Handbook for Homicide by Lorna Barrett

Author:Lorna Barrett
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

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Mr. Everett was nowhere in sight, and an older gentleman stood at the cash desk paying for a nice stack of books when Tricia reentered her store. Pixie waited on him, and the two were deep in conversation on the merits of the Travis McGee series by John MacDonald. Tricia was eager to speak to Pixie alone and forced herself to be patient as she hung up her jacket in the back of the shop. She was going to hang around but decided she’d better retrieve the earring so that Baker could take it and leave as soon as possible. Even with good news, Pixie was always nervous when in the presence of any police officer.

Tricia retreated to her apartment, plucked the lone earring from her jewelry box, and placed it in a plastic snack bag before returning to her store.

The gentleman customer had left the shop, and Pixie was looking out the big display window toward the north where the police station was located.

“I’ve got good news,” Tricia said by way of a greeting. “I did as you suggested and had lunch at the Bookshelf Diner, where I just happened to bump into Chief Baker.”

“And?” Pixie asked, sounding hopeful.

“You are not a suspect in Susan Morris’s murder.”

For a moment Tricia thought Pixie might collapse from relief as she sagged against the big glass display case. “Oh, thank everything that’s holy.”

“I never had a doubt,” Tricia told her.

“Yeah, well . . . I’m sure you, and probably Angelica, Grace, and Mr. E, were the only ones.”

“Nonsense,” Tricia chided her. “But I want to warn you that Chief Baker will be here in a matter of minutes and I will completely understand it if you want to retreat to the office to avoid seeing him.”

Pixie straightened in umbrage. “And let him think I’m afraid of him? Not a chance.”

Tricia smiled. “You go, girl.”

Pixie ducked her head in what seemed like embarrassment, but her lips curled into a smile.

The bell over the shop door jingled, and Chief Baker entered Haven’t Got a Clue, adopting the usual cop swagger. Despite their tense conversation not ten minutes before, Tricia knew that wasn’t the real Grant Baker. She’d known his much softer side in years past. And those green eyes of his . . .

Tricia gave herself a shake. It was better not to remember those times. It was far better to remember why they had broken up in the first place.

“You got here fast,” she said in greeting, and didn’t bother with any more chitchat, simply handing him the snack bag with the earring inside.

Baker shook his head. “You should have given this to me the night you found it.”

Tricia sighed. “Well, you’ve got it now. Will you let me know what the guy wearing the other one says?”

“I’m conducting a murder investigation, not running a gossip mill.”

“Fine,” Tricia said flatly, and turned toward the cash desk. “See you later, Chief,” she called over her shoulder, then faced Pixie.

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