Page 26 of Witch and Tell
“No thanks,” I told them. “But how would you like to earn a dollar each? It will take you two minutes.”
“Doing what?” Buffy said.
“Just tell me if Babe Hamilton is anywhere inside.”
“We can’t go in the tavern,” Thor said. “We’re just kids, you know.”
“That’s okay. Check the patio and café.”
After a shared glance, they took off, Buffy to the café and Thor to the patio. They returned, breathless, holding out their palms. “No Babe,” Buffy said.
“That will be two dollars each,” Thor added.
“One dollar each,” I corrected. I doled out the bills.
“Why do you care where Babe is?” Buffy asked. “She didn’t come into the shop today.”
“Never mind. Here comes your grandma.”
Patty crossed the narrow highway that served as Wilfred’s main street. “Kids, it’s time for bed. Stop bothering Josie and get over here.”
Buffy and Thor ran off to greet her, and I turned to the café. A quick survey of the café and patio not only confirmed that Babe Hamilton wasn’t there; Tyrone Beaudrie wasn’t, either. I went to the doorway connecting the café and tavern and let my vision adjust to the lowered light. There he was, at a booth along the far wall. I returned to the counter at the café and ordered a bowl of Cajun macaroni and cheese to be delivered to the tavern.
“Tyrone?” I hovered at the edge of his booth.
Tyrone Beaudrie was examining a wide set of blueprints. With only the illumination from a low-wattage bulb in the red-shaded lamp on the wall above us, they couldn’t have been easy to read.
“Thanks, but I’m still working on this.” Tyrone touched his nearly full pint of beer.
“I’m not the server. Josie Way, librarian. Remember? We talked a few days ago.”
“Yes.” He smiled, and charm replaced his tired expression. “Sorry. It’s dark in here. It’s a pleasure to see you. Please, have a seat.”
I slid into the bench across from him, aware of a freshly photocopied poster tacked above the low wall sconce.CONCERNED WILFREDIANS FOR A BETTER LIBRARY,the poster read. It invited people to attend a talk the next night at the retreat center to “address vital issues concerning our community library.”
I cursed silently. Wanda was behind this. I was sure. I put a hand to my temple and rubbed it. Tyrone noticed my reaction.
“You don’t know about this?” he asked, nodding at the poster.
“No. I….” I didn’t want to get into it. Wanda had something up her sleeve, and I had a feeling I wouldn’t like it. “I’ll deal with that later. I came to find you tonight because—”
“You hunted me down?”
I ignored his playful grin. “I have an odd question for you.”
He rolled up the plans and tucked them beside him on the bench. “Odd as it might be, I’ll entertain any question coming from you.”
He was flirting. Again, he didn’t tempt me, but again I appreciated the attention. “Not that.”
“Then you want to know when the Empress Brewpub will be finished.” He lifted his pint glass and returned it to the table. “Beer here isn’t bad but could be improved. Not to mention the atmosphere. I don’t want to sound like a snob,” Tyrone added quickly, “but this town could use variety.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his canny summary of Wilfred’s entertainment options. “I won’t argue with that. But, no, that wasn’t my question.”
Tyrone raised an eyebrow. A smile spread across his lips. “Gotcha. Let me buy you a drink.”
“It’s about your crew,” I said. “Nothing else.”
“Sure.” He didn’t believe me. He leaned back, his smile widening. “Ask away.”