The Body in the Bookcase by Katherine Hall Page

Author:Katherine Hall Page [Page, Katherine Hall]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Usenet, C429, Kat, Exratorrents
ISBN: 9780061863844
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Old Oaken Bucket was certainly not your average cozy antiques shop. There was nothing oaken about it, for a start. It was a long, low corrugated metal warehouse with a large sign at the entrance advising patrons to lock their coats and bags in their cars; otherwise, they would have to be checked. Another sign warned patrons that the premises were protected by Acme Alarms. AND SMITH & WESSON had been added underneath, crudely printed with a black marker. There was no welcome mat. There was, however, a bucket—a large tin pail filled with sand and another sign—PARK YOUR BUTTS HERE. Faith went back to the car and locked her purse in the trunk.

“Ready?” she said to Tom.

“Absolutely.” She’d had no trouble convincing him to make the mad dash to New Hampshire before the place closed. He’d been stunned, and overjoyed that they’d recovered anything, and the thought of more had put him in a high good humor.

“I told Ms. Dawson she could take the rest of the day off,” Tom told Faith on the way up. “She really is working too hard, but she insisted on staying. You know, I’ve never seen work pile up on her desk. The woman is the best secretary I’ve ever had. I mean, assistant.” The church had recently changed the name of the position to administrative assistant.

Rhoda Dawson had been pushed to the back of Faith’s mind since last Thursday and now the questions that had nagged at her then emerged with full force. Was the woman a workaholic? Maybe she had no other life except for her job? Or maybe she was nipping in and out of the church office to size up various prospects in the neighborhood for her partners in crime. Faith wasn’t about to voice this suspicion and get lectured again. Let Tom enjoy the sight of a clean desk. He’d never see his own that way.

The inside of the Old Oaken Bucket was as sterile as the outside. A Formica counter barred the way from the entrance to the rows and rows of floor-to-ceiling glass booths. The booths were all locked up tight and employees walked up and down the aisles with keys. Faith watched someone open a case for a customer as Tom filled out a form requiring more information than a 1040. Apparently, the customer was interested in several pieces of jewelry. They were handed to her one at a time, the watchful eye of the Bucket staff member never leaving the item for an instant. There were also video cameras mounted on the ceiling, keeping track of things. Nan’s analogy to Wal-Mart was false, Faith decided. Wal-Mart was a whole lot more trusting.

She’d instructed Tom to give a false name and address and now peered over to see if he’d complied. If the Bucket people were involved with the Fairchilds’ robbery, they might recognize the address and send them packing, Faith had explained to Tom. He’d agreed, but she should have signed them in herself.

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