The Witching Place: A Fatal Folio (A Curious Bookstore Cozy Mystery—Book 1) by Sophie Love

Author:Sophie Love
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2020-11-30T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The bells above the door chimed, making Lex almost jump out of her skin. No one had come into the shop since Mrs. Boddyworth left, and she had been on edge the whole time, waiting for Montgomery to come back from his errand. Whatever it had been. She just knew from the sound of the bells, unsure of how she did but feeling it in her bones, that it was him—and that he wasn’t going to be happy with her.

“Miss Blair,” Montgomery said, by way of hello, as he stepped into the room, and Lex knew she had been right.

She bit her lip. “There’s been no customers all day, except for Mrs. Boddyworth,” she said, hoping that a report of the day might distract him—or that he might not yet know. But it was a futile hope. She could tell that just from the way that he looked at her, with deep disappointment.

“I’ve just spoken with Mrs. Boddyworth, as it happens, as it happens,” he said, moving over to the counter. He stood facing her, leaning on the aged and cracked wood as if he was a customer. “She tells me that you went against my precise and clear instructions.”

Lex swallowed. “Yes. That’s true.”

“You unwrapped the book, didn’t you?” Montgomery sighed. “I thought I had made myself as clear as possible, Miss Blair.”

Lex looked down at the counter, unable to face him. She blinked fast, trying to hold back tears. She was going to lose her job, she just knew it. “You did. I’m sorry. I let curiosity get the better of me. It won’t happen again.” She didn’t dare mention the fact that she had suspected Montgomery might be smuggling drugs or elephant ivory inside the book—it seemed like that would only make things worse.

“The thing is, the unfortunate thing is, well, I’m going to have to let you go,” Montgomery said, in an apologetic tone. He was wringing his hands together, clearly in distress at having to say it. His face was twisted with sorrow and regret, almost painful to look at.

“Please,” Lex gasped. “I—I won’t make the same mistake twice. I gave up my life in Boston to come here. I need this—I want this job so badly!”

“I’m sorry,” Montgomery said, his voice a little choked before he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry, I just can’t keep you on. Not after a customer complaint like this, like this.”

Lex closed her eyes briefly. “I understand,” she said, unable to make her voice rise above a whisper. She opened her eyes, steeling herself. This wasn’t going to be easy, but if she could make it out of the store without bursting into tears, it would be a plus.

She’d pinned so much hope on this place, and she’d started to really fall for it. But it was all over now.

She picked up her purse from behind the counter and tucked her hair behind her ears, looking at the floor as she went. It was too hard, just now, to look up at Montgomery.

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