Page 102 of Murder By the Millions

“Thank you,” she replied. “It was a fun show to do.”

“Shayna said you enjoyed the bookshop.”

“Not merely enjoyed. I love it here. The layout is so friendly. The nook area is warm and inviting. Did I hear right? You have first editions for sale?”

“Indeed. Most have been written by prominent North Carolinians.” Using Tegan’s tactic, I added, “We often have book clubs on Monday nights. You should join us.”

“I’d love to, but I can’t on Mondays. I have a standing appointment.”

“With?”

She glanced at Shayna, who had begun talking to Tegan, and returned her gaze to me. “With my trainer.”

“Gee, I had no idea Ignatius Luckenbill was a trainer.”

Her face drained of color. “He … no … he’s not—”

“Weren’t you with him last Monday?”

“He … we … How do you know …?”

“Someone saw you.”

“It’s o-over.” Her voice cracked. “We—” She hiccupped a sob. “We ended it that night. I swear. We both love Shayna too much. If she discovered we were … we’d never forgive ourselves. We—”

“Did he leave before eleven thirty?”

“Why?”

“It matters.”

“He was with me until midnight.”

That confirmed what Evelyn had said.

“Did he go out alone at any time before then? Maybe he used the back door?”

“No.” She clutched my hands. Hers were trembling. “Please don’t tell Shayna. It was a mistake.”

She looked so mortified, I agreed to keep the secret. She’d cleared Iggie. Verifying his whereabouts had been my solitary goal.

“Tegan!” Chloe whizzed into the shop, the skirt of her dress wafting up. She skidded to a stop by the sales counter, and the skirt settled down and clung to her thighs like saran wrap. “I’m not going to be an actress.”

Tegan rounded the counter and grasped Chloe’s shoulders. “Breathe.”

Chloe inhaled sharply. She wheezed like a deflated balloon.

“Tell us why not.” Tegan released her.

“I learned rehearsals might go well into the wee hours of the morning. With regularity. I can’t handle such a commitment. Why, last night, callbacks ran until midnight.” She repeated the word. “Midnight! That’s why I overslept today.” She clapped a hand to her chest. “I never oversleep.”

“Poor thing,” Ulla mumbled to me. “She needs a pep talk.” She strode to Chloe. “Sweetheart, I saw you at your first callback. Don’t quit. You’re too good.”

I joined them and petted Chloe’s shoulder.

She shimmied from my touch, her eyes misting with gratitude. “Thank you, everyone, for your support, but my mind is made up. I don’t want to split my time between the shop and the theater. Besides, rehearsals would cut into my reading time. I love to read. I live for reading!”

Shayna sidled to Ulla and linked arms with her. “We all do. Books are magical. Books bring friends together. It’s the reason we started our book club, right?”