Maybe that would be my afternoon activity today. I had a new thriller in my bag that I’d scarfed off the advance reader copy pile that Jesse, my book salesman, had left last week when he’d come to visit. He came more often now that we were having a higher sales volume. And the happier he was with our sales, the more free books he left. The book in my purse was one of those big-name authors who had people writing his books for him. I’d been hooked on the first book in the series, so now I read everything this coauthor wrote. Readers are like that. You get attached to an author’s world building and you just want to stay in their reality.
I was thinking about the love interest in the last book and wondering if the same character would be in this release when I ran into Greg coming out of the station. He dropped his file, and we both bent to pick up the papers before a gust of wind took off with them. I looked at the first page, and it was a warrant to arrest Austin. “What on earth are you arresting Austin for?” I shook the paper in front of him.
“You weren’t supposed to read that.” He took the page out of my hand. “Seriously, Jill, how are you always in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
“Maybe I’m at the right place at the wrong time?” I paused, rethinking my words. “Or the wrong place at the right time.” No, that wasn’t right, either. Now Greg was grinning at me. “Oh, you know what I mean. And you didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m not arresting Austin. I’m going in to Bakerstown to try to talk John out of this. There is no way that guy killed Kacey, you and I both know it. But John is out for bear. He has something stuck in his craw about this case, and I’m going to find out what it’s all about.” Greg kissed me on the cheek. “Now, can I go, or do you need to confess something else about sticking your nose in my investigation?”
“No. I was coming over to work my magic and get you to tell me something about the case.” I eyed the folder with the loose papers sticking out at all angles. “And I guess it worked.”
“Your sleuthing methods are unscientific and yet, sometimes, successful.” He shook the file at me. “You know if I convince John that Austin isn’t the murderer, I’m going to have to figure out who really did kill Kacey.”
“I have faith in you.” Besides, I was starting to think I could help somehow on the problem. I nodded to the other end of the street. “I guess I’ll head home then.”
“I could drive you.” Greg tossed his keys in the air and caught them with his free hand.
“I’ll walk. I might stop at Lille’s and get lunch before I head home.” I held my hands up. “Besides, it’s a beautiful day.”
“Let’s just hope Sunday is as nice.” Greg turned toward the parking lot, where he’d parked his truck.
“Sunday?” My question stopped him, and he turned around and pointed at me.
“Do not tell me you’ve already forgotten. We’re going out with Justin and Amy to that geocaching club event. You are not stranding me with the treasure hunters.” He narrowed his eyes.
“I forgot. Sorry.” I waved, then turned back. “One more thing?”
Greg hadn’t moved from his spot. “Yes?”
“Toby is going to move into the shed for a while. He needs a place to stay until the sublet on his lease is up.” I shrugged. “I guess we’ll have to put off that home gym remodel for a while.”
“You did that on purpose,” Greg grumbled.
I put my hand to my chest and widened my eyes. “I assure you, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Evil woman,” Greg muttered, then strode to his truck. “I’ll get back at you for this.”
As I walked down the sidewalk, I decided I would stop at Diamond Lille’s for lunch. Looking in the storefront windows, I noticed the smile on my face. Yep, today was a good day.
CHAPTER 16
By the time I went to bed that Wednesday night, Toby was all moved into the shed. I had to admit, the building made an excellent bachelor’s pad. He put his bed in the loft, along with Miss Emily’s boxes. With Tim’s help, he had even moved a small dresser to the makeshift bedroom. Downstairs he had set up a television game room with a couch and a recliner, and even a small kitchen area, using a microwave stand next to the fridge and a table under the back window that looked out onto what might someday be the mission wall.
I was impressed with his ability to quickly move in after rescuing most of his belongings from storage. He even had a coffeemaker for his morning java. Ten minutes after he unloaded the last box, I gave him the keys to the shed, and he disappeared for his shift at the police station. Emma and I returned to the big house, and I made a quick dinner of a frozen potpie and a bowl of ice cream. I took the ice cream upstairs after I’d eaten along with the book and started reading.