Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,106
to make it appear that the books flew off the shelves by themselves. That’s why Paige didn’t see anyone. He was far enough behind her to escape detection.”
“Then why did he hurt her?”
“He said he didn’t want to, but when she started to turn around instead of running away in the opposite direction, he knew he’d have to knock her out before she saw him. He said he staged it all because he thought that if you were afraid the ghost from Hill Road House had materialized in your bookstore, too, then you’d take it as a warning and stop your snooping around.”
Simon choked back a laugh. “He doesn’t know Addie very well, then. She only dug in her heels more and went at it with a renewed vigor.”
“Dog with a bone,” Marc said, words that brought them both to a chorus of husky laughter.
“Glad to see I can provide both of you with the evening’s entertainment.” Addie fought to suppress her own urge to laugh, which wasn’t easy, but she managed it by piercing one then the other with a glare.
“Relax, Addie.” Simon kissed the top of her head. “I guess we just both know you too well.”
“Then you know I can’t let this go until I know how all the pieces fit together.”
Marc wiped his eyes, sniffed and looked at her. “What else do you need to know so you can bury your latest bone?” He stifled a laugh and gave Simon a sidelong glance, they both snickered.
“Gee, thanks, guys. I’m thrilled to see you find my genetic quirk to be so humorous.”
“Genetic quirk,” Marc choked. “It’s called an obsession.”
“I’ll have you both know that I discovered my great-great-aunt Emily. Anita’s mother was well known in Greyborne Harbor for her sleuthing adventures, too. Therefore, it’s genetic.”
Marc shook his head. “Well, that explains a lot, doesn’t it?” He glanced at Simon, a smile touching the corners of his lips. “I guess this won’t be the end of it, will it?”
Simon groaned.
“Come on.” Addie playfully swatted at Simon and glanced at Marc, his eyes holding a twinkle of amusement. “Did you question Blake about what I told you at the station? The conversation I overheard and what Art said to me about him and Philip being involved in an insurance scam?”
“Yeah, but what they were up to wasn’t illegal. Not ethical, mind you, but not illegal.”
“What was it, then?”
Marc leaned toward them, his voice low. “It seems that Philip sent Blake a list of the auction items his client was after, and Blake removed them from the auction list and sold them privately to Philip for a percentage of the finder’s fee.”
“They were running a little side business.” Addie blinked. “What about Duane McAdams, and Blake saying he wouldn’t be a problem anymore?”
“Blake made a call to his father and told him what had been going on. McAdams Senior had his son committed to a rehab center.”
Addie narrowed her eyes. “But what about the inventory lists that were all out of whack? They looked like someone was committing fraud.”
“As a matter of fact, that’s why Charlotte was working so late Wednesday. She was trying to figure out the discrepancies in the lists and that all came back to Art. He’d been accessing her laptop when it was left unattended. Remember, he’d been watching everything through that peephole. He erased the items he was stashing away upstairs so there’d be no trace of them when they showed up on the black market for sale.”
Simon shook his head. “It sounds like this Art fellow really knew what he was doing when it came to planning a heist.”
Marc nodded. “He was a career criminal, after all.”
“Marc, there you are. I’ve been searching everywhere for you.” Ryley planted a kiss on his cheek as she slid Addie a side glance. “Did you tell them?” Her dark eyes danced with the refection of the firelight.
Marc shook his head and his gaze darted to Addie.
“Tell us what?” Addie flinched in fear at what their big announcement was going to be.
Marc heaved in a deep breath. “Ryley is going to be staying on in Greyborne Harbor as an official detective.” Marc’s shoulders relaxed with the announcement.
Addie snapped her jaw closed. Not what she was afraid he was going to say, but not sure how she really felt about this news either. Simon, on the other hand, had an ear-to-ear grin as he congratulated the former FBI agent and shook Marc’s hand like they were best buddies in