ONE

The metal folding chairs were arranged five across, bisected by an aisle, with another five opposite. Six rows had been set up in anticipation of sixty guests, and it was nearly a full house. The first four seats on the left had neat, computer-printed placards saying Reserved. Tricia Miles had led her sister, Angelica; her niece-in-law, Ginny Wilson-Barbero; and Ginny’s toddler daughter, Sofia, straight to the front row.

“Hey!” a male voice called out to the women and child as they took their seats. “Why do you get the prime location?”

Dan Reed continued to be a thorn in Tricia’s proverbial side. Everything about the fifty-something man set her teeth on edge. Dan believed every conspiracy theory he saw online and held court at the front of the house at his business, the Bookshelf Diner, sharing his opinions with anyone who’d listen—and drove away those unwilling to put up with his proselytizing.

Tricia ignored the boor and studied the cover of the children’s book she’d purchased before entering the Stoneham Library’s community room. Betty Barnes, owner of Barney’s Book Barn, Stoneham’s children’s bookstore, had been asked to provide the books for sale. Not only did she have piles of the current title, but others in the series for sale, as well.

“Did you hear what I said?” Dan tried again.

Tricia closed her eyes for a few seconds to draw on her reserve of patience before she half turned. “I did, and it’s none of your business.”

“Who says?”

“Me.” Tricia turned back to face the lectern set up in front of the floor-to-ceiling saltwater fish tank.

“Isn’t this exciting?” Ginny asked, passing to Sofia the copy she’d purchased of author Lauren Barker’s latest offering in the children’s book series, The Cuddly Chameleon’s Coat of Many Colors.

Tricia couldn’t understand why Lauren’s latest addition to the series had been met with controversy. Was it because Lauren had chosen a chameleon as her protagonist—a lizard that could change colors to blend into a threatening environment—and somehow a certain segment of the population seemed to think that was somehow subversive? Tricia had read the books to Sofia several times, so she couldn’t comprehend that viewpoint.

The front row where she sat had one free chair, and Tricia was pleased when Stella Kraft, a former teacher at Stoneham High School, claimed the seat. She leaned forward. “Stella, it’s so nice to see you.”

For a moment, the older woman studied Tricia’s face in confusion.

“Tricia Miles. I own the Haven’t Got a Clue bookstore on Main Street. We met a few years back and talked about one of your former students.”

Stella’s eyes widened. “Oh, yes. Now I remember you.”

“I didn’t know you were a fan of children’s fiction,” Tricia said.

“Only when the author is one of my most successful students,” Stella said with pride.

“That’s wonderful. Have you spoken to Ms. Barker recently?”

Stella’s eyes practically sparkled. “Not since she was in my class. Of course, it was I who first encouraged her writing talent. She handed in many fine compositions and had a flair for narrative, even as a high school freshman. And now her most popular work is being adapted into a full-length movie—maybe the whole series eventually!”

“You sure keep up with her achievements,” Tricia remarked.

“Oh, yes. I’ve taken a keen interest in her career, and I hope we’ll have a merry reunion.”

It was then that David Price appeared at the front of the room to check the sound system, and Tricia couldn’t help but smile. He’d brought such happiness into her life during the past six weeks. David was responsible for arranging his first author appearance since he’d taken over as the children’s librarian weeks before. He hadn’t yet earned his master’s in library science, but he was pretty close to it, which was why he’d been hired.

David had also become Tricia’s much younger—by twenty years—lover. The age difference didn’t bother Tricia or David, but it seemed to annoy other community members. Even Angelica seemed to disapprove. Tricia had learned not to mention her relationship with David too often to her older sister. Angelica always seemed to have some complaint concerning him—whether real or imagined. It had put a strain on the sisters’ relationship. But that night, Angelica seemed to have forgiven David for the sin of youth. And she’d taken as a given that members of the extended Miles family had been given preferential treatment.

David’s return smile wasn’t as wide as Tricia’s, and he left the podium and headed back up the aisle.

Sofia paged through her copy of The Cuddly Chameleon’s Coat of Many Colors. “Mama—mama Cammy-le-on!”

“That’s right,” Ginny said, gazing at her firstborn with adoration. Baby Will was home with his father, Antonio Barbero—Angelica’s son. Not many in Stoneham knew that fact. Angelica was determined to keep it that way, and Antonio didn’t seem to care. At least, he’d never offered an opinion to Tricia either way. Antonio was the public face of Nigela Ricita Associates, a company Angelica owned with extensive business holdings in the village. She also owned several in her own right. Talk about a business mogul! Meanwhile, Tricia was the proprietress of a solitary enterprise, a bookstore known for selling vintage mysteries, although as each year passed, those early volumes were becoming rare. It was primarily due to the diligence of her assistant manager, Pixie Poe, scouring tag and estate sales on her days off that kept those tomes on the store’s shelves.

Tricia glanced at her watch. The program should have started ten minutes ago, but there was no sign of Lauren Barker. Tricia strained her neck to look over her shoulder to see David standing at the room’s entrance, anxiously looking outside the doorway, no doubt looking for his errant guest.

David had asked Tricia to step into volunteer mode. She’d advised him on what he could expect as she had scores of author signings under her belt. She’d even offered to take charge of the books Ms. Barker was to sign. As a bonus, the Friends of the Library provided refreshments of cookies and hot and cold beverages to those who attended.

