Tea Cups and Carnage (26 page)

Hold fast Josh, don’t give us up.
My mental mantra went out into the universe, over and over.

“Look, sir, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just an antique dealer.” Josh was still trying and I blessed him for it.

“Wrong answer, fat man.”

I heard the click of the safety, then felt Kathi move beside me. She stood up and yelled. “Stop this. I’ll go with you. Just leave everyone else alone.”

I pulled on her leg trying to get her to hide, but she looked down at me and shook her head. “I might not be a real South Cove resident, but I won’t let anyone else die for me. I’ll already carry Blake’s death on my heart forever.”

“Darling, is that you? Now come out here like a good girl so we can blow this place.” Bobby called out to her.

My skin chilled. There was no way this guy was ever going to give up on Kathi. On what he believed was his property. “You don’t know he’s dead.” I tried to reason with her.

She was already walking around the furniture to go meet the crazy man. “I know Bobby, he doesn’t miss.”

Before she could get much further than the first doorway, a crash sounded in the lobby.

“Drop your gun and put your hands up.” Greg’s voice had never sounded so good, but then I heard a shot crack through the building. When a dull thud followed, my heart sank. Now I jumped up and followed Kathi’s path.

What if Greg had been shot? I was walking into a bad situation, but I couldn’t just cower there anymore. I needed to know what that shot had meant. I bumped into Kathi who stood frozen at the doorway to the lobby.

Greg was kneeling over Bobby who had his hands cuffed behind him, bleeding on Josh’s antique rug. Toby was on his walkie-talkie calling for an ambulance, and Josh was slumped in a chair behind the counter, shaken but alive.

I squeezed out a little
oh
, and then sank into a dining room chair that was positioned next to the door. Kathi ran to Toby. “Blake, he’s been shot. He’s in my shop.”

At that moment, Blake walked in, and except for the bruise and cuts he’d gotten days before, looked perfectly alive. “Actually, I’m fine. Your ex-boyfriend may be a good marksman, but he’s kind of stupid. We played hide and seek in that storeroom of yours forever before he gave up. I’d hoped it would give you some time to …” He didn’t get the last words out before Kathi molded her body to his.

“I was so scared he’d killed you.” She sobbed into his shirt.

Blake stroked her hair. “Honey, now that I’ve found you, no one is going to keep us apart.”

Greg left Bobby and came over to me. He looked me over and asked one question. “Are you all right?” When I nodded, he pulled me into a tight squeeze. “We didn’t know you two were in here. I may have waited for the hostage investigators except when he started into the back, I knew we had one chance.”

“Kathi called to him. She was going to give up, to go with him to save Josh.” I put my hands on his face. “I didn’t know who got the shot off first.”

His mouth turned up into a small grin. “Sweetheart, that’s one situation where you should always bet on me.”

“Is he dead?” I glanced around Greg to the man who lay in the middle of the lobby, Toby standing over him.

“I don’t think so. The paramedics will be here in a minute and they can deal with the shot. I’m pretty sure I just wounded him. That’s why I put on the cuffs.” He patted my leg. “I’ve got to deal with this. Can I trust you to stay put and not get into any more trouble?”

“Of course. I’m not stupid.”

This time Greg didn’t just smile, he laughed.

I’d been told to stay home and not worry about setting up the event, so when Sasha came on Friday to change into her evening attire and pick me up, I peppered her with questions. Finally, she held up one hand, stopping the barrage.

“You’ll see everything when we get there. Just be patient.” And then she took her bag upstairs to my room to shower and change.

I was already in my little blue dress with actual heels and a diamond necklace my grandmother had left me. It wasn’t big, but it shined like its larger-carat brothers. Emma sat on the rug by the couch, thumping her tail. I took my coffee cup into the kitchen and dumped the contents. I’d been mainlining the stuff all day and even I felt the jitters. I took out the water pitcher and poured a glass. Emma whined at the door and I let her out. I leaned against the doorframe and stared at Toby’s cottage. He hadn’t stopped in when he came home from the station to change into his barista clothes. I think he didn’t want me to grill him for information.

I heard the front door open and Greg call out my name.

“In the kitchen.” I turned around, watching the entry.

When he walked in, he whistled. “Man, do you clean up nice.” He came over, took me in his arms, and kissed me, long, slow, and proper. When we came up for air, he pushed a wayward tentacle of hair out of my eyes and said, “Do we have to go to this thing?”

