“Nothing here either,” he states sourly. Carter hates being bested, it doesn’t happen often but when it does it puts him in a foul mood for days. A pissed off Carter is also a determined one.
“No one saw a damned thing, and we have no outside sources. Do you think it was random,” Sterling asks. The tone in his voice suggest he doesn’t believe it, but I get why he would ask.
“I don’t think it is random at all. I think we have a problem,” I share. I then tell them about yesterday, and how Piper thought she was imagining things. Both Carter and Sterling are swearing under their breath.
Sterling lets out a low whistle. “Well, it ought to be interesting around here for a while,” he muses. He studies me briefly as if he can see right through my fury, fear, and worry. He probably can. He just went through this with Meg a few weeks ago.
I look up and see that Piper and Meg are talking behind the counter. Meg looks concerned and looks over in our direction. The door opens again and a few customers file in. The first sign that the lunch rush has begun.
“Piper interacts with hundreds of people. It could be anyone,” Carter grunts. I nod. It is true, she has a lot of customers. Sterling speaks before I can.
“This is true, but it has to be someone that she has come across in the last few months. She hasn’t had any issues before,” Sterling’s comment makes me think.
“Not a bad idea. I’ll start researching current customers and new faces. Someone may jump out,” his fingers start flying over the keyboard before he finishes his sentence.
“I’ll talk to Piper tonight, see if there is anything else that may stand out as odd to her. She chalked yesterday up to her imagination. Thought she was losing her mind,” I explain.
“Meg was the same way, couldn’t believe that she would be tied up in shit like that” Sterling acknowledges. Carter hums in agreement.
“Makes sense, they are pretty drama free,” Carter points out. I nod quietly. I hope Piper can remember something tonight that will give us more to go on. I just am not sure she will be able to.
Chapter 17
Piper
I was relieved to see Meg come in. She is a great distraction and helps keep me centered. That happens when you know someone for over half of your life. She asked the same question that has been echoing through my mind for the last hour.Who would throw a brick at my window? Why?
I had no answer. Meg jumps in to help as the rush begins and I am grateful. She has done it before, so we fall into an easy rhythm. About 45 minutes later the steady stream turns to a trickle so we sit down and each have some more coffee.
“Oh thank god, this is so good,” Meg groans. I chuckle. We are both very pro-coffee and caffeine.
“Thanks for the help, I should put you on the payroll,” I mutter. She shakes her head as she swallows a sip of her latte.
“No way, what are best friends for,” she says. I laugh and nod. I’m glad that Holt made the executive decision to have me close a couple of hours early today. Going home to shower and rot on the couch for a few hours sounds heavenly. I just want to disassociate for a bit.
“The Sheriff is coming by in about 20 minutes to get my statement,” I tell her. She looks over at me. Her dark eyebrow arching above her thick framed glasses.
“Statement? What are you going to say,” she asks me. I chuckle because it is like hearing a rerun of my previous conversation with Holt.
“I guess I’ll just tell him what happened. I don’t have any idea what is going on,” Meg nods at my answer.
“Never a dull moment,” she comments and smirks at me. I nod in agreement. Lately, it seems like we jump from one dumpster fire to another.
“How many cups of coffee have you had today,” I jump and look up at Sterling. He seems to have just appeared there. The question is directed at Meg, who snorts.
“This is my third,” she says in a pitch that gives away her lie. Sterling crosses his impressive arms and stares her down.
“Want to revise that answer? You know what happens when you lie,” Sterling’s voice takes on a tone that I’m not sure I should be hearing. Meg’s cheeks go red and I know that this is not a conversation I want to be part of.
“Sterling! Ugh, fine! Add two to my previous answer,” she exasperatedly states. I can’t help but giggle. Meg glares in my direction. Before I can respond the door opens again. Sheriff Williams walks in. Holt comes over to me before the Sheriff does.
“Hey there, would you like a cup of coffee and something to eat,” I ask him cheerily. He nods quickly.
“That would be great Piper, thank you,” he stands there as I get his food together. Sheriff Williams is a shorter man with grey-white hair. He has been sheriff for as long as I can remember here in this town. He must be close to retirement but he isn’t ready to hang it up yet.
His wife comes in every Wednesday morning with her book club. They meet in the back corner. His family is well known and well liked in the area, so I am relatively relaxed at the thought of talking to him.
I turn around and put the plate with his apple turnover and the mug with his black coffee down in front of him. He is reaching into his jacket and pulling out an old school note pad and pen.
