What was Darrell Townsend doing in Blithedale Books—and why had Bunce let him into the store? “I’d rather the ceiling collapsed on me than sell to that viper,” Bunce had said, and yet here he was, secretly letting Darrell into the store.
Alice raised her head over the edge of the scaffolding platform to peer down at them. Bunce had retreated to stand behind the counter, as if he felt safer back there, and he’d crossed his arms on his chest.
“Take a look around,” Bunce said. “Ask me what you want. But make it quick. If Chief Jimbo catches us in here…”
“Don’t worry about Chief Jimbo. I’ll take care of him.”
Darrell looked around the space, eventually turning his gaze upward, and for an instant, he seemed to look straight at her. Alice ducked. She hoped the gloom hid her well enough.
Footsteps scuffed across the linoleum.
“Old air conditioning units. The floor will have to go.” There was a loud metallic banging. “Pipes look rusty.”
“The pipes are fine,” Bunce snapped.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Darrell said. “How about the walls?”
“You’re buying the store as is. That’s the deal. Or there’s no deal.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way, Bunce.”
“And no tearing down the store and building a parking lot.”
Darrell laughed. “If I didn’t know you better, Bunce, I’d think you were sentimentally attached to the bookstore.”
Bunce mumbled something Alice couldn’t hear.
“Of course, it’s your town, too,” Darrell said. “Although not for long, eh? Once you retire to Florida, you can stop worrying about what happens in Blithedale. Anyway, you can rest assured that I’ll honor your request. So long as I don’t find any structural damage that would require me to demolish the place…”
“I’ve told you, there’s no structural damage. That’s a nonsense rumor your brother’s spread, and you know it.”
“As long as we’re in agreement…”
Bunce sighed. “Yes, yes, we’re in agreement. And we’ll put it in writing.”
“You don’t trust me, do you, Bunce?”
“I’ll sell to you, Mr. Townsend. But I won’t ever trust you.”
“Fair enough. Still, as gentlemen, we can shake on it.”
Alice peeked over the edge again and saw, to her horror, that Darrell had reached a hand across the counter. Bunce took it and they shook.
“Congratulations, Bunce. Your dream of retiring to Florida is about to become reality.”
Darrell turned his back on Bunce and, standing with his hands on his hips, surveyed the store. A smile spread across his face.