Chapter 6 Luke
Luke
Iwasn’t totally sure what possessed me to offer to help Mina gather stuff.
There was a certain element of needing to move around involved.
Sitting idle while my mind spun in a million directions about who was in the wall and why wasn’t working.
I’ve always been the type who puzzled things out better while I did something mundane.
Moving a few things fit that bill. I also knew I would probably end up taking a run later.
Not that any of it would help. I hadn’t the slightest clue who we’d uncovered.
But, at the very least, it would help me sort out my feelings about the situation.
“There really isn’t much.” Mina glanced over her shoulder at me as she flipped on the light in the coffeeshop’s storage room. “Just that.” She gestured to the artwork propped against the wall.
“I’ll take one, you take the other.”
“I have that box, there, too.” She pointed to a small box on a shelf beside the art. “It’s just some stuff I thought might fit the new café’s theme.”
I moved past her to pick up both paintings. “You take the box. I have these.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. They’re not heavy.”
Her brows winged upward, but she didn’t argue.
I bit back a smile. To her, they probably were a bit on the heavy side. And awkward. She was tiny.
Though not too tiny. The woman had curves that didn’t quit.
Clearing my throat softly, I hefted the artwork. “So, how are you doing? You still look a little shellshocked.”
She snorted. “I am. There’s a skeleton in my wall.
I highly doubt that person crawled in there by themselves and died.
” She shuddered and tucked the box against her middle.
“It just creeps me out to think that I sat at the same table—laughed with—a man who is a potential murderer. And if it wasn’t him, then a murderer could still walk amongst us.
It’s just…” She trailed off and shuddered again, more violently, as a look of disgust crossed her face.
I understood that. I would certainly give some extra scrutiny to the people I passed in town until the police had a better handle on the situation. “How long did Mr. Shuman own the building?” It had been an antique store my entire childhood, so I figured it was at least a few decades.
“Thirty years, at least. I don’t know who owned it before that.” A small frown creased her forehead. “Do you think that person’s been in there longer than that?”
Leaving the storage room, I thought about the body’s condition. It was dry and didn’t smell, except for an old and musty scent. “It’s possible. I don’t know how fast people in walls decay. Do you remember a time when the store was closed unexpectedly? Or when people complained of a smell inside?”
“No. But I haven’t lived here my entire life. Claire and I are from the Hoonah area. You’d know better than I would. Aren’t you from here?”
“Yes, but I didn’t exactly pay much attention to what went on in town.
If I wasn’t chasing a girl, I was off in the woods hunting or building a dirt bike track.
” I was a bit of a hellion in my youth. My poor parents were both happy and sad to see me go off to college.
And scared, because I was on my own without supervision.
Thankfully, I calmed down. I still liked a good adrenaline rush, though.
“I’m going to have to do some digging later,” Mina mused.
I lifted an eyebrow. “You should probably leave that up to the cops.”
“Pfft.” She scrunched her nose. “Even if I wanted to, Claire won’t let me.
It’ll drive Ozzie crazy, but it won’t stop her.
And even if it weren’t my building, I wouldn’t want her digging around alone.
I’m not saying we’ll go out and pound the pavement or anything, but we’ll probably cozy up at her house tonight with some hot chocolate and her laptop and do some strategic internet searches. ”
My gaze traveled through the coffeeshop’s front windows to the flashing lights on top of the cop cars blocking off part of the street. Curiosity pulled at my mind, and I glanced at Mina. “You want company?”
She cast a quick glance back at me as we walked. “Digging up information?”
“Yeah. I might not have paid much attention to the comings and goings around town, but I know most of the people. I might recognize names you and Claire won’t.”
“I suppose that’s true. Okay. Let’s talk to Claire—after Ozzie leaves.” A quick smile flashed across her pretty face, making her eyes twinkle. “And we’ll set up a time to get together later.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Maybe I’d get a few answers to my swirling thoughts, after all.
My mouth flattened as an alternative thought occurred. It was quite possible I would just end up with more questions.
But, ultimately, it didn’t matter. I wanted to stay in the loop. It wasn’t my shop, but it was my job site, and I’d been there to uncover the remains.