“Going through every shop in town to see if anyone’s seen her.” Her fingers tightened on the strap of her purse. “I have a feeling she’s still here. Or close.”
“She looks just like you.”
“I told you.” Her voice dropped. “That’s how she got my money.”
“Hey Cole, need some help?” Junior asked, carefully handing the phone back to Aftyn and shaking his head. “Sorry, I ain’t seen her.”
“I haven’t seen her,” Cole corrected, then winced at his own boldness.
“Did she ask you too, Cole?” Junior’s brows furrowed. Cole bit back a grin. He could see Aftyn doing the same, her lips twitching at the corners.
“Well, thank you.” She glanced at Cole, sunlight catching the red in her hair. “Have a good day.”
“You too.” He touched the brim of his hat and watched her go, the bell above the door jingling softly in her wake.
He set the lead ropes on the scarred wooden counter and waited while Junior rang them up, then told him to put it on his account. Junior nodded, scribbling in a faded ledger. Cole just hoped he remembered.
Outside, he stood on the concrete steps and squinted across the sun-drenched street in time to see Aftyn disappearing into Timeless Treasures, the antique shop owned by Vanna Collins, fiancée of his good friend Grady Henderson. Cole jogged down the steps, tossed his purchases onto the truck seat, locked up, and crossed the street, dodging a slow-moving pickup before pushing through the antique shop door, the bell announcing his arrival.
Chapter Four
Aftyn approached the counter where a woman with warm brown eyes and a ponytail stood arranging vintage brooches on a velvet display pad. The shop smelled of lemon polish and old books.
“Good morning, welcome to Timeless Treasures.” The woman’s voice was warm against the soft classical music drifting through the shop. “Is there something I help you find?”
Aftyn’s lips had barely parted when the bell above the door jangled. Cole entered, bringing the heat of the afternoon with him, his Stetson casting a shadow across his tanned face.
“Hi, Cole,” the woman called, fingers lingering on a pearl-encrusted butterfly pin.
“Good morning, Maggie.” He touched the brim of his hat, then fixed his gaze on Aftyn. “Any luck?”
“I just got here.” She smiled.
He nodded and crossed to her side, boots creaking on the polished hardwood. Aftyn turned back to the counter and pulled her phone from her purse.
“Have you seen this woman?”
Maggie squinted at the image under the glow of the antique lamp. “She looks familiar, but she also looks like you, so maybe that’s why.”
Cole leaned his elbow on the glass countertop. “There’s a subtle difference.” He took the phone, thumb tracing the edge. “Darker blue eyes, darker hair.”
“Yeah, I can see that now,” Maggie said, “but theshape of their faces is the same. Is she related to you?”
“She’s my sister.” Aftyn’s voice caught. “I’m trying to find her.”
Maggie’s expression softened. “I hope you do. She does look familiar.”
“I’m Aftyn Hutchins. My sister’s name is Avery Newton. She may have been with a man, blond hair, blue eyes, around five eight. Do you think she’s been in here?”
“Maggie Lancaster.” She extended her hand, a diamond catching the light on her left ring finger. “Nice to meet you. I don’t remember a man being with her but let me ask Vanna. She has an eye for faces.” Maggie disappeared down a narrow hallway.
Aftyn turned to Cole. “Thank you.” She shook her head. “No luck so far. I’m hoping someone has seen her.”
“You’ve still got quite a few shops to get through,” Cole said, his voice low.
“I’ve been going since nine.” She checked her watch. “It’s almost twelve thirty.”
“Did you ask Connie and Owen? A lot of people pass through the diner.”
