“She came here to apologize.”
“It would have been nice if she’d apologized to Ginny and me, too,” Angelica said in a huff.
“It was a blanket apology I’m supposed to pass on,” Tricia fibbed.
“Oh, well, then all is forgiven. Did she have any idea who tried to run her down on Tuesday night?”
“No.”
“It was probably just an accident,” Angelica said, and sipped her coffee. She glanced up at the clock, and nearly choked. “Is that the time? Good grief. The lunch crowd will be over at Booked for Lunch any moment now.”
“What crowd? It’s been dead around here, thanks to the Founders’ Day celebration being canceled.”
“I know. You’d think we would’ve had at least the usual amount of tourists. It’s like some kind of retail curse has been put on the entire village. But it can’t last for long,” she said, regaining her cheer. “Now don’t forget, we’re meeting Michele Fowler for drinks later.”
“It looks like it’ll be the highlight of my day,” Tricia said.
“Now, now,” Angelica admonished. “Let’s not be bitter.”
Tricia sighed. “I’ll try.”
Angelica turned for the door. “See you,” she called, and as she left the store, Grace Harris-Everett entered. So far, not one paying customer had entered Haven’t Got a Clue that day.
Still, the sight of Grace brought a smile to Tricia’s lips. She’d lost her grandmother too many years ago, but she counted her friendship with Grace as in the same league, and hoped Grace somehow did the same.
“Hello, Tricia,” Grace said. “And hello to you, too, Miss Marple.”
Miss Marple jumped down from her perch behind the register to accept Grace’s attention. She purred effusively and head-butted Grace’s chin with almost wild abandon.
“My, my,” Grace said, enjoying the feline attention. “I can see I must come and visit more often.”
“What brings you here today?” Tricia asked.
“William tells me you’ve held the fort for two days now. It must be terribly lonely for you—both of you.”
“I’m afraid he’s right. I miss both him and Ginny terribly. I thought I’d found a wonderful replacement in Elaine Capshaw. . . .”
“Yes,” Grace said, turning somber. “I’ve heard. But soon William will be back to Haven’t Got a Clue. He does love working here, you know. Although no one has hounded him for his lottery winnings since he’s been at the Happy Domestic.” She leaned forward and whispered, “He thinks it’s due to his new moustache.”
Tricia tried to stifle a smile, with poor results. “I love having him work here,” she said. “But you still haven’t told me what brought you in today.”
“I understand you’ve been collecting money for Deborah’s son’s education fund. The Everett Charitable Foundation fund would like to make a contribution.” She dipped into her purse and withdrew a check.
“Thank you, Grace. That’s very sweet of you both.”
“We were quite fond of Deborah,” she said, and handed the check to Tricia. One thousand dollars—the biggest contribution to date.
“Thank you very much, Grace,” Tricia said. “I’ll make sure this goes into Davey’s account when I do my banking—probably tomorrow. Are you still enjoying the work you do for the foundation?”
“Heavens, yes,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “Dear William suggested I take over my late husband’s home office and make that our headquarters. It’s worked out nicely. I so enjoy working on the Website and researching the requests. And we’re going to establish a job bank in connection with the Food Shelf. Libby Hirt is coordinating the effort.”
“It’s something that’s needed. Haven’t Got a Clue may be the first to sign up. I’m going to need to replace Ginny, but I can’t hire just anyone.”
“We’d only send suitable candidates,” Grace assured her.
“Whatever you do, please don’t send me Cheryl Griffin. She’s already interviewed—if that’s what you could call it. I don’t think she’d work well selling mysteries.”
“Cheryl is looking for work?” Grace asked.
“Yes. She was working part time at the Happy Domestic, but Elizabeth had to let her go when Deborah died.”
Grace nodded. “I see.”
“I guess she’s in pretty dire straits. She said she’s about to be evicted.”
“Oh my. Well, I’ll have to see about the foundation giving her a helping hand. There’s also an opening for a clerk at the Clothes Closet. Do you know her telephone number? Perhaps she’d like to interview for the job.”
Tricia was about to say no but then remembered she had a copy of Cheryl’s résumé. She bent down to look under the counter and came up with the paper. She scanned the text, but the telephone number had been crossed out. “Oh dear. It’s not on her résumé.” Perhaps Cheryl had her phone service cut off for nonpayment. How was an employer supposed to contact her if there was a job opening?
“Let me write down that address. Perhaps I can stop by her home and tell her about the job bank and how she can list herself.”
“I don’t need this résumé. You can have it,” Tricia said, and handed Grace the paper.
She read it over. “My, with all this retail experience, it sounds like she’d be perfect for the Clothes Closet.” She folded the résumé and placed it in her purse.
“How can I list my opening?” Tricia asked.
“Go to the Food Shelf’s Website. There’s a link for the job bank. Fill out the form, and Libby will contact you.” She gave Miss Marple’s head another pat. “Well, I must be off. Lots to do.”
“I’m glad you stopped in. It’s always so nice to see you.”
“And you, too, dear.” Grace gave a wave and headed for the door.
“Yow!” Miss Marple said in parting.
With Grace now gone, once again the store seemed . . . empty. The lack of customers was disconcerting. Tricia glanced at the clock. It was hours before she and Angelica were to meet with Michele Fowler. Hours and hours of not much to do, and lots of things she’d rather be doing.
Tricia was going to have to hire someone to take Ginny’s place pretty darn quick. She brought out her laptop, followed Grace’s instructions, and posted the opening on the job bank’s site. Now to wait—and hope—she got more than just one referral.
As she closed her computer, Tricia happened to glance out the shop’s front window. Bob Kelly was just leaving the Happy Domestic. Was he paying a courtesy call on Ginny, or had Deborah been behind in her rent and he’d come to nag for his money?
Bob bypassed the Coffee Bean. He was too cheap to pay for gourmet coffee, and no doubt the Kozlovs were current on their rent. He paused in front of Booked for Lunch, which had been closed for some time. Was that a wistful expression on his face as he turned away? His infidelity had been the cause for the less-than-warm reception Angelica had been giving him of late.
Bob’s next stop was the Armchair Tourist; Chauncey Porter must be late with his rent. Back in June he’d told Tricia that times were hard.
With nothing better to do, Tricia stared at the storefront, waiting for Bob to leave. Miss Marple appeared at Tricia’s elbow, took up the vigil beside her, and began to purr.
“I’ll bet Bob knows more than he’s telling about Monty Capshaw,” she told Miss Marple.
“Yow!” the cat agreed.
“And he’s sure kept a low profile since the Founders’ Day celebration was canceled.”
Miss Marple rubbed her head against Tricia’s arm, as though in agreement.
“And why does he have Betsy Dittmeyer running interference for him over at the Chamber of Commerce?”
Miss Marple had no answer for that, either.
“I’m going to intercept him when he comes back down the street. Maybe I can get him to talk.” She looked down at the cat, whose whiskers twitched skeptically. “I grant you, it’s a long shot—but I’m sure somehow Bob knows something that could help us solve what happened to Deborah.”
That was apparently too much speculation for Miss Marple, who jumped off the cash desk and trotted over to the reader’s nook, settling herself on one of the comfortable chairs.