“Who’s account?”
“Never heard of this person – Rory Golightly, but it was tagged Echo Falls so it popped into my feed.”
He stopped at a light and lifted his hand, signaling for her to hand over her phone. Studying the picture, he noted the details he’d passed over before. The green bench was on the right side of the gazebo. Bright sunlight shone on Santa’s face which put the time solidly into morning. More school skippers like Mia?
Tom handed back the phone and glanced in his mirror. Another Echo Falls police car pulled in behind him. Carmen. Good. Hopefully, they were about to close this.
Mia sat with her arms wrapped around herself but couldn’t hide the interest in her eyes. “This is too simple.”
Tom noted the defensive posture. “You’ve done well. It has helped. Around here, most people who commit crimes do so on the spur of the moment. So they solve quickly. It’s the ones who take the time to plan things that we have to worry about.”
Mia tilted her head to study him. “You mean like murders and kidnappings.”
“And burglaries, too.”
Mia nodded. “That’s why we need forensics.”
“Yes. It all helps to identify and catch the persons involved.” He stopped the car in the service road at the park behind the gazebo. Mia got out before he did and zipped her coat.
They walked across the dying lawn with a cold breeze at their backs.
Santa was gone.
Chapter Four
Clouds rolled in with the afternoon. Summer set out her drawing pencils with her sketchbook while waiting for hot chocolate. She was known for landscapes, but she also loved drawing people. A full restaurant at Clem’s burst with characters, colors, and emotions. She chose the small child sitting in a high-chair and stuffing French fries in her mouth. Her dark hair was tied in a tall waterfall of a ponytail. Against the backdrop of all of Clem’s decorations, her festive red pants and red shirt kept pace with her glee, and the red matched her cheeks.
Tom had been right. The weather had changed drastically, and the chill had her burrowing her other hand into her pocketed hoodie. She sketched quietly, concentrating on getting the gist on paper.
Her drink appeared. Myrna dropped it on the table and left her drawing.
She wasn’t the first person who came in and chose to read, study, or color and wanted to enjoy coffee or a piece of pie in peace.
“Summer, dear, may I interrupt you?”
She glanced into the light blue eyes of Mrs. Heigl. The town’s beloved English teacher, now retired, wore a bright green Grinch sweatshirt and a red tam with black pants and black slouch boots. Her face was flushed with cold and if the twinkling in her eyes was to be interpreted correctly – happiness.
Summer dropped her drawing pencil and pointed at the opposite seat in her booth. “I’d love an interruption. Join me, please.” Honestly, she was hanging out waiting for some of the library’s town history to spur some inspiration for her mural.Plus, this prime location let her stalk her husband for some pictures. Mrs. Heigl was good cover.
“What are you drawing, dear?” She signaled the waitress for tea.
Summer pointed at the little girl across the way.
Mrs. Heigl’s sweet smile said it all. “Imagine some day that child will discover her portrait among the famous Summer LeFey’s drawings.”
Summer snorted. “How so?”
“Well, all the famous artists publish their earlier drawings sooner or later.”
Summer froze. Jonathan had mentioned as much to her a few years ago, but she’d dismissed it because they were only sketches.
Mrs. Heigl grinned, lost in her thought process. “DaVinci being the most famous one I can think of. Picasso.”
“I’m nowhere in their realm.”
“Oh, you don’t give yourself enough credit. What’s this I hear about a mural?”
Summer dropped back in her seat, surprised again. “Who told?”
