Proof of Death by ACF Bookens

Author:ACF Bookens
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andi Cumbo-Floyd

9

Mom and I walked as quickly as we could back to the store, and I was relieved to see that Reeves was sitting in the café with a mug of something. He looked up when we came in, and I held up one finger to tell him I’d be right there. Mom wandered off into the cookbook shelves, where she could keep an eye on me but not look conspicuous.

Then, I made a show of checking in with Marcus, looking at the computer screen intently, and doing a quick walk around the store as if it was my usual routine. I spoke briefly to Galen and Mack, who were browsing in the mystery section, and Mack trotted along behind me as I wandered on. I was just about out of reasonable ways to stall when Tuck and Watson walked in.

Tuck caught my eye as I fluffed a throw pillow on one of the wingback chairs in the front window, and I flashed my eyes over to the café. He gave me a subtle nod, and then headed toward the racks of greeting cards I had at the front. He and Watson made a show of looking for a perfect card for their receptionist’s birthday, and I appreciated the presence and the subtlety, clumsy as it was.

Apparently, my nerves were showing because as I headed toward the café both Mayhem and Taco pried themselves from their beds in the window and joined Mack as the three lumbered after me. As soon as I sat down, the three dogs settled at my feet protectively. I knew they weren’t asleep, and if Reeves did anything untoward, Mayhem would have her teeth on his arm faster than Tuck could even pull his gun. My own canine security detail.

“What can I do for you, Mr. Reeves?” I asked as I sat down and smiled when Rocky brought me a latte and a nod to show she also had her eye on the situation.

“You know where Joe Cagle is.” He didn’t ask and his voice was brusque and cold. “Tell me where I can find him.”

Reeves’ back was to Tuck and Watson, and I didn’t know if he’d noticed them. But they moved just the slightest bit closer, to hear but also to move in if needed. At least I hoped they were ready to move in.

“I don’t know Cagle , much less where he is,” I took a deep breath and hoped my lying skills were improving. “But now you have me curious? I heard you in the station saying you wanted to talk to him because he was in the middle of a reno job for you. But this,” I waved my hand around between us, “feels like more than that. Why do you want to find this man so much?”

A tiny furrow appeared on Reeve’s broad forehead, but I couldn’t tell if that was because he believed me or because I was starting to annoy him. “Please don’t give me that bull about not knowing who he was.

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