Two Tall Tails Read Free

everything he’s done to help with fund-raising for Reading Buddies. And he volunteers at the animal shelter.”
    Ruby shrugged.
    â€œWhy would he steal from the store, given how welcoming you’ve all been? It doesn’t make sense.” I picked up my glass and set it down again. “Who else?”
    I could see from the expression on Ruby’s face that she was reluctant to answer my question even though she’d asked for my help. Her shoulders were tense, and the expression in her eyes was guarded. “Susan,” she finally said.
    â€œThat’s impossible,” I said flatly. Susan and I worked together at the library. She was hardworking, funny and kind. I knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t steal from the co-op or from anyone else. I shook my head again, feeling my jaw tighten.
    Ruby held out both hands in a gesture of resignation but said nothing.
    â€œThat’s two,” I said. “Who’s the third suspect because Susan is not a thief and neither is Nic for that matter.” I folded my arms over my midsection and turned to Maggie because Ruby still wasn’t speaking. “You don’t need my help, Mags, because that third person, whoever they are, is your thief. So who is it?”
    Maggie swallowed and said softly, “It’s Rebecca.” One arm hugged her body.
    I closed my eyes briefly. “This doesn’t make sense,” I said. “I don’t know what sort of evidence you have, but it’s wrong. There has to be some other explanation. Rebecca would
not
steal from the store any more than Susan or Nic would.”
    â€œThe things that were taken, they were taken on two different occasions,” Maggie said. “Rebecca, Susan and Nic were the only people who were in the shop both times.” She glanced at Ruby.
    I shifted in my seat to look at her as well.
    â€œWe’ve checked the purchase receipts, I’ve talked to everyone else who was working on those days, we’ve gone over hours of footage from the security camera on the street.” Ruby held up one, two, then three fingers as she recited what had been done.
    â€œYou said there has to be some other explanation and I agree with you.” Maggie leaned forward, propping her forearms on the table. “That’s why we need your help.”
    â€œI’m not the police.”
    Ruby played with a strand of blue hair that had slipped out of her topknot. “Kathleen, it wasn’t the police who figured out who killed Agatha Shepherd and cleared my name. It was you.”
    â€œAnd it was you who gave Roma some closure by putting together all the pieces with respect to what happened to her father,” Maggie added. “People tell you things, things they don’t or won’t tell the police. And somehow you put them all together a lot like the way I make a collage, only what you end up with is the truth. So please say that you’ll help us.”
    I didn’t know whether or not I could figure out what happened but I knew there had to be some kind of alternate, logical explanation for the items missing from the co-op store. “All right,” I said. “I’ll see what I can do.”
    Ruby gave me a tight smile. Maggie reached across the table, grabbed one of my hands and gave it a squeeze.
    Even cold, Maggie’s pizza was still pretty good. After we’d eaten, I pushed back my plate and checked my watch. “Since I’m heading back to the library and since Susan is working, I may as well get started with her,” I said.
    â€œI hope we’re not putting you in a difficult spot,” Ruby said, slipping off her stool.
    â€œYou’re not,” I said. “I want to help if I can.”
    â€œDo you need anything else from us?” she asked.
    â€œI know you said that Susan—and Nic and Rebecca—were the only people who were at the shop both times things went missing.”
    Ruby nodded.