“Sasha’s upstairs changing in my room.”

He sighed and let me go. “I guess that’s my answer.”

“So what happened to Bobby? No one will tell me anything.” Well, I hadn’t gone as far as calling Bakerstown Memorial, but I had called the station.

Greg went to the fridge and poured his own glass of water. He sat down at the table and took a sip before answering. “He made it out of surgery. So we’ll see. I guess the bullet hit a lung and that’s why he went down so fast. I thought I’d killed him.”

“You saved Josh, Kathi and me. If you had, no one would have blamed you.” I put my hand on his.

“It’s a nightmare no police officer wants. I came back to South Cove so I wouldn’t have to make these decisions. When to negotiate, when to call in SWAT, when to charge in guns blazing. I’m sure the investigators would have told me I made the wrong choice, if things had gone south. Now that they turned out okay, I’m some sort of hero.” He leaned against the back of the chair. “I just knew you were in that building. I could feel it.”

“What, like I’m in the middle of all the trouble in South Cove?”

He just looked at me.

“Fine, whatever. So did Bobby kill Darryl? Why?” I wanted all the loose ends tied up before Greg remembered he wasn’t supposed to be telling me this stuff.

“Darryl told him that he’d talked to Kathi and she didn’t want to go back. I guess he had a bro moment, trying to get Bobby to move on.” Greg shook his head. “Ivy said he just shot him, right in front of her. Then he turned and told her that she better be more convincing with her sister.”

“Poor Ivy. So she thought if she convinced Kathi to go back with Bobby that he’d let her live?” I sipped my water. “What kind of life would that have been for either of the women?”

Greg shrugged. “I guess their father’s not very with it and Bobby’s been footing the bill for the nursing care he needs. Ivy felt they had no choice.”

“And that’s why she confessed. So Kathi would be available for Bobby’s perfect life plan.”

“That about covers it. I’ve got hours of interview tapes to go through in the next week to prepare the charges against Bobby, if he lives.” Greg rubbed his face and covered a yawn.

“And yet, you’re here for me and the library event. I appreciate it.” I paused. “Wait, how did Bobby have Kathi’s gun?”

“Ivy thinks he took it the day after Kathi left for California. He was in her room a long time.” Greg looked at his watch. “Should we hurry Sasha along? I’d hate to be late for this shindig.”

“I’m ready,” Sasha called out behind him. She’d swept her hair back with jeweled barrettes, and wore a red slip dress that hugged her curves.

“Hot, you’re just hot.” Greg leaned over the edge of the chair. “Someone’s in trouble with you looking like that.”

A bright smile filled Sasha’s face. “We can only hope so.”

I let Emma in the house and we left for the event. “I know I said this before,” I whispered as we followed Sasha out to my Jeep. “But I appreciate you coming tonight.”

Greg laughed as he opened the doors for Sasha and I. “I’m afraid to leave you alone even at a book party. Trouble follows you. It’s just a fact of life.”

* * * *

“What do you mean, I’m doing the introduction?” Sasha stared at the paper in her hands. She shoved it towards Aunt Jackie. “You take this, you’re better at public speaking.”

Aunt Jackie gently pushed her hand away. “No dear, this is your brainchild and you need to get used to speaking in public. I believe you’ll go far once you graduate, so think of this as your first step in the spotlight.”

Sensing she was losing the battle there, Sasha turned to me. “You’re the shop owner.
You
do the introductions.”

“You’ll do fine.” I took her hand and led her toward the stage. “All you have to do is thank everyone for coming, the school and library board for co-sponsoring, and if you can throw Coffee, Books, and More in there, that would be lovely.”

Sasha took the stairs to the stage and stood in the wings. I blocked the exit so she couldn’t turn around and run, or if she did, she’d have to go through me. Aunt Jackie and I nodded encouragement and when she walked onto the stage, the crowd politely clapped.

“You think she’ll throw up or faint first?” I didn’t look at Aunt Jackie as we placed our bets.

“I’ll put ten on the fainting. The girl doesn’t like being sick and can’t even make herself throw up.” I could see Aunt Jackie’s grin out of the corner of my eye. “It is good for her.”

“I don’t think you will convince her of that.” I watched as a pair of women walked up to us.

