Another storm was coming.
Chapter 31
After we went through all the receipts, Bampa picked up Nana, and I locked the quaint store. I headed down the street, hands shoved deep in my jacket pockets. The wind still held the rain back but a storm built pressure above the mountains. I needed the walk, needed the motion to burn off the frustration still riding my nerves.
Turning toward the courthouse, I paused outside Gloria’s shop, and the front window glared with the same bold sign I’d noticed earlier. Maybe she’d listen to reason. I opened the door and stepped inside, moving left into her space instead of straight ahead into the optometrist’s office. The scent of roasted coffee clung to the air.
Gloria stood behind the counter in a green floral dress, curls brushing her shoulders. She looked up and smiled. “You need more vitamins already?”
“No.” I gestured toward the front window. “Could you take that sign down?”
She laughed. “Are you kidding? I’ve had more traffic today than I’ve had in weeks. People want to come in and gossip if nothing else.” Her gaze shifted to the shelf stacked with protein powder. “Then they buy something. It’s great. I wish your Nana would get arrested every week.”
“That seems to be the path we’re on.” My voice came out sharper than I meant. “Do you know anything about the spiked tea we sold?”
Gloria shrugged. “How would I know anything about the tea? I don’t sell tea. Tea’s stupid.” Her eyes scanned me from head to toe. “Forget magical teas. You could use more muscle tone. My women’s supplement tastes great in coffee. In fact—” She reached under the counter and lifted a bag with a coffee cup printed on the front. “This one works as protein powder for smoothies that tastes like a frothing latte.”
My stomach growled, loud enough to draw her grin.
“It’s very good for you,” she said. “All natural, with vitamins B and D.”
I reached for the bag. “I could use more D.”
“Excellent. I’ll give you a discount.”
My eyebrow rose on its own. “Why?”
“I like you, Anna.”
I shook my head. “No, you don’t.”
She snorted. “Not really. But only because the O’Sheas and the Albertinis think they’re such big deals in this town.”
“They helped settle it,” I reminded her, my voice flat.
Gloria’s smile stayed, smooth and polished. “Whatever you say.”
Maybe if I bought the powder she’d work with me. “I’ll take it.”
She rang me up with a flick of her wrist.
The register dinged, and I handed her my card. “Did you know that Brooke has been distributing healing teas?”
Her head tilted. “My niece?”
“Yeah. She’s been helping with supply. She might’ve gotten caught in the middle of something ugly.”
Gloria stiffened. “You’re lying.”
“No, I’m not.” Yeah, I was tossing Brooke under the bus, but I had a grandmother to keep out of prison, and I needed answers. “She set Nana up with the tea distributor.”
I wasn’t sure I believed that, but I kept my expression even.
Gloria handed back my card, the bag already tucked into tissue paper. “But the tea is illegal.”
“Yeah. Brooke says somebody switched out the tea.”
Gloria’s forehead furrowed. “How?”
