Read Online Murder of a Bookstore Babe by Denise Swanson - Free Book Online Page A

Wally, Trixie, and your mother.”
    “If it’s not something illegal.” Skye couldn’t keep that from Wally no matter how fond she was of Frannie and her father. “Then I promise.”
    “No. Nothing criminal.” Simon grimaced. “Just foolish.” He forestalled Skye’s question by saying quickly, “Xavier invested money he shouldn’t have in the bookstore.”
    “Yikes!” Skye brows puckered. “By money he shouldn’t have, you don’t mean . . .” Please, God, don’t let Xavier have stolen to get the money he’d invested.
    “No.” Simon blew out a tired breath. “Worse.”
    “What could be worse?”
    “As well as his own savings, he used the treasury from his Vietnam Vets group.”
    “Hell!” Skye choked on the coffee she had just drunk. “Embezzling is stealing.”
    “He didn’t misappropriate the funds.” Simon took a swallow from his cup. “He just convinced the group it was a great investment.”
    “Phew.” Skye exhaled, realizing she’d been holding her breath. “Then there’s no problem.”
    Simon didn’t respond.
    “Is there?” Skye didn’t like the look on Simon’s face. “What aren’t you saying?”
    Simon fiddled with the plastic top on his cup, flipping the little tab up and down. “Xavier promised the group that if anything happened, he’d refund their capital.”
    “Crap!” Skye slumped against the window. “If he invested his own nest egg, where will he get the money to reimburse them?”
    “Frannie’s college fund is the only thing left.” Simon shook his head. “And he’d rather slit his throat.”
    “Isn’t it premature to think the bookstore will fail just because of one little protest?” Skye narrowed her eyes. “Unless you’re holding something back.”
    Simon stared out the windshield.
    “What aren’t you telling me?” Skye demanded.
    “That’s the problem.” Simon groaned. “I don’t know. But Xavier’s been acting strange ever since Orlando and Risé moved to town.”
    “I know there are some other issues with people like my cousin Hugo, but . . .”
    “I don’t think it’s that.” Simon tapped his chin. “Look, I’ll try and find out more from Xavier, but if you could help make sure the Scumble River rabble-rousers don’t shut down Tales and Treats, and keep your ears open for anything else, I’d appreciate it.”
    “I’ll do what I can. Trixie is bound and determined to keep the bookstore open, too, so she’ll help.” Skye glanced at her Timex and grimaced. “Sorry, but I’ve got to run.”
    “What’s your hurry?”
    “Do you remember me mentioning the boxes of books I found when I moved into my house?”
    When Simon nodded, Skye continued, “As it happens, I’ve got an appointment with Orlando at nine forty-five. He’ll take a look at some of the books to see if they’re valuable, and if they are, he’ll sell them for me.”
    “I thought I read that the store doesn’t open until one on Sundays.” Simon took Skye’s empty cup and stacked it inside his own, along with her crumpled napkin.
    “That’s right. He’s meeting me beforehand so we won’t be interrupted.” Skye fumbled for the door handle.
    “Thank you for listening to me.” Simon got out of the Lexus and hurried around the hood. He helped her out, then kissed her cheek. “I appreciate it.”
    “You’re welcome.” Skye waved as she walked toward her car. “Call me if you find out what Xavier is hiding.”
    She watched Simon turn out of the gas station, then got into her Bel Air and started back to town. The road into Scumble River had once been lined with acres of corn and soybeans, but several housing developments had sprung up in the last few years. The occasional old farmhouse looked oddly forlorn sprinkled among the cookie-cutter homes huddled on handkerchief-size lawns. Skye felt sorry for the farmhouse owners, who were often harassed by the newcomers to either sell or make improvements they couldn’t afford.
    Heading east, she spotted the