Page 10 of These Shoes Weren't Made for Stalking

Things started winding down once the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the cobblestone street. We stepped back to survey our progress. The bakery looked better, the scars of the vandalism mostly gone now.

The bleach-scrubbed brick facade still bore faint traces of the hateful graffiti, like old bruises refusing to fade. But the new storefront window sparkled, and the brass fixtures gleamed with renewed dignity. I rubbed my neck, sore from hours of scrubbing.

“Not half bad for a day’s work,” Penny said as he extended his arms overhead, his shoulders cracking.

The first streetlamps flickered to life, catching the dust motes dancing in the air and transforming them into floating specks of light.

“Thank you all so much,” Rosie said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I don’t know what I’d do without this community.”

I wiped my hands on my jeans, streaks of paint and grime marking the denim. Sarah materialized at my side.

“That’s what we do in the Historical District,” she said. “One of us falls, we all pick them up. Been that way since forever.”

“And we’ll make sure it stays that way,” Penny chimed in.

“See you at the Hideaway in the morning?” Sarah hefted her bucket, keys jingling in her apron pocket. “First round of coffee’s on the house.”

I waved goodbye to Sarah. Penny and I lingered, watching as the others began to disperse. Something nagged at the back of my mind.

“Rosie,” I said once the three of us were alone, “has anyone unusual been asking about your business lately? Maybe someone interested in buying the property?”

Rosie frowned, thinking. “Now that you mention it, there was a man in a fancy suit last week. Said he represented some big company interested in ‘investing in the area.’ I told him I wasn’t interested in selling, and he left. But he seemed... disappointed.”

My heart raced. Could it have been Dominic Steele? Or someone else from Vertex Acquisitions?

“Did you happen to catch the man’s name?” I asked. “Or maybe he left a business card?”

Rosie’s brow furrowed as she tried to recall. “Oh, dear. I’m afraid it’s slipped my mind. And that card...” She shook her head. “I tossed it in the bin. Didn’t think much of it at the time.”

Penny piped up. “What about his appearance? Anything stand out?”

“Well...” Rosie tapped her chin. “Tall fellow. Broad shoulders. Dark hair. And those eyes...” She shivered slightly. “He had the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen on an alpha. Wore an expensive suit, too.”

Rosie’s cheeks flushed a rosy pink as she let out a girlish giggle. “Oh my, he was quite the looker. Handsome as they come, I’d say.”

My stomach clenched. It had to be Dominic Steele.

“Was it Mr. Steele from Vertex?” I asked. “Did you get a look at him at the council meeting?”

“I didn’t attend.” Rosie shook her head. “The sheriff had some questions for me, so I didn’t make it in time.”

“But I’d know him in a heartbeat if I saw him again,” she added, her voice firm. “Not the sort of face you forget easily.”

I caught Penny’s eye, a silent conversation passing between us. His brows furrowed slightly, mirroring my own concern. We’d known each other long enough that words weren’t always necessary.

“Thanks, Rosie,” I said, giving her a quick hug. “If you remember anything else, let me know, okay?”

“Of course, dear.” Rosie smoothed her flour-dusted apron, her eyes crinkling with worry. Just don’t go getting yourself in trouble, you hear? Sheriff Hawkins is already looking into it.”

My mind went to the collection of yellowed newspaper clippings and vintage photographs taking up one entire wall of the bakery. How often had my gaze lingered on that old monochrome print showing two brothers posing in front of what used to be Sterling’s Fine Footwear, before it became Wilson’s?

“You and Wilson’s are just as much a part of me as Cobblers’ Corner.” The words caught in my throat. “Someone’s threatening everything you’ve built here. I respect Sheriff Hawkins, and I wouldn’t dare step on his toes, but if my shop—or anyone else’s—had been vandalized, I know you would do everything in your power to help. It’s who you are, Rosie. I just want to do the same for you.”

“Ditto!” Penny said with a bright smile.

I matched my pace to Penny’s as we strolled toward our shops, our shoes clicking against the cobblestones. My mind churned with all the new information, pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit together.

“So, what do you make of all this?” Penny asked.