Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Harper walked through the shop’s meeting room door looking like hell.
She dumped the two stuffed canvas bags she was carrying on the floor in the corner and shoved a lock of hair that had escaped from her messy bun out of her eye.
Those bags would contain the supplies for tonight.
Paper napkins from the variety store, the serving trays Agnes was loaning them, and the special themed sweets Bethany at Honey Buns had promised.
And it was amazing that Harper, after the encounter with Carson this morning, had been able to or had even bothered to pick it all up and bring it over.
A book club meeting.
In light of murder accusations and lawsuits it was ridiculous to be here and pretend all was okay when everyone in this small town full of big gossip knew the story, which no doubt grew larger and more lurid with every telling.
“We should have canceled book club for tonight,” Natalie said.
Harper shook her head. “No. It’s fine. I’m fine.”
Natalie should dive right in and set it all up on the table before the club members arrived in ten minutes. She didn’t, because Harper did not look fine.
“You’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes.” Harper flipped back a chestnut strand of hair that had yet again fallen in front of her face. The move didn’t help her disheveled appearance all that much. “It’s just…”
“Just what?” Natalie prompted.
“I’ve got this weird feeling.”
“What kind of weird feeling?”
“Like someone’s following me.”
Natalie widened her eyes. “You mean like you’re under surveillance?”
Did the Mudville sheriff’s department even have someone who could do that? The deputies and the sheriff had all been born and raised in this town. People would notice them.
Maybe Pompous Doug’s widow had hired a private investigator…
Pressing her lips together, Harper shook her head. “No. Not like that. It’s more… sinister. It feels like I’m being… I don’t know. Stalked. Hunted.”
Harper’s new choice of words hit an entirely different chord with Natalie. Because she had felt the same. In Utica when that dark entity had been in her hotel room. And now that she thought about it, yesterday in Liam’s lab.
She’d tried to write the incident off as just Gabe playing a practical joke. But she believed him when he said it wasn’t him. Besides, Gabe’s presence had never given her that feeling before.
Sinister.
That was the perfect word for the dark sensation. Harper had hit the nail right on the head.
Natalie swallowed hard, hating to scare Harper. The woman already looked freaked out. But she needed to know.
“Do you feel it now? The… presence?” she asked.
A frown creased Harper’s forehead as she considered. “No?”
“Is that a question?” Natalie asked.
“It’s just…weaker, I guess? Almost muted.
Dampened. I felt it really strongly on my walk over here.
I’d think it was one of my haters in town, following me to, I don’t know, creep me out or intimidate me or something, But I felt it at home too, inside the house, during dinner.
And I know it wasn’t Gabe or Millie because they weren’t even home. ”
“If it makes you feel any better, I don’t see any spirits in here now.”
Harper blew out a short, sharp breath. “That does make me feel a little better. Thanks. And I’ll feel a lot better once we break open these sweets.” She smiled. It might have been forced, but at least it was something.
“I’m here and I brought libations,” Alice announced.
“On your trike?” Natalie couldn’t resist the question.
“As a matter of fact, yes. So you two youngin’s can go out and get it. There’s a gallon jug in each basket.”
Natalie stilled, remembering some of the other times Alice had provided gallons of unidentified libations for the book club. “You didn’t make magic mushroom lemonade again, did you?”
“No. It’s sweet tea.”
“Is it THC sweet tea again?” Harper asked, referring to yet another one of Alice’s contributions to book club refreshments.
Alice swung her gray head. “Nope.”
“All right, then. Thank you for bringing it.”
“You’re welcome.” Alice grinned a bit too wide and Natalie wondered if she needed to worry.
“So no funny mushrooms you grew in your basement or cannabis from your garden?” she asked again.
“Nope. Cross my heart. And I don’t have time to garden anymore, silly. Not now that I’m busy with the B-Listers.”
Harper visibly bit her lips over that. Of course she was dying to tell Alice that ‘B-Listers’ probably didn’t have the meaning she thought it did. It was the first thought Natalie had when seeing it on her vest. But neither had the nerve to tell Alice.
Natalie pressed her own lips tightly together before she broke out laughing. When she’d controlled the impulse she nodded. “Okay, then. We’ll bring it in.”
When they were out the door, Harper whispered, “You think it’s safe?”
“It must be. If it’s not pot or shrooms, what else could she possibly lace her tea with?” Natalie asked.
“Ecstasy?” Harper suggested.
“Where in the world would she get her hands on club drugs?” Natalie asked.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It should be fine. And honestly, how bad could it be? I have more things to worry about than what Alice might put in our drinks.” Harper sighed. “Maybe a little molly would help me forget this whole Pompous Doug mess.”
Natalie had to agree.