Plotting for Murder by Tamra Baumann

Author:Tamra Baumann [Baumann, Tamra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781947591073
Published: 2019-03-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Ed is busy installing my new cameras at the bookstore, while I’m trying to help a customer who’s looking for a book for her mystery-loving mother. I lead the woman to the bestseller table in the front when Brittany appears by my side.

My black-clad employee says, “I know just what your mom likes, Claudia. Follow me.”

Huh. I’m impressed. Not only is Brittany only fifteen minutes late this morning, but she’s been paying attention to what the customers want. Maybe I’ve underestimated her.

I go back to sipping coffee and looking up older books that have sold well online when Madge barrels through the front door. Does she ever walk normally?

Today her red sweater has little white blobs of something all over it, like she tossed whipped cream at it, but maybe they’re supposed to be stars? “Hey, Madge.”

“Hi, Sawyer.” Madge joins me at the front counter and then glances over her shoulder to be sure no one can hear us. “Have you heard the latest?”

“About you finding the energy drink can?”

“No. That came up a big zero. It’s about Crystal. She’s missing. No one knows where she’s been for two days now.”

Brittany and the woman customer join us by the register to pay for the book Brittany recommended, so I tilt my head toward the dining area, and Madge follows along. I whisper, “Who reported her missing?”

“No one.” Madge pours herself a cup of mocha roast and grabs a croissant. “One of the deputies has been trying to contact her for some follow-up questions. I heard him call the office where she works, and they said she called in sick today. Dylan went to her apartment this morning, but no one answered. And her car wasn’t in the parking lot. Oh, and get this. I got a glimpse of the murder board in Dylan’s office.”

“He left it uncovered?” I find this hard to believe.

“Not exactly.” Madge waggles her brows as she takes a long drink from her china cup. “I was dropping off some paperwork in Dylan’s office while he was out looking for Crystal and couldn’t resist just a little peek. The four key suspects are who we thought they were, but they all had something written by their names. I’ll tell you if you promise not to tattle on me to Dylan.”

Okay, this is so not fair. I really should tell Dylan that he can’t trust Madge, but then, my best source of information will dry up. If curiosity killed the cat, I’m probably about to get run over by a bus. “I promise.”

Madge pulls out a chair in the dining area and sits, so I settle in across from her. She says in a low voice, “The mystery customer has two names by it. They used facial recognition software, so I’m guessing that it came up with two choices. Or maybe someone thought they recognized the guy? I’m not sure, but I heard them say the video wasn’t as sharp as they’d like.”

“What are the names?” I pull out my phone and tap the notes app to open it.

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