture. “I’ll be home before it’s time for your dinner, so you just hang out here and nap.”

The look he gave her almost broke her heart.

“I can’t take you with me. Dogs are frowned upon at funerals. But I’ll be home soon. Just watch the house for me.” Rarity hurried out the door, hoping he’d just go to sleep. If he barked while she was gone, it wouldn’t bother the neighbors, but she didn’t want him upset either.

Sam was waiting for her, so she couldn’t hang out on the porch and listen for Killer. Besides, he’d be fine. She locked the door and hurried off the porch and down the sidewalk.

When she met up with Sam, sweat was starting to bead on her forehead. So much for the makeup she’d carefully applied. She’d be lucky if she didn’t look like a raccoon when she got to the church. “It’s hotter than I thought.”

“It’s not bad, but yeah, some days it’s just easier to drive, even short distances. I love living here, but you have to be acclimated to the heat.” Sam nodded at her outfit. “You look perfect. Kind of Jackie Kennedy-esque. I look like I’m a scrub nurse.”

“Whatever. Did you get any of the journals read?” She turned toward the direction of the church. “Catherine was truly amazing. Archer was telling me about her last night over dinner.”

“I did get a couple read. But something’s bothering me. They read like my homework when I was in school. English classes? She does character sketches of people in town. Like making up little stories about them? Then later, she’ll mention how close or how far away she was once she met the person. These seem to be early in her life here, because she talks a lot about missing her husband. And her son is away at school. I can’t believe she bought such a large house for just herself.” Sam stepped around a crack in the sidewalk. “I’ve made a list of questions to ask Darby, but I’m not sure she’ll know. Maybe there’s someone else who lived here when she moved here. When did Shirley and George move to Sedona?”

Rarity shook her head. “I’m not sure. But I think writing down the questions you have is brilliant. I’ve been putting stickies in places where she talks about Darby. I think Darby will love reading those passages.”

“We might not be getting any closer to solving this murder, but we are learning more about our victim. And isn’t that what they tell you has to happen in the crime shows? Know your victim?”

“Maybe you should ask Drew if that’s what they teach in the police academy in murder investigation?”

Sam choked out a laugh. “Sure, and I can drive nails through the coffin of our relationship at the same time. He thinks it’s cute we’re reading the journals, but he doesn’t think we’ll find anything in them. He’s leaning toward the botched-robbery theory.”

“Except the fact that nothing was taken,” Rarity reminded her.

Sam shrugged. “So we’re back to knowing our victim.”

Rarity held the door to the church open for Sam. “Or knowing the people around her.”

The church lobby was filled with people milling about. Most seemed to be standing in front of the vents, trying to capture the cool air blasting out. It was warmer in here than she’d expected. She saw Shirley across the room and waved.

Shirley hurried over to meet them. “The minister forgot to tell the janitorial staff about the service, so they’ve been trying to cool down the place since I got here. I swear, Catherine is going to melt in that coffin. Or at least her makeup will.”

Rarity pressed her lips together so she didn’t laugh. Especially since she wanted to so badly, it would probably come out as a loud bray in the solemn atmosphere. “I’m sure it will be cooled down soon. Have you seen Darby?”

Shirley nodded to the chapel doors that stood open to welcome the attendees. “She’s sitting in there. Her folks showed up a few minutes ago, and she about fell apart. They took her into the chapel and have been talking since. I’d like to give them a piece of my mind. I can’t believe they left her to deal with all of this.”

Rarity moved so she could see into the chapel, but she could only see the backs of their heads. She was sure someone would give Darby’s parents the talking-to Shirley had mentioned, but it wouldn’t be her. Rarity tended to stay away from conflict and especially family drama. She glanced around the lobby again. No one was hurrying into the chapel, probably because it would be even hotter in there. “Have you seen Holly or Malia?”

As she spoke their names, the women came into the lobby area. Holly stopped short and put a hand on her chest. “It’s so hot in here.”

Rarity smiled at Holly’s directness and waved at them to come over and join the group. Holly got Malia’s attention and pointed toward them. They hurried over. She pointed to the black suit jackets they wore over their dresses. “You look nice.”

“Thanks, but these are coming off right now.” Holly shrugged out of her jacket, as did Malia. “When we attended Martha’s funeral, I’d felt a little casual, so Malia and I went shopping and bought these jackets to go over the dresses. Now I think we wasted our money.”

“You’ll wear them sometime.” Shirley pushed a stray hair out of Holly’s eyes. “You look pretty. Maybe there are some single guys here. I understand that funerals are a good place for meetups.”

Malia snorted. “Meetups?”

“Is that the wrong word? When you meet a guy for the first time?” Shirley looked between the two women. “Or has that changed in the forty years since I was in the dating world?”

Rarity hugged Shirley. “Let’s call it a meet cute. I think meetups might have a more physical meaning.”

Shirley’s face turned beet red. “I didn’t mean…”

Malia took her arm. “Let’s go into the chapel. I think the service is about to start. There are ushers at the door trying to give out those program thingies.”

Rarity started to follow them, but then she was stopped by Jonathon Anderson. She waved the others on and turned to greet him. “Jonathon, we meet in the nicest places.”

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