Snuffed Out - Tim Myers [20]
For spite, I added, “Why don’t we go down to the pottery shop? We can talk about it there. Thanks, Gary,” I said, stressing his first name as Sanora had.
“Glad to help. Why don’t I join you? I’m finished here.”
Sanora said, “I’m sure we’ll be fine. Thanks again.”
Out in the hallway, I said, “Just let me grab the key for The Pot Shot first.”
She started to say something, but then thought better of it. I found the key Pearly had given me, then followed Sanora downstairs.
I was afraid going back into the pottery store might be a little traumatic for her, and she was indeed quiet as I unlocked the door. I asked, “Would you rather do this tomorrow morning? I know this can’t be easy on you.”
She shook her head. “Aaron and I made our peace before he passed away. We were friends at last. You can’t believe how much comfort I’ve taken from that.” She put a hand on my arm as she added, “In all honesty, we were actually better friends than we were a couple.”
“Won’t it be hard for you working here, knowing what happened to him?”
She frowned gently. “I thought about that, believe me, but we built this place together. What more fitting tribute could there be than continue it? I’m sure Aaron would have wanted it that way. I do hope you’ll give me that lease. Three years will make this place feel like home.”
I started to agree, then realized what I’d told Cragg. I’d already committed myself. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen, at least not for now. Why don’t you finish out Aaron’s lease, it runs through November. We can talk about extensions then.”
“If that’s what you want,” she said. “Was it...here that it happened?”
She gently touched the wheel Aaron had been working at, as if afraid it would bite her.
“Yes. Some of the folks around here think it was odd that he was throwing on an electric wheel.”
“Aaron was always trying something new. It wouldn’t surprise me at all that he was throwing on it, goodness knows I nagged him enough to try it. I prefer electric, myself. When I used a kick wheel, my legs ached at the end of the day.” She dusted her hands off, as if removing the last remnant of the wheel’s touch, then said, “So I can move in?”
I nodded. “I hate to bring this up, but the rent is due for the business. Actually, it’s a few days late.”
She nodded. “Then let’s take care of that right now. I’m sure Gary is still upstairs, and I’ve got my checkbook.”
I agreed. It would be best to just go ahead and get it all out of the way. I looked at it as one less thing to worry about. Then perhaps Eve and Ann Marie would stop nagging me.
We signed the papers creating a new lease for Sanora, covering just the short term until Aaron’s year was up. Even if she didn’t work out as a tenant, I’d bought myself two more months of rent, and a little breathing room.
What an adventurous afternoon off I’d had. My shoulders were stiffening up from my kayaking experience and the slight sunburn I’d gotten was getting redder by the moment. A hot shower took most of the ache out of the burn, but by the time I was finished, I barely had enough energy to keep my eyes open. I’d read just two pages of my book when it dropped to my chest, and I fell fast asleep.
From the beating my front door was taking, someone was trying to break into my apartment. At least that’s what it sounded like when I woke up the next morning. I stared at the alarm clock through bleary eyes and saw that it was just a little past six a.m.
Grabbing a robe on my way out of the bedroom, I opened the door to find Heather Bane glaring at me, madder than a wet cat.
She started in on me before I could open my mouth. “Harrison Black, of all the no-brain, thickheaded, idiotic things to do, I can’t believe you did it.”
“What was I supposed to have done?” I asked, trying my best to wake up. I was no match for Heather,