We continued walking into the business district of Duck. I had to cross the crowded street to get back to Missing Pieces. I glanced at Kevin, wondering if all of this made more sense to him than to me. “You don’t have to walk me all the way to the shop. I’m okay now. Unlikely to hold off the police, or the SBI, with hostages.”
“I know. You were doing what you thought was right.”
“Yeah. I’m lucky they didn’t arrest me for it.”
He laughed. “You’re right. Of course, you’re the mayor. It wouldn’t look good for the town if that happened.”
“True. But I won’t push my luck again.”
“Unless something else happens where you have to stand up for what you think is right. I might know you better than you know yourself.”
“Quit profiling me!” There was an opening in the constant line of traffic going through town. I smiled and waved at Kevin, then darted across the street. I noticed that he waved back then set out toward the Blue Whale. I also noticed that he was wearing sandals. It made me smile again. Duck relaxation even got to hardened FBI types. Maybe someone could use that for a tourist slogan.
I unlocked Missing Pieces and turned on the lights. I was only there a few minutes before a crowd of shoppers began surging in. They were mostly looking for bargains and souvenirs. Nothing to threaten my treasures.
A few hours later, as I was ringing up some Duck T-shirts, Trudy came in from next door. She waited until I was finished with my customer to come behind the counter and take a seat. “I heard about Miss Mildred. It’s awful, Dae. How can they arrest someone that old? I don’t understand why they think she was involved in her sister’s death.”
I didn’t want to go into the whole thing again. It was a little too fresh and painful to describe to her. “I’m hoping the police realize they’ve made a mistake and let her go back home.”
“Someone said they saw you and your grandfather down there,” Trudy whispered. “Did you see them take her away?”
I nodded. “I really don’t want to talk about it right now. It wasn’t exactly the bright spot of my day.”
“I understand.” She smiled a little and changed the subject. “I hear Shayla is dating that super-gorgeous new guy at the Blue Whale. I got that from her, so I’m trusting it’s true.”
“It’s true. I went out with them last night.”
A woman who looked as though she were carrying the weight of the world approached the counter. She had a little girl with her. The woman had a kid-size, blue party dress that had been part of a group of items I’d purchased from one of the local churches. It was left over from a Christmas bazaar. “How much for this one?” she asked.
I looked at the two of them and knew they couldn’t afford it. No matter what the price was, there was no extra money for this dress. I also knew she wouldn’t let me give it to her. It wasn’t any psychic sense that made me understand. It was a few years of running a thrift store. Those who didn’t need what I had to sell typically came in with a certain look of confidence, even arrogance, on their faces. People like this woman, however, had hopelessness written in their eyes. As mayor, I was well aware that among the well-to-do tourists and comfortable year-round residents, there were people in need living in Duck. I wished I could do more for them.
“I’m afraid that dress isn’t for sale,” I told her.
She looked at the little girl and tried to smile. “Oh. Thanks anyway.”
“Some items I can only barter for. It’s kind of a state law for thrift shops.” Would she believe it?
She blinked twice and glanced at the girl again. “I don’t think I have anything to barter for it. What did you have in mind?”
I wasn’t quite sure. It had seemed like a good idea when I’d said it. The girl would get the dress and I would get . . . that’s about where my thoughts ended. Now that I’d made up the bartering fantasy, I wasn’t sure where to go with it.
“I need someone to go through all those children’s clothes back there. I’ve accumulated too much recently. I need to get rid of some of them. But I don’t know much about children’s clothes. Maybe you could help me with that.”
The woman grinned. “I’d be glad to. How long would you need me? I have to be at work at the restaurant by six, but I’m off tomorrow. Could I do it then?”
“That would be fine.” I took out a piece of paper. “And your name?”
“Anne Maxwell. And this is Ginny. We live in Duck, down toward Southern Shores. Would it be all right if I bring her with me? I don’t have a babysitter during the day.”
“Sounds fine, Anne.” I reached out my hand to her. “I’m Dae O’Donnell.”
“The mayor? Or is that your mother?”
I laughed. “No, that’s me. I guess I don’t photograph very well.”
“It was probably the black and white,” she suggested. “Anyway, thank you for the opportunity. I’ll see you tomorrow. Say good-bye, Ginny.”
Ginny, probably five, waved her little hand and smiled to show her missing teeth. She had freckles on her cute little face, and her brown hair hung in baby curls on her shoulder.
I waved back, smiling, as they left the shop. “State law that makes you barter stuff, huh?” Trudy laughed.
“Did you see her little face? And how cute were her little hands?”
“Sounds like you’d like one of your own,” Trudy observed. “I know I would. I don’t know if it’ll ever happen for me. But maybe for you. How many times has Tim proposed?”
“Too many. Please don’t start sounding like Gramps.” I tucked Anne’s name into the drawer under the register. At least I wouldn’t have to wonder what if, as I did with Brian McDonald, the purse snatcher. “Besides, we’re independent women, right? We’re business owners. Entrepreneurs. Men aren’t necessary for women of the world like us.”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about, Dae.” Trudy got to her feet and patted an invisible platinum blond hair back into place. “But I’d give up all of this for the right guy.”
At that moment, Kevin walked into the store with an armload of Blue Whale T-shirts. Trudy and I stared at him for a long moment before we both started laughing. “Should I go out and come back in?” he asked.
“No.” Trudy smiled at him. “I think you’re perfect right where you are. You’re not married, are you?”
“No.” He looked at me as if expecting an explanation.
“Kevin, this is my friend Trudy Devereaux. She runs the Curves and Curls Beauty Spa next door. Trudy, this is Kevin Brickman.”
“From the Blue Whale Inn, right?” She walked over to him and held out her hand. “Welcome to Duck, Kevin. I do men’s cuts, manicures, and massages too. Stop in sometime.”
She stood there for a long moment holding his hand and gazing into his eyes. Only a customer trying to get into the shop broke them apart. Trudy smiled apologetically, then went next door.
“Women are very friendly here.” Kevin watched her go as he held the door for two more customers. “Busy day, huh?”
“Yeah. I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“Is that a subtle way of telling me to go away? You did offer to let me put some stuff from the Blue Whale here.”
I shook my head. I guessed I wasn’t exactly one of those superfriendly women he was getting used to in Duck. “No. I was only surprised you weren’t putting on roofing or something, that’s all.”
“I would be except that the Blue Whale is pretty much a crime scene and they don’t want me to change anything right now. And it’s almost dinner time, and I can’t get in the kitchen even though nothing happened there. I never realized how annoying it is to have someone murdered in your home.”