“Aunt Jackie knows the story.”
“And she’s somewhere in the city having fun with Mary.” Amy shook her head. “If this is Kent’s murderer and she gets upset while we’re talking to her, I want to know someone has our backs.”
“Fine, I’ll tell Greg.” I swung a towel over my shoulder. “If you stop freaking about Justin.”
“That’s different.” Amy walked toward the door. When she reached for the handle, I heard her say, “But I’ll try.”
I watched her walking toward the bike rental shop and her apartment wondering when Amy had started feeling this way about Justin. And what the guy was thinking, hurting my friend.
Don’t get involved in others’ problems. It only limits your own potential. The advice from the Tiger Lady’s book echoed in my head. But wasn’t that what friendship was about? Caring for others when they didn’t have the strength to carry themselves? I’d read halfway through the book a few nights ago and had to put it away. The author was self-absorbed and teaching others how to be the same way. Sherry, however, could give this woman lessons. I glanced over at the small self-help section of the bookstore and wondered if there was anything about not letting people walk all over you and not turning into a complete jerk. After wasting all that time reading, I realized my life didn’t have as many problems as I’d thought when I started the book. Maybe being hooked on investigating murders and solving puzzles was one of my strengths rather than a weakness.
The bell on the door kept me from walking over to the shelf and the steady stream of customers kept me busy until Toby arrived at one to take over the rest of the day.
“Hey, boss, you look stressed.” He glanced around the shop; all the tables were filled with tourists. “You should have called me in early. I was just hanging around the house with the girls.”
Toby’s new girlfriend kept him busy with repairs to the small cottage she’d bought the last year. That and playing with Isabell, her daughter. The guy had a full life, especially since he worked two jobs.
“If it got worse, I would have called for help.” I put the back of my hand on my forehead and batted my eyelashes. “You know a woman can’t handle much more.”
“Fine, I get it. You’re a grown woman and I’m just a jerk trying to help.” Toby put on his Wired Up apron and started setting up the coffee bar for his shift. “But my mama raised me to be polite and offer, so I guess you’re just stuck with me.”
“I’m teasing.” I thought about the self-help books. Maybe Toby would have a suggestion. “Hey, do you know of any books about being assertive without turning into a complete . . .”
“Tiger?” When he looked into my face, he laughed. “I saw the book in your purse. Listen, you’re just fine the way you are. Sure, you care about what people in your life think. But everyone does, except people like that author, who probably doesn’t have a family or friends who will still talk to her.”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I keep hearing I should be more confident.”
“Why don’t you sit down? I’ll get you a piece of cheesecake, and you can tell Father Toby all about your problem.” Toby swung a towel over his shoulder and leaned over the counter, resting on his forearms.
“I prefer the anonymity of a good shrink book, thank you anyway.” I laughed and took my own apron off. “Besides, I’m meeting Amy this afternoon to run into Bakerstown.”
I left off the part about stopping by the model’s house to see if she’d killed Kent. If things went right, I’d have Greg’s investigation solved and we’d be able to spend Monday at the beach. Or Greg would be mad and not talking to me for a week or more. I paused and thought about my promise to Amy.
Toby hadn’t moved from his spot, where he still watched me. When I turned back, he shook his head and backed away, dumping out an almost-empty pot of coffee to make more. “I know that look. You’re going to get me in trouble.”
“I’m just leaving an address with you, just in case.” I quickly wrote the information on the back of a take-out menu card Aunt Jackie had printed up last month.
Toby stared at the paper like it might bite him. “In case of what?”
“If you don’t hear from me this evening, give this to Greg and tell him Amy and I went to visit with this woman.” I tried for an innocent look. “No big deal, Amy just wants someone to know where we are. The whole Kent thing has her spooked.”
I could see Toby’s mind whirling as he tested the idea, and then he nodded, letting me off the hook for additional questions. “I know Justin’s kind of a mess right now. The guy called me last night and we talked for over an hour about life and death. I didn’t think we were friends, but I felt bad for the guy.”