At Wick's End - Tim Myers [14]
I took the offered towel back from him, considerably wetter now, and said, “Thanks for explaining how you knew about the new lock. I was beginning to think everybody in Micah’s Ridge knew what I was up to.”
He laughed, but there wasn’t a great deal of humor in it. “Don’t kid yourself, Harrison, everybody most likely does. You lived in big cities too long. It sounds like you’ve forgotten what it’s like to live in a small town.”
A thought suddenly struck me. “So if you’re not here about the burglary, why did you come out here on a night like this?”
He shrugged. “Belle didn’t believe in funerals, so there was no real way for me to say good-bye. I argued with her till I was blue in the face that the funeral wouldn’t have been for her at all. It’s a way for folks to deal with their loss, you know what I mean?” He studied his hands a moment, then added, “Anyway, I drove out here because I miss her. You have my condolences. The world’s a little darker without her in it.”
I took his hand, surprised by the gesture and the softness in his voice. “Thanks, I appreciate that. I miss her too.”
Coburn glanced outside, and for the first time I noticed that the storm had abated during our conversation. He followed my gaze and said, “It’s just drizzling now. I’d better get on home.” The sheriff started for the door, then added, “You’re working pretty late yourself, aren’t you?”
“I couldn’t sleep,” I admitted.
Coburn nodded. “Lot of that going around these days.” He took a card from his wallet and handed it to me. “Anything else comes up, you call me.”
I took the card. “Thanks. I appreciate that.”
After he was gone, I turned off the lights and locked up the store.
The storm had been a release for me, a purging. My jumpiness earlier was now gone. The intensity of the lightning barrage, and then the sight of what had looked like a corpse outside my window had buried me in a wash of adrenaline. Suddenly, I was so tired I barely made it up the stairs back to my apartment, and to my great surprise, sleep came easily after all.
Chapter 4
“Millie, these are the best doughnuts I’ve ever had in my life, blueberry or otherwise,” I said as I finished the third on my plate at The Crocked Pot the next morning. There were quite a few people there, no doubt due to Millie’s fine offerings. She’d saved me two, and I’d added a third myself from the quickly-dwindling stack under glass on the counter. I was in the habit of walking in the evenings for exercise at my old apartment, something I was going to have to start again if I was going to be able to keep fitting into my clothes. I’ve got a weakness for the taste and aroma of freshly baked goodies, and I could see my relationship with Millie was going to be trying, a constant battle with temptation. This time temptation won, hands down.
“That’s a real compliment,” she said. “Are you sure you won’t have another?”
I patted my stomach. “Not if I’m going to be able to fit through the door of At Wick’s End.”
I was just tossing my paper plate in the trash can when Gary Cragg, the attorney from upstairs, came in. “Mr. Black, I need a moment of your time.”
“That’s about all I can give you,” I said. “I’ve got to move my things to River’s Edge before we open the candle shop this morning.” In truth, I knew I should have moved the day before, or even slept in my old apartment until I could get settled at Belle’s, but I hadn’t been up to tackling it after the day I’d had. I had to admit, it would feel more comforting having my own things around me again. I hadn’t minded using Belle’s shampoo, though I did smell faintly of apricots now, but I drew the line at borrowing her razor, and the stubble on my chin was starting to bother me.
Cragg looked around at the customers enjoying Millie’s breakfast offerings. “I’ll take whatever time you can give me, but I’d much rather speak with you in private. Why don’t we go up to my office?”
“Walking up and down the stairs would burn all the time I’ve got.” I thought about it a second, then suggested, “I can give you a minute outside