I’d meant to ask Greg last night, but with him in such a bad mood, I thought better of bringing up anything about the case, even the homeless dog. If he didn’t show up at the coffee shop, I’d give him a call once I got off. A car slowed and my paper flew onto the sidewalk in front of my house. Just inside the fence. Emma barked a greeting and I waved at Henry, my paper boy and the owner of one of the local art galleries. Everyone did whatever they could to make ends meet in the small tourist town.
A run down to the local beach, a hot shower, a glass of orange juice, and I was ready for my day. When I put Emma out in the fenced backyard, I glanced out at the area where the wall sat. Nothing looked different or out of place in the light of day. After work, I’d head out there anyway, just to make sure. Emma curled up on her bed on the porch and laid her head down. The run had tired her out. Exactly my evil plan. I locked up the back door and, grabbing my purse and a travel mug filled with strong, black coffee, I headed out the door to open my shop.
I owned the building where my coffee shop sat and my aunt lived in the apartment. Well, I and the bank owned the building. I liked having my aunt close. Since my mom died, Aunt Jackie was the only relative I had or at least I’d known about. For years, it had been me and Mom against the world. Then one day when I was off at law school, the world won and Mom had a heart attack in Albertson’s produce section.
I shook back tears, no need to get emotional now. The ocean fog covering the town late last night while I slept had burned off in the bright sunshine only a California morning could bring. When I was interning in Boston, I’d experienced all four seasons. Here, the world stayed bright and color-blocked the entire year. Flowers bloomed in the city-maintained planters down Main Street. And the small town seemed like a village straight out of a fairy tale. The Disney version, not Grimm.
A kid on a skateboard flew toward me. He slowed and grinned when he recognized me, stepping off the board when he got close. It was Nick Michaels. “Miss Gardner.”
“Nick, I thought you gave up your skateboarding once you got your license.” I wondered if Sadie’d stripped the kid of his beat-up truck or if he’d loaned it out this morning.
“A guy’s gotta get to work.” He shrugged, his black hair falling into his eyes. “Mom had a cow when she heard I was late to my job so I kind of got grounded.”
I bit my lip, trying not to smile. “Sucks.”
“Totally. To work, and back.” He shook his finger in the air. “Otherwise, you need to come straight home.”
“Your mom thinks she’s doing the right thing.” This parenting gig was hard. I wanted to sympathize with the kid, but I knew Sadie would kill me.
“Yeah, I know.” His eyes brightened. “Although I’m going to break the rules on my way home tonight. You got the latest Robert Jordan I ordered yet? I can spend my prison time reading.”
“I’ll have it waiting so you don’t have to stay long,” I promised. Sadie might not even know the kid stopped if we were quick about it. Although I don’t think stopping at my shop for a book would get him into much trouble, even if his mom found out.
“Cool.” He stepped back on the skateboard. “Catch you later.”
I watched as he flew the next few blocks down to Lille’s. Curving around the flower planters, the kid appeared more like a downhill skier more than a skateboarder. I turned back. One more block and I’d be at the shop. As I crossed the road, a man stepped out of a doorway and stopped my forward movement.
I looked up into the off-white button-down shirt, buttons straining that could only belong to one person. Josh Thomas.
“Miss Gardner,” he started.
I held up a hand. “Look, I’ve got to get my shop opened.” I glanced around the large man and noticed a woman standing in front of the door, peering in. “I’ve got customers
A run down to the local beach, a hot shower, a glass of orange juice, and I was ready for my day. When I put Emma out in the fenced backyard, I glanced out at the area where the wall sat. Nothing looked different or out of place in the light of day. After work, I’d head out there anyway, just to make sure. Emma curled up on her bed on the porch and laid her head down. The run had tired her out. Exactly my evil plan. I locked up the back door and, grabbing my purse and a travel mug filled with strong, black coffee, I headed out the door to open my shop.
I owned the building where my coffee shop sat and my aunt lived in the apartment. Well, I and the bank owned the building. I liked having my aunt close. Since my mom died, Aunt Jackie was the only relative I had or at least I’d known about. For years, it had been me and Mom against the world. Then one day when I was off at law school, the world won and Mom had a heart attack in Albertson’s produce section.
I shook back tears, no need to get emotional now. The ocean fog covering the town late last night while I slept had burned off in the bright sunshine only a California morning could bring. When I was interning in Boston, I’d experienced all four seasons. Here, the world stayed bright and color-blocked the entire year. Flowers bloomed in the city-maintained planters down Main Street. And the small town seemed like a village straight out of a fairy tale. The Disney version, not Grimm.
A kid on a skateboard flew toward me. He slowed and grinned when he recognized me, stepping off the board when he got close. It was Nick Michaels. “Miss Gardner.”
“Nick, I thought you gave up your skateboarding once you got your license.” I wondered if Sadie’d stripped the kid of his beat-up truck or if he’d loaned it out this morning.
“A guy’s gotta get to work.” He shrugged, his black hair falling into his eyes. “Mom had a cow when she heard I was late to my job so I kind of got grounded.”
I bit my lip, trying not to smile. “Sucks.”
“Totally. To work, and back.” He shook his finger in the air. “Otherwise, you need to come straight home.”
“Your mom thinks she’s doing the right thing.” This parenting gig was hard. I wanted to sympathize with the kid, but I knew Sadie would kill me.
“Yeah, I know.” His eyes brightened. “Although I’m going to break the rules on my way home tonight. You got the latest Robert Jordan I ordered yet? I can spend my prison time reading.”
“I’ll have it waiting so you don’t have to stay long,” I promised. Sadie might not even know the kid stopped if we were quick about it. Although I don’t think stopping at my shop for a book would get him into much trouble, even if his mom found out.
“Cool.” He stepped back on the skateboard. “Catch you later.”
I watched as he flew the next few blocks down to Lille’s. Curving around the flower planters, the kid appeared more like a downhill skier more than a skateboarder. I turned back. One more block and I’d be at the shop. As I crossed the road, a man stepped out of a doorway and stopped my forward movement.
I looked up into the off-white button-down shirt, buttons straining that could only belong to one person. Josh Thomas.
“Miss Gardner,” he started.
I held up a hand. “Look, I’ve got to get my shop opened.” I glanced around the large man and noticed a woman standing in front of the door, peering in. “I’ve got customers
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