Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Good Lord, did everyone in this town pass their stores on to their kids?
Granny Larson was also known as Louanne Larson Banks. Lou Banks was named after her grandmother. That much I knew.
“I’ll have Gavin swing by and ensure everything’s okay. I believe the bookstore’s closed today. At least, that’s what my mother said. Aurora and Lou are at a book conference.”
I watched the guy slowly start down the alley between the bookstore and the Sweet Spot.
“He’s heading down the alley. I think you need to get someone over here; he was trying the door to see if it was locked.”
“Gav is less than a minute out. I sent him a text.”
Sure enough, a Moose Village patrol car parked on Main. I watched as Gavin got out. He was talking into his radio as he walked up and looked through the windows.
“I’m going to go down there.”
“Um, Declan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just let Gavin handle it.”
“I won’t get in the way, James.”
“Jesus, is this a preview of what it’ll be like having you on the force?”
Laughing, I replied, “You wish. I’ll call you back.”
I ended the call before he could say anything else and headed out the door.
By the time I got to the bookstore, Gavin was walking up from the alley.
“Did you see him?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t see anyone. What did he look like?”
I ran a hand down the side of my face. I should have just come down and asked why he was snooping around the bookstore when it was closed. “Young, mid-twenties. He had a ball cap on, so I couldn’t see his hair, but I had a clear view of his face when he glanced around to see if anyone was watching him. He was wearing jeans and a navy-blue T-shirt.”
“You think he was trying to break in?”
“I’m not sure. Has Aurora had any problems with break-ins?”
Gavin shook his head. “No. No one has. It’s not really a problem in town.”
Nodding, I looked around. “I’ll keep my eyes open. If I see him again, hopefully I’m on duty.”
Smiling, Gavin hit the side of my arm. “We’ll be glad to have you onboard.”
His radio went off, and he answered. “I didn’t see anyone, but I’ll make a few rounds around town and see if I can spot the guy. Declan gave me a description.”
Once he was finished, I walked him to his patrol car. “It’s pretty quiet so this would be rare, having someone stake out a place.”
“Just because it’s a small town doesn’t mean there isn’t any crime,” I said, as I glanced around again.
“I didn’t say there wasn’t any crime. I said it was rare.”
Turning back to Gavin, I sighed. “Sorry, dude, I didn’t mean to come off like you don’t know your job. Maybe it was nothing and I made it into something. I’m used to always dealing with bad guys.”
Gavin’s megawatt smile was back. “I sure hope you don’t get bored with this job. The most action we see is during Christmas, when the book club has its annual party and they all get drunk. Last year, we had to pull Betty Lou Stark off of Judith Turner when Judith stepped on Betty Lou’s fancy new shoes, and they got into a fight about who would pay to have them cleaned.”
I was pretty sure the look on my face was incredulous.
He laughed. “Yeah. Nothing like breaking up a catfight between two grandmothers. Especially when one of them says she’s going to call my mother and tell her I ‘manhandled’ her.”
I lost it laughing. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
Gavin mock shuddered. “I wish I was.”
“I better get back upstairs. I have to be at the station soon.”
“Good luck!” Gavin called out, as I jogged across the street.
“Thanks!” I replied, before heading down the alley and to the back of the toy store.
I knew I was probably making a mountain out of a mole hill with this guy at the bookstore. But nonetheless, I quickly dressed and hightailed it out of my apartment and into my truck.
“Next stop, a new career.”
“Officer Gallagher! Oh, Officer Gallagher!”
I let out a small groan as Gavin laughed. It was my first day on the job, and the first person I would have to see was the town gossip.
“Sounds like you’re needed…Officer Gallagher.”
Giving him a go-to-hell look, I turned and plastered on a fake smile as I watched Betty Lou Stark make her way over to me.
“Officer Gallagher! I’m so glad I caught you.”
Betty stopped in front of Gavin and me. She placed a hand over her heart and took deep breaths as she smiled up at us.
“Mrs. Stark, please just call me Declan.”
She waved me off. “Nonsense, you’ve earned your title. All those years you were in the Army.”
Gavin choked back another laugh, and I shot him a warning look before focusing back on Betty Lou. “Marines.”