Page 23 of Shephard
Suddenly, the coffee tasted bitter.
“And all three aren’t little boys. Oh, no. They are hot. Hot, baby. I’m telling you. I could do any one of them at any time. Maybe all three together.”
Now I was going to vomit in my mouth. No wonder I didn’t have friends.
“You’re kidding,” Peggy prompted, but the woman was just as much into the hotness factor as the other three.
“Nope. I ran into one at the hardware store. All I can say is hubba hubba.”
Oh, Camilla was going to burn in hell. Not that I’d want to spend the rest of my life with Frank, a man self-described as a permanent couch potato, but a commitment was a commitment.
Like I would have any idea.
Without waiting for the check, I pulled out money for the bill plus a hefty tip. Maybe Poppy might need it for whatever upcoming adventure she might be considering.
“Come on, baby girl. Let’s get to work.” The sun was bright, the air crisp and Halloween decorations were everywhere. The tourists loved the spookiness.
I headed toward my Jeep, realizing I needed to replace my supply of batteries. I never allowed myself to be without what I considered requirements.
The hardware store was within walking distance, which would prevent me from having to double back to the five and dime.
I crossed the street, jogging to avoid traffic. The store was as old-fashioned as so many others on the few other streets encompassing the downtown area. On purpose of course, many of the shops finding no reason to renovate when the resort had suddenly flourished.
The hardware store was one of my favorites, somehow similar to one that I’d gone into as a child. Kids adored the place because they had a huge selection of candy and toys while everyone from men working construction to ladies needing a simple screwdriver could find what they needed easily.
While I had a leash in my pocket, Pepper didn’t need one. I was still constantly amazed at the number of people, including tourists, who stopped and wanted to meet and pet her. It was so different than being in Charlotte where everyone seemed afraid of her.
My pup was extra friendly, except when she was crossed. Her notoriety in town was something I’d been forced to get used to. At least I could tell she adored the attention.
“Come on, girl. Let’s get our day officially started.” She snuffled as she nuzzled against my leg while we walked inside.
The store was my go-to location to replenish my work bag. I was determined to keep the supplies fresh at all times. My instinct was telling me I’d need them. As I walked in, the smell of freshly cut wood, mulch, and vanilla from the display of candles the owner had placed in front of the store along with the cutesy mailbox flags hit me all at once.
I might consider myself a big city girl, but I had to admit there was nothing like a good old-fashioned store that had been around since the early nineteen hundreds. It had character and charm, something the big box stores would never achieve. Plus, there were some interesting old coots working here as well. They could tell stories for days.
By this point, I knew every inch of the place. I’d been here more than once on an early morning when I hadn’t been able to sleep.Right now, I just wanted to get in and out. There was work to do. I would go see the coroner first thing. After that, I would be on alert since a huge tourist bus had rolled in the night before.
A few things caught my eye as I moved from aisle to aisle, including a gnome statue. Sadly, I wasn’t a frilly kind of girl on any level. I wasn’t into pillows and curtains, little sayings on my wall, or pink flamingos to place in my yard. Not me. I was a minimalistic girl. Except for my comforter and pillows, which I’d spent a fortune on.
“Finding everything you need, Miss Park Ranger?” The man’s gruff aging voice always brought a smile to my face. Roger had called me that since the day I’d seemed helpless coming in for the first time. He knew my name, but preferred teasing me. In turn, I called him Ranger Roger. There was no telling how long he’d been a part of the operation.
I gave him a sly look and grinned. “No need, Ranger Roger. I am good as gold.”
He adored when I flirted with him, the guy living alone since his wife of sixty years had died only months before. Sixty years. I would be lucky if I didn’t kill every man I spent more than a week with.
“You are good as gold.” He walked closer, acting as if what he was about to tell me was a secret. “Look at this very special girl.” He bent over, rubbing both sides of Pepper’s head. Normally, my pup didn’t like her ears fucked with, but she’d made an exception for Roger.
Woof.
“I hear what you are saying and I might have a treat.” As Roger pulled a treat that looked exactly like a piece of bacon from thepocket of his work apron, I shook my head. “You’re going to fatten her up.”
“She’s retired. She deserves to live a little.” The man obviously had had a pet before. The first time he’d offered Pepper a treat, he had his hand wrapped around it protecting his fingers.
Pepper was so cute about taking anything given to her. She knew to look to me for approval. I’d almost lost her after an insurgent had poisoned her. We’d both learned a valuable lesson. Roger was happy he’d gotten to see her, basking in the moment and I let him.
“Any thoughts on the murder?” he asked.
Well, shit. It had taken less than twelve hours to make the rounds. That meant my asshole of an associate, Cane, had spilled the beans. I was fed up with his bullshit and ignoring policy. He and I would eventually come to blows. I simply wagged my finger and tried to be cute. That was a stretch.