Isabel turned to see Frank and Tommy standing on the sidewalk. Beside them was a man she didn’t recognize. She hurried to unlock the door.
“We’re not too late, are we?” Frank asked as she ushered them inside. “Tommy insisted on showing William the lake before we came to town.”
Isabel smiled at Tommy. “You’re just in time to see the new children’s corner.” As they walked across the store, her eyes were drawn to the tall, broad-shouldered man standing beside Frank. He carried himself with unmistakable authority—alert, observant, and scanning the bookstore before settling his gaze on her.
“Isabel, this is William Parker,” Frank introduced. “An old friend from my Seattle days. William, this is Isabel Stewart, the bookstore’s new owner.”
William extended his hand, his grip firm and professional. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Stewart. Frank has told me a lot about you and your bookstore.”
Something in his manner—a careful precision to his words, an alertness that didn’t quite match Frank’s casual introduction—made Isabel suspect William Parker was more than just an old friend. This, she realized, must be the FBI agent Frank had been expecting.
“Please, call me Isabel,” she replied, keeping her tone light. “And these are my friends, Kathleen Armstrong and Lynda Morth.”
As William exchanged pleasantries with Kathleen and Lynda, Tommy darted past them toward the children’s corner, letting out an excited whoop when he saw the transformation.
“It’s even better than I thought!” he exclaimed, immediately diving onto the window seat cushions. “Look at the stars on the ceiling! And you put up the adventure map I drew!”
Isabel felt a surge of pleasure at his reaction. “Of course we did. It’s the perfect finishing touch.”
Frank stood beside her, watching Tommy explore the reading nook with undisguised delight. “This is incredible, Isabel,” he said quietly. “You’ve created something special.”
Their shoulders brushed, and Isabel felt the now-familiar warmth that seemed to accompany even their smallest points of contact. “I had help,” she reminded him, nodding toward Kathleen and Lynda, who were showing William around the rest of the store.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be here,” Frank told her. “I had an urgent job I had to do.”
Isabel studied his face. Despite his smile, there were faint lines of tension around his eyes. “It doesn’t matter. We sorted out most of the things during the week. Is everything okay?”
Frank glanced at William. “So far, it is. William arrived this afternoon. He’s been looking around Sapphire Bay and assessing the situation.”
Isabel understood what he was saying. Agent Parker was evaluating the security risks, determining whether Frank and Tommy could safely remain in Sapphire Bay or if they’d need to relocate. The thought sent an unexpected pang through her chest.
“And?” she prompted gently.
“It’s too early to tell,” Frank said. “Is it okay if William talks to you? He wants to know about the bookstore and what you do when you aren’t here.”
Isabel’s eyes widened. “Does he think I could be caught up in what’s happening?”
“I hope not, but we just don’t know.” Frank sighed. “I’m sorry this has happened.”
“It’s not your fault,” Isabel said softly.
Tommy bounded over to them, excitement radiating from his small frame. “Isabel, can I show Mr. Parker the door behind the history shelf? The one that leads to the storage room?”
“Of course you can. Just tell Mr. Parker to watch his head. The door isn’t very high.”
“Okay.” As Tommy hurried back to William, Kathleen approached with a thoughtful expression on her face. “William doesn’t seem like your typical old friend,” she said, her voice pitched low. “He’s more like someone who’s always watching for trouble.”
“He’s with the police, isn’t he?” Lynda asked Frank as she joined them. “There’s something about the way he moves that reminds me of a friend who’s on the force back in Denver.”
Frank looked momentarily startled, then nodded. “You’re right. He’s in law enforcement,”
“Is he here because Tommy disappeared the other day?” Kathleen asked.
Isabel met Frank’s eyes, seeing his hesitation. “Frank can’t keep an eye on Tommy all the time,” she said, answering for him. “William is here to help.”
Lynda’s expression grew serious. “Is Tommy in danger? Are you?”
Frank sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s a precautionary measure,” he said carefully. “There’s a situation from my past that’s resurfaced. William’s helping us manage it.”
