Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,64
to go with Paige.” She started for the door. Marc’s clasp on her arm tightened.
“It’s okay, Martha’s going to the hospital with her. It’s best you stay here and tell me what you do know, because by all appearances it looks like a deliberate attack during a robbery.” Addie struggled to release his grip on her, but it was no use. His hand tightened, and she relented. “Come on, let me make you a coffee and we can talk.”
Out of the corner of her tear-blurred eye, she caught sight of the stretcher being loaded into the back of the ambulance and a paramedic assisting Martha up the steps to join her baby girl. Addie’s sobs came fast and furious. Marc held a tissue out for her. She clutched at it, and he pulled her into his arms. They sat together not saying a word until the last of her tears dried up.
When she pulled away from Marc, a warm blush rose up from under her collar. She couldn’t believe she had buried her face in his chest and wept her eyes out, and he let her. When she glanced past him and saw Ryley standing at the end of the sale rack, the look on Ryley’s face confirmed it had happened. Ryley didn’t say a word or take a step toward them, but the malicious look in her eyes sent a tremor through Addie. Ryley sent one last death glare before joining the other officers.
Marc, seemingly oblivious to the unspoken exchange between the two women, pulled his notebook from his jacket pocket and clicked his pen. “Do you think you can tell me now what happened?”
Addie blew her nose into the tissue. She relayed what little she knew, how she and Serena had been at the yard sale all morning and had only returned to the store. She didn’t mention the part about being in the library with Jerry. She couldn’t see the point of getting either of them into trouble. After all, nothing that occurred there had anything to do with what had happened here—did it?
When she’d finished telling him what she could about her discovery of Paige and the tossed books, he had her check the cash drawer and the rare book inventory for any indication that whoever did this might have gotten away with something. After she took a quick inventory and established that nothing was missing, he snapped his notepad closed. She took that as her cue they were done, mumbled something about Paige, and started for the back room to collect her purse. Marc grasped her arm and spun her toward him.
“You have to stay here until the officers are finished investigating. They might have more questions.” His eyes echoed what used to be his longing to take her in his arms and kiss her until neither of them could breathe anymore.
“Marc, are you done?” Ryley’s dark eyes flashed. “I think we have everything we need from here.”
Marc dropped Addie’s arm as if it burned him and raked his hand through his hair, causing it to stand up in chestnut tufts. “Yup.” He tucked his notepad back into his jacket pocket. “If you think of anything else, call me—”
Ryley cleared her throat.
“I mean, call the station.” He placed his cap on his head. “Oh, by the way, the DA is looking at the evidence Simon presented to him giving you an alibi. When he makes a decision, he’ll let me know if he’s going to drop the charges or reinstate them.”
Addie slumped down on a stool as the two of them left and pulled her phone out of her pocket. Her thumbs flew over the keyboard as she sent a text to the one person she needed.
Paige is on her way into ER. She was attacked in the shop. I heard you were back from Salem. If you’re working now, call me as soon as you know anything about her condition. If you’re not working, COME NOW! I need you.
“Addie!” Serena careened around the bookshelf corner. “Are you okay, sweetie?”
“Can you believe this?” Addie fought back a sob. “Paige was attacked right here in my shop.”
“I heard. Is she okay?”
“I don’t know. I just texted Simon but haven’t heard back yet.”
“Was anything stolen?”
“No, that’s just the thing. Nothing was taken—no books, none of the money in the till, nothing. None of this makes sense. Who would want to hurt Paige for no reason? She’s so sweet, and everybody loves her.”