Page 9 of Secrets in the Stacks

Rarity laughed. “Mine either. I like food too much. Go have fun, and tell Holly and Malia how much I appreciated all their help this weekend. We need to celebrate at the book club on Tuesday.”

“Maybe I should join too.” Archer took the box and set it on the dolly, then picked up the travel register. “Do you have any bungee cords?”

“Of course.” Rarity pulled several out of her tote and handed them to Archer. She went around the table to dump out Killer’s water dish. “See you Tuesday, Darby.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Darby put on her cross bag and left the tent.

Archer finished securing the register and then glanced around the almost empty tent. “I thought she’d never leave. Anything else you need here?”

“Nothing except this.” Rarity stepped over and kissed him. When they separated, she pointed to the dolly. “You take that, and I’ll deal with Killer.”

“I’m thinking you’re getting the better end of this deal.” He grabbed the handle and leaned it over, ready to pull it over the uneven grass. “Let’s go. I think I heard someone say hot tub when I came into the tent. My back is killing me.”

They were back at Rarity’s house and dinner was in the oven when the call came from Drew. She held the phone up for Archer to see who was calling. “Hey, we’re just starting dinner. Do you want to come by?”

“I’m working tonight. Sorry to interrupt your dinner. Who’s with you? Sam or Archer?” Drew asked.

Rarity frowned. “Archer. Why? Don’t tell me there’s a problem at the bookstore.”

“No, or at least not that I know of. Look, I need you to come over to Darby’s grandmother’s house. Archer knows the way. Let him drive you.”

“Is something wrong with Darby? I let her go a little before six. Didn’t she get to the house yet? Maybe she went out with Holly and Malia. They were meeting for dinner.” Rarity sank into a chair by the table. Something was wrong. She could feel it from Drew’s clipped tone.

“No, Darby’s fine. Upset, but she’s not hurt. It’s her grandmother. Catherine’s dead.”

Chapter 4

Archer drove them over to Catherine Doyle’s house, which was on the same street as Sam’s. Several police cars were in the driveway and an ambulance was in the street. Archer pulled to a stop, but Rarity could see the house’s front door from where she sat. As she climbed out of the car, a couple of county employees wheeled out a stretcher from the house with a black body bag on top. Rarity paused, holding on to the door of her Mini Cooper like a lifeline.

Archer came around the car and put his arm around her. He shut the door and stood in front of her to block her view.

“That must be Darby’s grandmother. I wish I’d gotten a chance to meet her.” Rarity tried to look around Archer, but he held her by the shoulders.

“Rarity, are you all right? Are you sure you want to do this? I can take you home, and I’ll come back and talk to Darby.” He searched her face with his gaze, his warm brown eyes showing compassion for her reaction.

“It’s hard to see someone die. I know, I lived through my illness, but a lot of people don’t. Being here is just bringing up a lot of feelings. Give me a second to breathe, and I’ll be fine.” Rarity hoped she was right. Then another thought crashed into her. “Poor Darby. She loved her grandmother. She said she hadn’t heard from her all day. And to come home to this…”

“I’m going to take you home. Drew’s just going to have to find someone else to deal with Darby.” Archer reached for the door.

She stilled his hand and shook her head. “No, I’m the one who should be there for her. She trusts me.”

“If you’re sure?” Archer squeezed her hand.

Rarity took in a deep breath, then nodded. The ambulance had pulled away from the curb and was heading toward town, sirens and lights off. Darby needed her. She wouldn’t let her friend, and employee, down. “Okay, let’s go.”

They walked across the street and up to a cop who was standing by the crime scene tape watching them. Apparently, he was the scene bouncer and was about to tell them they needed to move along.

Before that could happen, Drew came out of the house and hurried over to meet them. He held his hand out to Archer. “Thanks for bringing her over. I hope we won’t take up too much of your night here.”

“No problem, man,” Archer said, but from the tightness in his arm that he had draped around Rarity’s waist, she thought there was a problem, and a big one.

“Where is she? What happened?” Rarity stepped forward, and Drew held up the yellow tape.

“Like I told you, her grandmother was killed. Dispatch got a call about six fifteen from Darby. She was hysterical. She said she’d just got home and found her dead in the living room. What time did she leave the festival? Do you remember?”

“It was around six.” Rarity looked up at Archer, who nodded. “She came back from taking a load over to the bookstore, and we didn’t have much left, so I told her to go along home. That Archer could help me.”

“If you mean drag the rest of your stuff back to the bookstore while you carried your three-pound dog, then yes, that’s what happened,” Archer responded.

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