We’ve got a damn good police department, don’t we?”
Luke grunted and went down the hallway to see another patient.
Ginny Sue took out her phone to text Gemma. Luke’s in a bad mood. I’d say he’s missing Lianne. How are things on your end?
Standing next to Lianne as they unboxed a crate of pottery from the Reservation, Gemma read the text message and smiled. When Lianne wasn’t looking, she sent back a reply. Same here. Lianne is miserable. I’ll keep you posted.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go home and take a nap?” Lianne asked. “Hard to get through the day on four hours’ sleep.”
“I got more than that, more like five and a half. But poor Lando was dragging by the time we finished unloading all those cartons. And sleeping during the day is always tough. Lando deserves some quiet. That’s why I dropped the dogs off at Paloma’s to chill.”
“Your grandmother is a pistol. She was so wonderful to me last night, making me feel better about everything.”
“She’s been through a lot in her life.”
Lianne looked around the shop. “What do you think our chances of success are here?”
Gemma shifted her feet and elbowed her friend in the ribs. “Are you kidding? We should clean up during tourist season. You know, that was always something that carried Marissa from one season to the next. She knew the tourists were her bread and butter and that they’d faithfully show up during May through the first week of September.”
“That gives me hope,” Lianne confessed. “I’ve been a bit worried.”
“I know. We’ll get through this and make it a success. How did you sleep last night back in your house? Notice I didn’t call it Collette’s place.”
“Thanks for that. I was so exhausted that when my head finally hit the pillow, I was out within a few minutes.”
“Same here. I was wondering what you were up to this Saturday night.”
“I suppose nothing. Why? Is Fortitude playing? If that’s why you’re asking, then I should probably pass. I’m sure Luke will be there.”
“Tell me, honestly, is there any hope at all for you guys to reconcile?”
“Why are you asking me that? He’s the one who wants to go fishing next month. I say, let him go.”
Gemma heard the door ding in the chocolate shop. She left Lianne standing in the middle of the new store while she went to help a customer. But before filling the order, she texted Ginny Sue. Lianne’s not budging. You’ll need to do more on your end.
So much for trying to play mediator.
“I don’t think you should meddle,” Lando told her later when they met for lunch at Captain Jack’s. Over chicken fried chicken sandwiches, he took a sip of iced tea. “It’s up to those two to get back together or stay away from each other. Your getting involved just muddies the water.”
“It’s a small town,” Gemma pointed out. “They both have to live here. Wouldn’t it be better if they got along, worked out their differences so we could invite them to the same get-togethers? Seriously. Wouldn’t that be the optimum outcome?” When he didn’t say anything, she tossed down her napkin and blew out a breath. “I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned it. I should’ve kept it to myself.”
“No, I’m glad you did. But Luke has to realize that he was wrong. Lianne wasn’t cheating.”
“He certainly got you worked up. That didn’t take long, either. You were ready to throw Lianne to the wolves Monday night.”
“Hey, I thought he knew what he was talking about, okay? I did. I thought he had evidence that showed Lianne was interested in someone else. I thought he could back it up. Why else would he use an excuse like going to Leia’s for dinner and then drop the bomb that it’s over?”
“Evidence, huh? He thought she looked guilty.”
“Yeah, but I can’t arrest someone for looking guilty, whatever that even means. She didn’t help matters by keeping Ritter a secret. Secrets tend to blow up in your face. That’s why you should stay out of their business. Stop trying to put them back together. Maybe their relationship just wasn’t meant to be.”
Gemma let out a sigh knowing she and Ginny Sue had their work cut out for them. She didn’t intend to share the plan with Lando, though, so she changed the subject. “Any idea who set Ben’s house on fire?”
“Payce spent his morning walking around the area behind the house. He took molds of a few footprints