Page 16 of The Sole Suspect

“Making it harder for owners to refuse when the next offer comes in.” Sarah’s voice cracked. “My premiums doubled after someone smashed a chair last week. I mean, accidents happen… but our patio pieces don’t come with a small price tag. Taking money from my savings to cover the repair was genuinely painful.”

Penny’s eyes widened. “Wait—your furniture was specifically arranged to block the view of your back entrance, wasn’t it?”

Sarah nodded, her silver bangles jingling. “Made it harder for folks to see who comes and goes. The morning after I refused HDC’s second offer, the chair and a couple of planters was smashed. Deputy Martinez said it was probably teenagers playing around, but...”

“Just like Rosie’s.” I pulled out the timeline I’d sketched at lunch. “First the ‘accidents,’ then the offers increase. HDC and Vertex taking turns, pushing from both sides.”

“And all these properties...” Penny traced the path on Minnie’s map—the one that showed the district before the Depression set in—then overlaid it with his blueprint. “They form a perfect corridor through the district’s heart. From the riverfront clearup to—“ He stopped, face draining of color. “Leo, look where the path ends.”

My fingers trembled as I followed the line. “Vintage Vogue.”

“And Cobblers’ Corner.” Sarah leaned closer. “Think they’re boxing you both in?”

The familiar scent of vintage fabric and leather couldn’t mask the sour taste of fear. I thought of the brick through my window, of Dominic’s warning about danger. He knew about this all along.

“We need an evidence board.” Penny straightened, his sweet omega scent taking on a determined edge. “Somewhere to connect all the pieces—the vandalism, the offers, the historical records.”

Without warning, he swept his arm across his desk, sending takeout containers clattering to the floor. His pendant swung with the sudden movement, catching the late afternoon light.

“We can use this space.” Penny gestured at the cramped back room. “Clear these racks, make a proper detective’s office. No one would think to look here.”

I lifted one of the mannequins, its sequined bodice spilling tiny rainbows across my hands. The second one teetered precariously as I shifted its weight.

“Careful with Marlene.” Penny darted over to steady the dummy. “She’s my favorite for the forties collection.”

“You name your mannequins?” Sarah inquired with a chuckle.

“Only the special ones.” He replied as he dug through a box of craft supplies. “Now where did I put those sticky notes? The neon ones really pop against dark surfaces.”

I set Marlene next to her nameless companion against the wall. Sarah scooped up a crushed container of pad thai, wrinkling her nose at a splash of sauce on the floor.

“At least it wasn’t red curry this time,” Penny said. “Remember that disaster with my vintage Dior?”

“Here.” He produced a pair of cork boards, weathered but sturdy. “Perfect for mapping out conspiracies.”

We worked in focused silence, pinning documents and connecting evidence with red string. Rough hand-scribbled copies of Minnie’s mother’s maps. Property records. Timeline of vandalism incidents. Photographs of damaged storefronts. The pattern emerged like a spider’s web, each thread leading back to HDC and Vertex.

“Wait!” Penny tapped a printed news article covering Mayor Holloway’s arrest with a pink-polished nail. “What about Holloway’s criminal connections?”

“The mobsters?” I traced the red string connecting the mayor to a printout of the note that had been thrown through my shop’s window. “Would sleek operations like HDC or Vertex even hire gangsters as muscle?”

“Maybe? Maybe not?” Penny leaned closer to squint at a photo of Mayor Holloway. “Mr. Steele did help expose Holloway’s connection to organized crime, yes?”

My gaze fell on the black business card pinned to the corkboard—“Dominic Steele” emblazoned across the top of the card in boldsilver-gray. I curled my fingers into fists to stop myself from reaching out to touch the embossed lettering. “Two separate operations that just happened to target the same area?”

“Hm… I don’t know.” I watched Penny take a few steps backward to study the evidence board from a distance. “Maybe HDC and Vertex are playing the long game while Holloway and his thugs went for the quick grab?”

“Look at this.” Sarah pointed to a cluster of dates on our rough timeline. “The vandalism started before Blake announced his candidacy, but increased in number right after.”

“And Vertex’s offers increased after Adelaide revealed her preservation plans.” Penny added another string. “They’re playing both sides against each other.”

I stared at the evidence board, memories of yesterday’s confrontation at HDC flooding back. Blake’s smug confidence. That possessive hand on Dominic’s shoulder. The way Dominic’s scent had spiked when our eyes met.

“The auction’s next week,” Sarah said quietly. “If it works, it could buy us time. Give us breathing room to figure this out.”

“If we can raise enough.” Penny twisted the chain of his pendant. “But with everyone’s finances stretched thin...”

“It’s not just about money.” I massaged my sore muscles where my neck met my shoulders. “Someone’s trying to scare us into selling. The question is, who? HDC? Vertex? Holloway’s associates? Or is there another player we’re not seeing?”