“Looks like you’re on.” One woman dusted the blazer of the other with her hand. “Let me look at your teeth. I don’t want today’s salad to be all they talk about.”

“Cat Latimer?” I held out a hand. “I’m Jill Gardner. We’re so happy you could come tonight.”

“Well, I said I’d do anything to support a library, and I guess this is
anything
.” The taller of the two smiled at me, softening the words. She held out her hand. “Cat Latimer, at your service. Actually, I hate all appearances. What happened to the days of the hermit writer? Just throw me food and water and I’d do fine in the middle of a forest.”

“Then I’m doubly glad you chose to come to our event.” I nodded to the now-quiet audience. “I believe they’re waiting for you.” The crowd had started chanting and out on the stage Sasha looked like she was frozen in place.

Her friend nudged her and Cat nodded. “What I meant to say was thank you for putting this together. I appreciate your hard work and inviting me.”

I pointed to Sasha who now was making hand gestures to get the author to switch places with her. “That’s the girl you should thank. She fought to invite you because she and the book club love your stories so much.”

Cat nodded and strolled out to the podium. When she arrived, she gave Sasha a big hug and then still holding her arm, dragged her back to the microphone. “I understand this woman is the main reason I’m speaking tonight, so join me in thanking her for putting this all together.”

Tears came to my eyes as I watched the room stand and cheer for Sasha. She’d remember this night forever.

Sasha bounced into the shop Saturday morning, still grinning from ear to ear. “So I just dropped Cat off at the airport and guess what?”

I smiled at Aunt Jackie who had come down from the apartment to talk about our bookstore schedule for the next few months. We were almost through the holidays, but I was glad Sasha had arrived early so we could get her input. “Come over here and look at the planning schedule.”

She bounced across the empty shop and then plopped next to me on the couch. “I will, but guess what Cat said?”

“You might as well let her talk, you know we aren’t going to get anything done until she does.” Aunt Jackie sat the paper calendar down on the coffee table and waved at the girl. “So go ahead, tell us what Cat, your new best friend, the author, said.”

Sasha ducked her head. “She’s not my new best friend.” Then her head popped up. “But she’s invited me to come visit during one of her writer retreats. All I have to do is get myself to Colorado and she’ll foot the rest of the bill. She said I could even do a session with the group, giving them a bookseller’s opinion. Me, a bookseller!”

“You have experience setting up not one but two successful book clubs, why wouldn’t she want you to come speak to her groups?” I patted her leg. “You just tell me when you want to go and we’ll take you off the schedule.”

“We’ll pay for the flight too.” Aunt Jackie said.

Sasha and I both looked at her, stunned.

“It’s a marketing cost. She’s going as our representative, we’ll handle the costs.” She stood and hobbled to the coffee bar with her cup. She was healing well, but still used a cane to steady herself as her ankle healed.

“That’s too much.” Sasha protested, looking to me for support.

I shook my head. “Honestly, Aunt Jackie’s right. We’ll make ups some postcards to send with you. Maybe something about ‘We order hard-to-find books and ship directly to you’? That way we wouldn’t only reach people who were planning on visiting South Cove.”

The bell over the door chimed. Kathi Corbin walked in with her sister, Ivy, and a basket. She appraised the three of us sitting on the couch. “Sorry, did we interrupt a meeting?”

“Nope, we’re just talking about our marketing schedule for the next few months. What’s up?” I stood from the couch to go hug Kathi. “Glad to see you’re okay.”

“Thanks to you. I froze in the shop when Bobby had my gun. I always hated that thing, but Daddy insisted I take it and learn how to shoot.” She looked at Ivy, “How old was I, twelve?”

Ivy shrugged. “Thirteen, but he gave me mine when I turned nine. I guess he thought you had too much on your plate with all the pageants and stuff.” She smiled shyly at me. “Thank you for saving my sister. I didn’t know what we were going to do, except follow Bobby’s orders.”

“I didn’t really save either of us, I just knew enough to run. Although I didn’t think he’d follow us to Josh’s store. I assumed he might go looking for us here in the coffee shop but I hoped we would be able to get Greg here before he even left the tea shop.” I looked over at Aunt Jackie and Sasha. We might talk a big game, but in the end, gun trumps bravado any day. “So Ivy, are you staying around now?”