Chapter 9
Scarlet returned to the bookshop and settled down at the backroom desk, certain tomorrow would bring more details with Everest. As she finished reviewing the album and going through the mystery files, she discovered a book tucked at an odd angle in a pocket between shelves. It was an old chapter book for kids with a library checkout card last listed to someone named Clara.
Scarlet’s heart picked up the pace. She’d just seen that name.
She flipped back through the mystery album and found Clara listed as the last person before the blank pages began.
Disappeared forty-nine years ago. Unsolved by detectives. The last record of her was a library book returned on April tenth, the year she went missing.
Scarlet scanned through the pages to find words underlined in crayon on the dog-eared pages of the book. A note in the book said that the words amounted to a secret message—a cry for help. Clara believed her father was going to take her on a trip to see a big baseball game in Texas before visiting family in Wisconsin. But she didn’t think he was going to bring her home.
Aunt Ann had listed Clara’s father’s relatives with phone numbers and addresses, with several crossed off and listed as deceased or dead ends. Scarlet turned the notes over to find an article on the missing girl. Her mother, Elena, was heartbroken. The father wasn’t supposedly in the daughter’s life because he was in jail. So who could’ve taken her?
It was the question still hanging open in her aunt’s notes.
Scarlet spent the rest of the day sorting through the backroom and organizing it by type of book, notebook, journal, and file. As much as she hadn’t wanted to change the place, she needed to make sense of it.
As Scarlet finished up for the night, she found herself bothered by a scratching noise outside the back door of the alley. She tried to ignore it, thinking it was a twig or a bush brushing the building in the wind. That was until she heard the whimper.
Scarlet set down the stack of books she was shelving and cracked open the back door under the narrow black awning.
Scarlet discovered a small bundle of fur curled up on the doorstep in the dim light that poured outside from the shop.
Sympathy gripped her and made her stoop and collect the puppy. “Hey, you still hanging in there?”
The pup was cold and soaked to the bone, but it nestled into her arms just enough to convince her it hadn’t given up. “Where on earth did you come from, little one?”
Scarlet grabbed a flashlight she’d found in a drawer and pointed it outside, scanning up and down the alley, including neighboring houses. But no mother or other puppies were in sight, just a cardboard box across the street with a towel inside. Someone left this baby out here? In this weather?
Scarlet hiked the steps up to her aunt’s place to hunt for a towel. The apartment was the size of a tiny home, and had next to nothing but basics in it. Her aunt clearly lived below and only slept upstairs.
Scarlet washed and warmed the puppy under the kitchen sink. It was a small silver basin among gray countertops and white cabinets. The apartment was clean, with only the strands of a single sea glass sun catcher hanging in a window that suggested that anyone lived there. It looked like a vacation rental.
There’s an idea.
After drying the pup well with a towel, Scarlet knew she was going to need some help. Perhaps Everest would take the puppy or would know who could. Except I never got his number.
She looked online for anyone in town who could help, but all the small shops were closed at that hour. Her last chance was at the grocery store. And she had less than thirty minutes left.
Scarlet wrapped the puppy up in a fresh towel, locked the shop, and drove to the store.
A kind young woman worked on the floor and helped Scarlet select the right supplies to care for the pup until the animal rescue facility opened in the morning.
“Thanks.” Scarlet paid for her things and headed to the Bed and Breakfast by the lighthouse.
“What have you got there?” Myrtle asked in a sweet voice as she walked up and admired the puppy.
“Someone left this little one in a box behind the shop,” Scarlet replied. “It’s that just awful? He’s so sweet and so tiny.”
“People do that when they can’t afford to care for the pets. Your aunt took in every single animal they left back there. We normally don’t allow pets, but I think we can in this situation. Care if we keep him in our private laundry room? It has linoleum in case he makes a mess. I’d be happy to feed him at night.” Myrtle’s eyes softened as they studied the golden puppy. “Sometimes, I miss having babies in the house. But I recommend talking to Molly in the morning. She runs the vet clinic.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you making the exception. I’d stay at my aunt’s place, but it’s uncomfortable, knowing she died there.”
“I understand. We used to have a chihuahua, and this is where he slept. So we will be fine.”
“Thanks.”
Scarlet left the puppy and supplies with Myrtle and went to her room for the night.
Poor thing.
Scarlet slept a little better that night. Maybe it was the fact she’s gotten past half of the tough stuff with taking over the shop. Or perhaps, it was some part of her that needed to feel closer to her aunt. Rescuing the puppy felt good, too.
But a lot more work lay ahead, and now she had added a puppy to care for and a meeting with Everest at the café. Exhausted, Scarlet laid back on the bed still in her clothes from the day, and soon fell asleep.