Read Online Unlucky Charms by Linda O. Johnston - Free Book Online

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    â€œEverything okay?” she asked. Dark-complected and lovely, Jeri had been one of Martha’s assistants when I’d first come to Destiny. I’d seen her at my presentation yesterday, as well as at the Clinking Glass Saloon last night. The beige shirt she wore was one from her family’s Heads-Up Penny Gift Shop just down the street.
    â€œIt is now. Thanks for coming in to help out.”
    â€œSure,” she said. “We need to talk later, though. It’s supposed to be bad luck, but I need to discuss something with you.”
    The way she looked at me, her deep brown eyes solemn and concerned, caused me to blurt, but quietly, “You know what happened here last night?”
    Those eyes widened. “No, unless … ” She bent toward me. “We had a break-in at Heads-Up a few nights ago. Did that happen here, too?”
    Brad Nereida was suddenly right beside us near the counter. He was medium height, medium weight, and average looking, and he always appeared tired to me—a symptom, I assumed, of being both a store owner and a father of three youngsters. I figured that they were in school now, as this was Thursday, and that Lorraine must be watching the store.
    â€œI couldn’t hear you,” he said, “but the way you two looked while you were talking, and the fact it took you so long to open your store today, Rory, despite giving a presentation last night … did someone break in here? We’re not supposed to talk about it, but Wish-on-a-Star … ” His voice trailed off, and I looked into his pale brown eyes.
    Another break-in, another theft. How many shops had Justin been referring to when he’d mentioned the break-ins?
    This was terrible. It had to stop.
    And I was going to do whatever it took to make sure no one else in Destiny went through this again.

Seven
    There were too many people in the shop for me to talk. Customers who needed help. Ears that could overhear what we were talking about—and perhaps up the potential of bad luck resulting from a discussion of what definitely needed to be discussed, no matter what the reputed outcome.
    I drew Jeri and Brad into the corner near where Pluckie was tied to the counter. My dog stood up on her hind legs and planted her front paws on me, and I absently stroked her head as I told the other humans, “We really need to talk. I think Millie’s now supposed to come in around three o’clock, and she can cover the shop.”
    I looked at Jeri, who nodded. The two part-timers kept good track of each other’s schedules, just like they enjoyed taking breaks together to go get coffee.
    â€œCan we three meet somewhere?” I continued. “At—how about Beware-of-Bubbles?” The coffee shop’s superstitious name reflected how bubbles traveling in a cup of coffee are supposed to affect whoever drinks it, and Beware-of-Bubbles was a fairly good place to sit off to the side and talk, especially on its patio. I’d be sure to bring Pluckie if they agreed.
    Which they did. I crossed my fingers as I watched Brad leave and Jeri walk up to a youthful group of customers who’d brought in both a little Yorkie and a big standard poodle.
    I’d have to curb my curiosity till later. But I really wanted to know what had happened at their stores—and if they had any idea who’d robbed them.
    It was a good thing that we had our brief prelude to our later talk when we did. I was suddenly approached by Flora Curtival, who inserted herself into the Lucky Dog as if she had business there—even though she’d brought no pets and, as far as I knew, had none.
    Apparently, though, she thought she had the most important business in the world to transact. “Hi, Rory,” she said, motioning me to join her as she sauntered among the display shelves and customers. I took a few steps in her direction but stopped. “So glad you’re open now,” she