“Probably.”But he didn’t move.“Sam?Please be careful tomorrow when you’re investigating.I’ll be back at school, of course, but call me if anything feels off.”
“Promise.”
He kissed her once more, then stepped back reluctantly.She watched him walk to his car, waiting until he’d pulled away before going inside.Arlo greeted her with enthusiastic snuffles and circles.
Her phone buzzed immediately with a text.
It was Nora, naturally.He’s a keeper.Don’t mess this up.
Sam smiled, texting back:Good night, Nora.
Lock your door.Murderer still out there.
Already done.
She got ready for bed and fell asleep thinking not about suspects and motives, but about Aiden’s smile and the way his hand felt in hers.
Chapter Twenty-One
Sam had finished herusual morning routine when Charlotte called her.
“Everything okay?”asked Sam.
“Yes.This is becoming a pattern, isn’t it?I’m sorry for bothering you.Am I interrupting your breakfast?”
“No, no.I’m all done with that.What’s going on?”asked Sam.
“I haven’t gotten around to calling the police yet about Margaret’s tote bag,” said Charlotte.“I know.I should have done it right away.But I had another delivery truck come in, then I had a bunch of chatty customers, then my mom called me and there was something I needed to help her with.Anyway, I went back into the bag.”
“You found something else?”Sam thought back to when she was at the shop.She’d felt like they’d really gone through it.But then she realized that as soon as she’d seen Margaret’s printed email from Gerald/Geraldine, she’d stopped searching through everything.
“That’s right.Do you mind running by?I hate doing this over the phone.”
“No problem.I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
As good as her word, Sam was back in the shop just ten minutes later.Charlotte gave her a rueful look.“Sorry again.I just figured I’d give the bag another quick look before I called the cops.I didn’t really think I’d find anything else in there, but I think I did.”
