The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

Author:Ellery Adams [Adams, Ellery]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2017-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

To live in prison is to live without mirrors. To live without mirrors is to live without the self.

—Margaret Atwood

After Jed left, Nora called June to tell her what he’d said about the possibility that Greer’s body had been moved after his death.

“That fact doesn’t identify the real killer, but it supports Estella’s innocence,” Nora said. “After all, Estella couldn’t have dragged Greer over that tile floor, even if he’d been dipped in butter. He was way too heavy.” Nora recalled Greer’s naked body all too well. Clearing her mind of the unpleasant image, she went on: “I also want you to know that I’m going to see Estella before I open the shop tomorrow morning. If they’ll let me see her.”

The slam of a screen door echoed down the phone line. Based on the chorus of the mewling of cats in the background, Nora concluded that June had stepped outside. She liked the idea that the two of them were staring up at the same stars and taking comfort from their distant, but dependable light.

“I’m worried,” June said. “You, me, Estella, and Hester are smart women. We’re tenacious women. But we’re still just four women—three now—going up against a killer capable of pushing a man in front of a train.”

“Not just a killer,” Nora cut in. “This isn’t an individual working alone.”

June made a noise of dismay. “Neil’s murder was bad enough. But what does Greer’s death mean? Is the group turning on itself?”

“I don’t know. I’m so tired that I can’t think straight. Will you fill Hester in for me?”

“Of course.” A cat screeched and June yelled, “Shoo!” and sighed. “This big orange tom goes out of his way to dart right in front of me when I walk. Speaking of toms, how’d your date go?”

A cloud skittered across the collective of stars above Nora, blotting out their light. “Don’t ask,” she said, and ended the call.

* * *

Deputy Crowder, the lickspittle who’d hovered behind the sheriff’s chair the day Nora had given her statement on Neil Parrish, was more than happy to inform her that Estella wasn’t free to receive visitors.

“You can’t hold her indefinitely,” Nora said. “I know the law. You have to charge her or let her go.”

“Oh, we’re charging her.” Crowder’s mouth curved into a smug grin. “Which is why you can’t see her right now. She’s meeting with her legal counsel. Who do you think is more important to her? Visiting with the used-book girl or the public defender?”

Nora refused to be goaded. “There are perks to owning a bookstore,” she said pleasantly. “For example, I’m never bored. I’ll sit and read until Estella’s meeting is done.”

The deputy shrugged. “Whatever floats your boat. You can take your smutty Harlequin novel to the lobby. Or is it a vampire story? You girls love your hot, young vampires, don’t you?”

Nora didn’t know what angered her more—being repeatedly called a girl or Crowder’s assumption that women only read romance novels.

Pasting on her brightest smile, she said, “Vampires are alluring for many reasons.

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