Proof of Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery #4) - Lauren Elliott Page 0,80

know the drill. Don’t leave town and all that, yadda, yadda, yadda.” Addie swung her tote bag over her shoulder.

“By the way.” Marc shoved his pad into his jacket pocket. “Just before I got your call, the DA phoned and said he was dropping the charges against you.”

“And you’ve been here how long now and didn’t say a word about that?”

Marc ignored her comment. “It seems Simon was most convincing in the evidence he produced showing that you were, in fact, asleep at the time of the robbery.”

Addie puffed out her chest. “I think these other robberies also prove that I was never the guilty suspect.” She spun on her heel and stopped. “Does your new partner”—she emphasized the word, knowing Marc never liked it when she called herself that—“know about this?” At the tic of his right eye, she grunted. “I take it she doesn’t. Where is she? I’ve gotten used to seeing her shadow you.”

“Not that it really concerns you, but she had another matter to look after today.” His gaze dropped. “I’m meeting up with her soon.”

“Give her my best when you tell her the news about me no longer being her number-one suspect. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled.”

Marc fixed his cheerless eyes on hers. “Addie, it was never her intent to implicate you in any of this.”

“Wasn’t it? Right from the beginning, she did nothing but try to prove to you that I was guilty of stealing the Holmes books.”

“That’s not it. It’s just that she’s very good at her job, and she was following the evidence, as all good officers of the law do.”

“I think she took it a bit too personally, though, don’t you?”

Simon laid his hand on Addie’s arm and steered her from the room. “Don’t go poking the bear,” he whispered. “Just count yourself lucky, and let’s go.” When they were in the hallway, his blue eyes were void of their usual sparkle. “Care to tell me what’s going on with you two?”

“What do you mean?” She searched his face.

“All this back-and-forth snipping between the two of you.” He dropped his gaze. “It’s all too reminiscent of when you were chasing his ghosts last year.”

The corner of her mouth twitched as he walked away.

“I am chasing a ghost,” she called, her voice uneven.

He stopped at the door but didn’t turn to look at her.

“Only it’s not the one you think.” She ran to him, threw her arms around his shoulders, and nestled her cheek into his back. “Don’t worry, ever,” she whispered. “That ghost was laid to rest. We’ve both moved on. It’s the person he’s moved on with who concerns me.”

“What I don’t understand is why you’re letting her get under your skin if you’re not still feeling something for Marc?” His blue eyes darkened and filled with the pain. “Are you jealous of her?”

“Me? No, of course not. Why would you even ask? Marc and I have been over for months. You’re my person, not him.”

“Are you sure about that? It’s just that I can’t ever go back to the way it was before: always the three of us even when you and I were alone, him lurking in the shadows of your mind.”

“Stop right there.” She cupped his face in her hands and placed a whisper-light kiss on his lips. “I just don’t like being accused of theft. It’s like a sane person trying to prove she’s not crazy. The more she protests, the crazier she appears. I was starting to feel like that until you finally proved I couldn’t have been there.”

Simon leaned his forehead against hers. “I guess I just wasn’t prepared for all this when he finally came back. It was nice when he was away. I knew I had your full attention. I guess my insecurities got the best of me. It’s just that I . . .”

“You what?”

“Nothing. Forget it.” He opened the door.

“Wait, we can’t forget—” She eyed her lamp with the SOLD tag waiting for her by the front door. It probably wouldn’t fit in his Tesla Roadster anyway. She could pick it up tomorrow. After all, it was Sunday, and her shop was closed. Besides, it would give her an excuse to come into the house while everyone was busy with the final day of the sale out back. There were still too many questions about the evening’s discovery and too many puzzle pieces that weren’t fitting. She glanced up at the top of the stairs, pursed her lips, and then