Chapter 9
The book club started right at seven. They spent thirty minutes talking about What Happened to the Bennetts?
, chose the books for next month, and then took a break.
The other two members, Deb and Ginny, bought next month’s books, grabbed a brownie, then took off, wishing the rest of the group good hunting.
At first, Rarity worried that the sleuthing part of the book club would drive away the readers who just wanted to talk about books. But they’d hit a nice flow between talking about the books they’d read and then switching into investigative mode.
Jonathon was already standing by the whiteboard, setting up the discussion points.
Rarity noticed he’d divided the board into two sections.
One for Darby’s stalker and the other for Mason’s murder.
She trusted the process, but every time they set up the process to look into the most recent crime in town, she wondered if they were overstepping.
Maybe Drew and his peers were tired of them coming up with off-the-wall solutions.
Maybe this time, they wouldn’t see the killer until he struck again.
“Stop thinking so loud,” Jonathon said as he set the pen down. “You’re screaming over here.”
“I was just…” She paused, wondering what to say. Especially to Jonathon, who was a prior member of law enforcement.
“You wonder if we’re in over our heads. It’s not like the idea hasn’t crossed my mind.
And Drew’s, for that matter. But the group has brought in some good leads in the past. All I’m here for is to make sure you all don’t go over the rails, chasing suspects.
” He studied the board. “But I have to admit, even with the amazing work we did on the last investigation, I’m worried about this one. It hits too close to home.”
Rarity saw he was tapping Darby’s side of the whiteboard. “I think even if it’s a case of mistaken identity—and after meeting Talia, that’s a logical answer—I feel like Darby’s still in danger.”
Rarity felt a hand on her shoulder. Darby was standing there, watching them. “Look, I know the risk. I’m not being stupid, even if Holly and Malia are tired of living with me.”
“Am not,” Malia chimed in. She’d come from saying good night to Deb and rejoined the group. “It’s just practice for when we start up the new venture. Besides, you’d do it for me.”
“True.” Darby pulled Malia into a side hug. “It’s weird. When I was talking to Talia about not having family, I was thinking about all of you. I feel like you guys are my family.”
“Found family is the best. You don’t have to love us all the time, and you choose to be part of the group,” Holly said as she returned to the group as well.
Shirley followed her into the circle and sat down with her knitting.
“I told Kathy the same thing yesterday when she left. If George leaves, well, I guess when he goes on, I still have family here. Not just friends, although I do have those too. You all are my family and there’s nothing any of you can do about it. ”
A smile curved Rarity’s mouth. “Well, Sam, if you can pull yourself from the treat table, I guess it’s time for the second part of tonight’s meeting. We’ve all been so scattered, maybe we need to do a round-robin and see what everyone knows.”
“Your new paper inserts for the investigations are on your chair,” Shirley added.
Shirley always made new notebook papers for each case they worked on.
“Along with a new divider so you can keep the two investigations straight. If you need more notepaper or a new pen, there’s some on the register table over there. ”
Shirley was a big part of why they were family. She kept everyone going.
Jonathon started the discussion. “Okay, then. I like Rarity’s idea, but let’s do the two cases separately.
First up, what do you know or what have you heard about Darby’s stalker?
Darby, since you probably have the most information, you can start.
Drew said it was okay to talk about your conversation with him. ”
Darby walked them through the problems she’d had in Sedona since she’d arrived. Then she talked about the Scotland stalker.
Rarity raised her hand. “Do you think the two men are the same guy?”
Darby shrugged. “No, it feels different. Roger, the Scotland guy, he was from Detroit. He and I talked about things we missed from home. Then after I realized he was getting too close and broke it off, he was upset. He would call and cry on the phone while he left a message. The guy was a mess. I wouldn’t have called the cops except he’d tried to break into the dorms one night. The RA called for me that time.”
“Your house was broken into. That feels the same,” Rarity pointed out.
“Without any buildup. Unless Roger has turned his pain to over-the-top, calculated anger, it’s not him. And last I heard, he was dating a girl from New Jersey and still in Scotland.”
