Flipping it over, Kelly held the book close to study the back-cover blurb, making me wonder if she typically used reading glasses. “Oh no,” she said, thrusting it back toward Julie. “It has a missing-child theme. I can’t read anything with that story line.”
Julie, looking concerned, took the book and pressed it to her chest. “So sorry.”
“It’s okay, you couldn’t know. It’s just that my older brother went missing when I was a child. He was fifteen. There was ten years between us, so I don’t remember much, only that it was traumatic. It cast such a dark shadow over our family …” Kelly used one hand to fan her face, even though she appeared pale, not flushed. “Anyway, I try to avoid anything with that theme.”
“I can understand that,” Julie said, her tone sympathetic. “He was never found?”
Kelly shook her head. “No. My poor parents, who were killed in a car accident about six years later, never got over it.”
“I imagine not,” I said, thinking of the magazine story I’d read about the Rowleys. According to that article, Kelly’s older brother had inherited his parents’ estate. Which was odd, if he’d gone missing at fifteen. Although I supposed that even if he’d returned years later, the trauma of his disappearance wouldlinger in Kelly’s mind. “That’s terrible. You didn’t have any other family?”
Kelly ducked her head until her long hair veiled my view of her profile. “Just my grandparents. They raised me after my parents died. But they passed away many years ago. Not long after …” She tightened her lips and snapped her head up, tossing her blonde hair out of her face. “Anyway, everyone deals with some sort of tragedy in their life, don’t they?”
Her smile was as brittle as a sand dollar. Thinking of my own loss, I nodded and offered her a sympathetic smile in return. “I suppose they do.”
Kelly glanced at her watch. “Look at the time! I should get back; Todd might need my help.” She flashed Julie an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I won’t be able to buy any books right now, but if you come across a few light and fun reads, bring them to Chapters tonight, okay? I can pay you with a check. Will that work?”
“Yes, that’s fine,” Julie said. “I’ll see what I can find that I think you might like.”
“Thanks so much. See you later!” Kelly gave a quick wave before turning on her heel and heading out the shop door.
As the bells fell silent, Julie placed the book she’d been clutching back onto the display table. “That was a little weird.”
“Yes,” I said, but didn’t tell her the strangest part—the discrepancy between Kelly’s story and the magazine article’s depiction of her past.
Julie walked over to a white-beadboard-paneled counter. Circling behind the counter, she stared down at the desktop computer that functioned as her register. “I’ll try to find her something,even though it’s difficult to choose books for someone you don’t know well.”
“That is tricky,” I agreed.
“But I’ll see what I can do. Poor thing.” Julie shook her head. “Losing her entire family like that.” She looked over at me. “I guess I’m lucky, really. I’ve never lost anyone significant. Not yet, anyway.”
“I’d say that was fortunate.”
“It’s strange. You never really know about people, do you?” Julie straightened a stack of bookmarks stuck into a clear plastic brochure holder. “Lincoln lost his parents when he was fairly young, too. I kind of wondered if that was one reason he was so …”
“Selfish and arrogant?” I said, before I could check myself. “Sorry, I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead. But honestly, I don’t think any loss, no matter how tragic, is an excuse to behave the way he did.”
“No, no, you’re right.” Julie pursed her lips and looked me over. “You must think I’m a fool, falling for a guy like that.”
“We’ve all been fools at some time or another. Especially where love is concerned. Now, I guess I’d better be getting along as well. It’s probably time to check on Alicia and Damian and finish any other prep for tonight’s event.”
“Okay, I’ll see you there,” Julie said, before wishing me a good day.
Outside, I walked to the end of the boardwalk before turning around and heading back toward Chapters. Pausing where I could see the gleamingCelestial, I watched as Kelly climbed onto the yacht.
She had money, good looks, health, and what seemed to be a perfect marriage. A lot of people would say she’d been blessed by life. But she’d also endured tragedies that few knew about. Like so many of us, Kelly Rowley had her own pain to overcome. After one last glance at the Rowleys’ gorgeous yacht, I set off at a brisk pace, anxious to reach Chapters. I had a part to play tonight, an important task that could expose a murderer while clearing my friend and any other innocent parties.
I hoped I was up to the challenge.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
I didn’t have a chance to confer with Ellen before the start of the event. I phoned her, but she didn’t answer. Assuming that Ellen was possibly being fitted for her wire by the police, I finally abandoned any attempts to reach her and focused on preparing for my role in the operation instead.
I’d strolled the block when I’d returned from my walk, noting a plain van parked around the corner. Not visible from Chapters, but hopefully close enough for officers to reach the house within minutes if Ellen or I sent the alarm.
Detective Johnson had asked us to use a code word, and Ellen had suggestedsand dollar. She said it was innocuous enough to slip into conversation without raising eyebrows but not something people mentioned on a regular basis. Giving Ellen another one of her speculative looks, like she was sizing her up for future consulting possibilities, the detective had agreed.
A short time before the start of the discussion, I wandered into the kitchen. “That looks good,” I told Damian as I checked over a tray of hors d’oeuvres.
