Read Online Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley - Free Book Online

questions.”
    “I’m not a cop, Stephanie. There are some things I can’t ask without seeming nosy, or just plain accusing.”
    “I suppose.” There was a pause, then Stephanie added, “Well, did he act suspicious at all? Did he seem nervous when you asked questions?”
    Clara thought about it. “He was kind of creepy,” she said at last. “The truth is, he made me nervous. I can’t say that’s incriminating, though. He really didn’t say anything specific.”
    “Crap. We’ll have to think of another way to find out this stuff.”
    “That’s what I was afraid you’d say.”
    “Come on, Clara. Where’s your sense of adventure?”
    “Ten years in New York. That’s what happened to it.”
    She hadn’t meant to sound so caustic, and Stephanie caught on right away. “What’s that supposed to mean? What happened to you in New York, Clara? Why won’t you tell me?”
    Clara attempted a light laugh. “Nothing happened to me. I just grew up, that’s all.”
    Stephanie was silent for so long Clara thought she’d hung up. Then she said in a small voice, “That’s a shame, Clara. That’s a real shame. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
    Clara had the uneasy feeling that once more she’d let her cousin down, but before she could answer, Stephanie hung up.

    Molly had Mondays off, and when Clara arrived at the Raven’s Nest late the next morning, it was to find Stephanie red-faced, her arms full of books and her bangs sticking to her forehead.
    “I just got a big delivery,” she said, hoisting the heavy pile in her arms, “and I need to get them in the stockroom and get the shelves restocked. We haven’t put any new fantasy books out since . . . before Dan closed the store.”
    Clara held out her hands. “Here, I’ll take them.”
    “No, you watch the counter. I’ll be quicker. I know where everything goes.”
    She tore off, and shaking her head, Clara moved behind the counter and stashed her purse. There must have been a rush of customers that morning, as sales slips lay scattered on the shelf instead of filed away in the drawer, and a couple of plastic bags had drifted to the floor.
    Clara bent over to pick them up, grunting as she straightened. She tucked the bags into the slot where they belonged and turned back to the counter, coming face-to-face with the amused gaze of the man from across the street.
    Suspect number two. Clara sent a frantic glance down the aisle, but could see no sign of Stephanie. “Er . . . good morning. Can I help you?” She swiped back a chunk of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.
    “Well, technically it’s afternoon,” Rick Sanders said, glancing at the grandfather clock. “But I guess if you haven’t had lunch yet, it must feel like it’s still morning.”
    She stared at him, trying to figure out if he meant anything by all that. “Yes,” she said at last. “I suppose you’re right.”
    He stuck out a hand. “Hi. I’m Rick Sanders. I own the hardware store across the street. You must be Stephanie’s cousin.”
    His smile made her feel a little less defensive. She tentatively gave him her hand, and it was immediately swallowed up in his. His strong grasp hurt a little, but strangely, it was a pleasurable kind of pain. “Yes, I’m Clara Quinn.”
    “Home from New York.”
    “Yes, I am.” She seemed to be saying yes a lot. She struggled to think of something halfway intelligent to say, but it was hard to think with her hand still clasped in his.
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Clara. Stephanie talks about you all the time.”
    Really. She would have to ask Stephanie what she’d told him. “I hope she wasn’t too explicit,” she said, then wished she hadn’t said that. It sounded a bit racy.
    Rick’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Don’t worry. It was just general stuff.”
    He really did have nice eyes. Dark brown and soft, like a puppy’s. Nice mouth, too, especially when he smiled. Thick dark hair, cut short. She wondered if he colored it,