The next morning, they were at the bookstore, when Rarity told everyone about the look-alike. “I swear, Darby, she looked just like you but more dressed up.”
“So my doppelganger has better fashion sense? Nice.” Darby took a bite of the scone in front of her. “She probably runs every morning and only eats green leafy vegetables too.”
Rarity chuckled as the box of scones made its way around the table. “I don’t know about that, but she did look like you.”
“They say that there are exact replicas of each person in the world. The reason you never see them is they live so far away from each other. But with modern travel, finding your nongenetic twin is more likely to happen. It’s like how there are only nine story plots in the world. We just keep putting our own spin on the old plots,” Jonathon said as he reached for a second scone.
“Maybe your stalker is going after that girl and not you?” Katie had finished boxing up the new books to bring over to the booth. “Do we want these in the wagon again?”
“Sure.” Rarity leaned back into her chair. “We’ve only got until noon today, and then everyone will be off the clock until Tuesday.”
“Except me,” Shirley added.
Rarity sipped her coffee. “Right, except Shirley who begged me for permission to open the store for a few hours tomorrow.”
“What time are you opening?” Jonathon opened his notebook, pen in hand.
“You don’t have to come,” Shirley protested. “I think I told you that before.”
“I need writing time. I’ve been busy with bookstore stuff since I got here. Don’t send me away. I never get anything done with Romeo around. All he wants from me is cuddles and treats.” Jonathon pleaded with Shirley, holding his hands together in a symbolic prayer gesture.
“Fine, you can come, but no stocking books. I want to see your word count when we’re done,” Shirley warned, a smile on her face.
“I brought my laptop today, just in case we’re slow.” He turned to Rarity. “I take it that the sleuthing club is taking over on Tuesday night?”
“That’s the plan. I’ve already called the other two members and told them we’d be cutting the book discussion time short. And that we might do the same the next week.”
“I really enjoyed this week’s book,” Katie said then slapped her hand over her mouth. “I know, keep it for book club.”
“And with that, let’s get our day going. Darby number one? You and Katie are with me.” Rarity stood and went to get Killer from his daybed by the fireplace.
“Not funny.” Darby finished her scone before she stood.
Katie grinned and hugged her friend. “You’ll always be Darby number one in my book.”
“Still not funny, guys,” Darby said as she followed Rarity out the door.
* * *
Drew came into the booth around ten. Rarity had asked Sam to fill him in on the woman they’d seen the night before. Rarity used the excuse to walk Killer, and they took the conversation outside, again.
When they were far enough from the tent, Drew paused in a narrow area between the rows of tents. “I showed a picture of Darby to the organizers of the bike race and the film festival. The bike race people identified her as working at the bookstore.”
“So Darby number one.” Rarity told him what they’d been calling their Darby.
“I bet she loves that, not.” He chuckled as he scanned the crowd over Rarity’s head as they talked. “Anyway, so no duplicate. But the film festival people all identified her as Talia Brooks. She has a movie in contention for best short film under two hours. She’s from Riverside, California, near Los Angeles. So yes, our Darby has a double. And you’re wondering if these attacks on Darby could be misplaced?”
“But how would he know number one’s address and phone number? If you’re stalking someone, wouldn’t he know she lives in California?” Rarity thought knowing this explained the Darby sighting last night, but not the attacks. “I still think it’s the Scotland ex-boyfriend.”
“She only dated him a few times. I don’t think she’d like hearing him called her ex,” Drew said, reaching down to pull Killer out of the way of the passing crowd. “The plate on the black truck is from California. We’re running it now.”
“Aren’t you sensitive?” Rarity shortened Killer’s leash. “So the truck could have just been a bad driver? Part of the film festival group?”
“That’s the theory. Besides, hanging around Sam will do that to a person.” He smiled at her. “Anyway, that’s my news. There is a Darby doppelganger in town.”
Rarity and Drew walked back to the tent, and then he left. Rarity was glad the weekend festival in the park was almost over. Keeping Darby in her line of sight all the time was harder here than at the store. She needed to make sure that Darby wasn’t going to be alone next week. If they got through the film festival, maybe the stalker would realize he had the wrong person and head back to California with the rest of the festivalgoers.
Unless he truly was after Darby number one.