Jonathon shook his head. “You haven’t said anything that would make me reconsider taking him off, except you have a feeling. He stays on until we, or Drew, find out where he is. What’s his full name?”
Darby gave those details, then worked on adding them to the pages in her binder. “It’s weird talking about a stalker like he’s doing it to someone else.”
“Been there, done that.” Shirley smiled at her. “You should have another brownie.”
As they went around the room, Malia brought up Talia Brooks. “The woman is an older version of Darby. What if the stalker just got confused?”
“You’re saying he’s either brilliant or stupid. This is really nailing down the possible suspects,” Holly teased. “But seriously, that woman looks just like you, Darby. Are you sure you don’t have other relatives?”
“That’s a good question,” Rarity pointed out. “Maybe your grandmother had some genealogy done. Is there anything like that in the house?”
“If there is, it would be in the den. I can look there tonight, after the meeting.”
Holly nodded. “I’ll help. I’ve got to stay awake for work anyway. I’ll try to get into your grandmother’s computer.” Holly worked for the City of Sedona in the IT department. Mostly it meant that she updated software and replaced hardware when necessary and worked the graveyard shift.
“Okay, so we have that side going.” Rarity wrote down a note. “I’ll see what I can find out about Talia Brooks online. And I’ll try to talk with her tomorrow at the memorial before the film starts.”
They finished the round-robin on Darby, then Jonathon changed the subject to Mason Pike. “Shirley, what did you know about him? You set up the event, right?”
She nodded, setting her knitting down. “When I found out about the film festival, I noticed that Mason had a book he’d just released. I figured it would mesh well with the festival, and he’d be here anyway so it wouldn’t be a financial bother. Even though he lived in Southern California.”
Rarity continued writing as Shirley talked.
She wondered how close Talia and Mason lived to each other.
Southern California was a large, densely populated area, but Talia had mentioned that they’d been close, once.
Was that why he’d been inappropriate with Darby?
He’d fallen back into time and thought she was Talia?
Or had he been that way with all the pretty young things?
She might not ever find out. People tended to forgive a dead man his errors. Especially if they were famous.
As they broke for the night, Jonathon hung around after the others left. “Is Archer coming by or may I have the pleasure?”
“He’s driving back from a tour, so he won’t be walking me home. You’re welcome to join Killer and me if you think Romeo can make it that far.” Rarity smiled at the dog that was sprawled on the couch near the fireplace and loudly snoring now that most of the humans had left.
“It would be my pleasure. Anything I can help with?” he asked as he picked up his laptop bag and put the leash back on Romeo. The dog didn’t budge.
“I’m checking the back and turning off lights.
Put Killer on his leash and I’ll be ready to go.
” Rarity double-checked the lock on the back door and made sure the security system was turned on, then grabbed her tote to meet Jonathon at the front door.
After she locked it and armed the security system, she took Killer’s leash.
“You did a great job leading the discussion tonight.”
“Thank you. Drew keeps harping on me to make sure you all don’t go rogue on him.
” Jonathon fell into an easy pace with her and the dogs.
Killer had to hurry to keep up, even at this slow pace, but Romeo didn’t seem to be in a hurry at all.
The two dogs walked together, stopping at smells as they went down the street to Rarity’s house.
“You were quiet tonight. Are you worn out or something got you worried?”
Rarity snickered. “I’m always worried about something.
The bookstore, my employees, my friends, Archer, Killer, you name it, I can give you a reason I’m worried.
But this thing with Darby has me concerned.
I was going to say she can’t have someone staying with her forever, but if their mini hotel project gets up and going, I guess she can. ”
“The girls will take care of her. And we’ll figure out who’s been stalking her. I hear she went out to lunch with the bike racer. What do you think about him?”
“Marc? He’s super nice. Laid back. And he’s obviously taken by Darby.
Could he be trying to break into her house and threatening her with flowers and phone calls?
I don’t think so. One, they only met on Wednesday.
They went out to lunch once, maybe twice now.
But he’s leaving town sometime this week.
I’m sure with his new job, he’ll be following the circuit again.
” Rarity stopped, waiting for Killer to get his fill of a new smell with Romeo next to him.