Witness Read Free Page B

persons file had come to a dead end. The client decided it wasn’t worth continuing to pay him to try to run down her deadbeat ex-husband.
    He missed Linda. The answering machine was a poor substitute. Its flashing red light teased him with the promise of two messages. He cast about for something to scribble the phone numbers on and ended up writing them on the back of his electric bill.
    He called and made an appointment to meet the first potential client on Monday. Wasn’t there an appointment book somewhere? He strode to Linda’s former desk and opened and closed one drawer after another. Back at his own desk, he discovered the book in his top drawer.
    He riffled through it, scrawled the woman’s name on Monday’s page and told her how to find the office. Now where was the second number? Oh, yeah, on the back of the electric bill.
    Where was the electric bill?
    He gave up and went to the coffeemaker. Linda always made the coffee. He picked up the can and shook it. Empty.
    Too bad the diner closed, he thought again as he went outside. The soon-to-be gift shop windows were sparkling clean now, highlighting the sad absence of a coffee machine or greasy breakfast sandwiches. Inside, he saw the two women opening cartons.
    Bethany and…what was the other name? Not that it mattered. He envied them right now. They had that innocent anticipation, confident that their new shop would be a raging success. He got into his car and pointed it toward Wal-Mart. They had a coffee shop there. He could get a decent cup of hot brew and some notepads before putting in some work on his case.
    Half an hour later he drove back into his parking space, feeling better after two cups of coffee. He had just reached his desk when the door opened.
    “Mr. Tarleton?”
    It was one of the sisters from the shop next door. The younger one.
    “Yes, ma’am,” he said, rising. “Can I help you?”
    She smiled as she advanced toward his desk. “Remember me? I’m Keilah. From the gift shop.”
    “I remember.” Joe determined to file the name away somewhere in his brain. He watched her, trying to figure out why she was standing in his office. Just as she set a small wicker basket on the edge of the desk, a delicious smell hit his nostrils.
    “I brought you some cookies. Bethany and I were saying last night how distracting it’s probably been for you with all the noise from the remodeling, and we decided to bring you an apology gift.”
    “An apology gift?”
    “Sure. We do gifts for all occasions.”
    He laughed. “Right. Thanks, but that wasn’t necessary.” The sparkle went out of her eyes, and he added quickly, “But very nice. Thank you.”
    Her smile returned, a bit strained now. “You’re welcome. Chocolate chip.”
    “My favorite.” He reached over and lifted the edge of the checked napkin. The fragrance increased, and he suddenly craved a bite. “They smell delicious. Would you join me?”
    “Oh, no, thank you, they’re all for you. But I did want to tell you we took a message for you.”
    “A message?”
    “While you were out, a man came by. Bethany had stepped outside to get something from the car, and he said your office was closed and asked if she knew when you’d be back.” She shrugged. “Bethany took his business card for you. He’d like you to call.”
    She held out the card, and Joe tried to suppress his eagerness as he recognized the name. Daniel Riker was a member of the city council. Things were looking up.
    “Thank you, Miss Wilson.” He pocketed the card.
    “Keilah. We’re neighbors now.”
    “Right.”
    “Oh, and there’s one more thing.”
    Joe felt himself warming to his new neighbors. “Anything I can help with?”
    “As a matter of fact, I was going to ask a small favor. Our new sign was just delivered, and there’s only my sister and me and one man who’s working on the shelving…”
    Joe nodded, realizing he couldn’t graciously decline now. “Lead me to it, Keilah.”
    Her smile was