Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97032 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Come to think of it, the torn page was in a spot not far from the door. It could have slipped out of his hand or pocket if he was a bit disoriented.”
“The question still lingers… what was he doing there?” Ian said.
“The logical reason would be that he was meeting someone. I don’t like the implication to that,” I said, thinking of what it might mean.
“I agree, especially since he was in an area for employees only.”
“Meaning someone at the garden center could be involved.”
I sat at the kitchen counter the next morning paying no attention to the breakfast Ian had made for me or to Mo looking soulfully at the bacon on my plate as if letting me know that if I didn’t want it, he would gladly eat it.
“You might want to tell your da, Pep,” Ian said.
“Tell him what?” I asked, setting my mug down on the counter without taking a sip of tea.
“About the incident at the garden center. It is obvious it has been on your mind since you woke this morning.”
It was like Ian could read my mind, understanding I was too preoccupied to respond to his touches this morning, meaning something was preying on my mind.
“With Kelly close to delivery, you don’t want to take a chance that trouble could be brewing there,” Ian said.
I sighed heavily. “That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”
As if on cue, a knock sounded at the door, and my dad entered.
“You really need to keep that door locked,” my dad said like a parent admonishing his child.
“You think?”
My sarcasm was lost on him, and I was annoyed with myself for not locking the door after Mo finished up outside earlier.
“Don’t dare think you’re leaving me,” I whispered to Ian.
“Not a chance,” he said with a teasing smile.
“I should be angry with you, but I can’t be since Danny told me that he begged you not to tell me about finding that vanishing guy in the greenhouse. When he thought better of it and that it might be something that could prove troublesome or possibly dangerous, he made the smart choice to tell me about it.”
“You mean Kelly started questioning Danny about the dirt from the plant and he dug himself deeper into lies until he finally buried himself and came clean, didn’t he?” I asked, grinning.
“That doesn’t matter,” my dad said, dismissing it with a wave of his hand which meant I had hit on the truth.
“Coffee, Dad?” I asked, knowing when to hold my tongue. Okay, maybe that happened only on rare occasions.
My dad helped himself to a cup of coffee and stood on the opposite side of the counter from me and Ian. It was obvious my dad was upset. I guess that was what had been bothering me as well. Could my family be in danger? Was the vanishing guy in cahoots with someone at the garden center and would he return?
“Tell me everything you remember,” my dad said, “then send me those pics you took after the fact, and for heaven’s sake keep your phone on you since this guy has a propensity of showing up where you happen to be.”
I told him everything then showed him the torn page I’d found.
“Fingerprints, Pepper,” he scolded.
“Probably dozens of people have skimmed that book and did not buy it. Besides, pages with pictures are viewed more than pages with words. Also, you might want to talk with Kate over at Yesterday’s Treasures. The other day, two suspicious looking guys bought the history of Willow Lake not long after each other. Whatever you do, don’t send Josh. He’ll get lost talking with Kate and he’ll probably forget half of what she tells him.”
“Your brother really does seem interested in her,” my dad said to my surprise.
“Seriously interested in her,” I said, my youngest brother, at thirty, insisting he had no intention of settling down anytime soon.
“Your mom believes so and—”
“If Mom believes it, it must be true since she has the uncanny ability to know when one of her children has fallen in love,” I finished for my dad with glee at the prospect of Josh, the not-interested-in-love brother falling in love.
“Your mom knew you loved me before you did?” Ian asked.
“Her mom knew immediately when she saw the two of you together that that was it for Pepper,” my dad said and saluted me with his coffee mug and a smile. “Of course, she also knew Pepper would be stubborn about it, but she had faith in you, Ian. But enough talk about love. Give me your take on this vanishing guy, Pepper.”
“Ian and I discussed it last night,” I looked at Ian to continue so my dad knew we were working on this strange mystery together.
“We thought that he might have suffered more than known from the hit to his jaw and it could possibly have caused him to lose consciousness since there was no sign of foul play at the garden center.”