David had initially expected the author to read from one of her works but was told by Lauren only minutes before her appearance that the event would be a signing only. More than a score of wee ones had been brought to the library expecting story time. David had confided to Tricia via text that he wasn’t eager to pass that information to those assembled.

Tricia saw her man straighten, looking almost regal in his royal blue velvet jacket with his long, wild curls captured in a ponytail trailing down his back, looking good enough to pose for a John Singer Sargent portrait. It seemed Lauren Barker had finally arrived.

David disappeared for a minute or so before he escorted Lauren down the aisle, and the audience—at least the adults present—broke into applause, not knowing their children were about to be disappointed.

Lauren took the chair behind the table where, to one side, a beautiful gift wrapped in pink-and-burgundy floral paper sat. David took a position at the podium and looked out at the expectant crowd, his expression a mixture of apology and mortification.

“Thank you, everyone, for visiting the Stoneham Public Library tonight. It’s heartwarming to see a new generation eager to read and learn and that the Cuddly Chameleon is so beloved.” A smattering of applause greeted his words. And now for the bad news.

“Unfortunately, Ms. Barker has a conflict tonight. She won’t be able to give a reading, but—”

“Why the hell not?” Dan Reed shouted. “Or should we be grateful? What with the subversive material that woman writes to poison the most vulnerable of our youth. She ought to be arrested.”

The audience responded with a resounding Boo! And in an instant, the library’s security guard, who’d been lurking on the edge of the room, charged forward. He spoke into Dan’s ear and, in a moment, grasped the interloper’s arms, hauling him into the aisle between the chairs and out of the community room.

The rumble of voices that accompanied the ejection was more than a little unsettling.

Once Dan was gone, David donned what Tricia knew to be a forced smile. “And now, Ms. Barker would be happy to sign your copies of The Cuddly Chameleon’s Coat of Many Colors. We’ll go row by row, starting with the left side of the room.”

Tricia sprang to her feet and moved to station herself behind the table, ready to take each book from those in line, open it to the title page, and hold it for Lauren to sign.

Angelica stepped forward. “Hello, Ms. Barker. Little Sofia here has fallen in love with the Cuddly Chameleon. Could you please—?”

“I’m only signing my signature. No personalization. I suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome,” Lauren stated flatly, brandishing the black wrist brace that graced her right hand. Still, she signed the book with a flourish, the signature little more than a scribble. She shoved the book back at Angelica, who looked at her granddaughter in Ginny’s arms.

“I wove da cudwee Cammy-le-on,” Sofia said, shaking a licensed stuffed toy in the air as though to emphasize her words.

“Thank you.” Lauren looked past the toddler. “Next!”

Angelica gave Tricia a chagrined look but then gave Ginny a resigned nod, and they moved aside.

Stella Kraft was the next to present her book for signing. “Lauren Barker, I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and your accomplishments. And I’m sure it was I who first encouraged you and your thirst to have your voice be heard by your millions of fans.”

Lauren cocked her head and studied the older woman’s wrinkled face. “Do I know you?”

“Of course! Ms. Kraft. I was your ninth-grade English teacher. You were my star pupil.”

Lauren scrunched her face into a scowl. “I don’t recall a single Stoneham High teacher ever encouraging me. More often, I was sent to detention for some minor infraction or other.”

Stella bristled with umbrage. “I never!”

“I’ll bet you did—and that’s probably why I don’t remember you. It was probably a conscious decision I made that blocked you out of my memory,” Lauren fired back.

Stella’s mouth dropped in indignation. “I most certainly did not abuse my authority over you—or any of my students—and I resent the implication!”

Suddenly, Tricia was aware that Patti Perkins from the Stoneham Weekly News was hovering nearby with her phone out, apparently recording the verbal altercation.

“Ladies, ladies,” Tricia implored, but it seemed that Lauren had more ammunition to fire.

“Never once did a teacher in the entire village school system support me in any way,” she spat with venom.

“That’s not true,” Stella insisted. “I still have proof. I have copies of some of your papers.”

That revelation seemed only to infuriate Lauren. “That is my work. If that’s true, then anything you do with them would be copyright infringement, and now that I know about it, you had better turn them over to me, or I will sue you for everything you’ve got.”

This time, Tricia’s mouth dropped in shock. She knew that elderly, retired Stella was living on social security and not all that well off.

“How dare you threaten me,” Stella proclaimed.

“I’ve got the law on my side!” Lauren shrilled. “My attorney will be in touch!”

Tricia knew that simply setting words on paper—or an electronic conveyance—did, indeed, cover an author’s copyright. And Lauren had the financial means to go after anyone who might exploit her work. Tricia also knew that a successful published author wouldn’t want an inferior work to be made public.

David stepped in to separate the women before the tension between them could escalate. “Let’s keep the line moving,” he said, gesturing for Stella to move along, but the older woman refused to budge. “No, I—”

“Please, ma’am, others are waiting patiently behind you,” David implored.

Stella turned her ire back on her former student. “You haven’t heard the last of me!”

“I sure as hell hope I have,” Lauren muttered.

“Stella, won’t you join me for a few refreshments?” Tricia grasped the older woman’s arm and led her away. With a quick look over her shoulder, she saw David mouth a silent Thank you as he took her place behind the table.

“That ingrate,” Stella muttered, a glower souring her expression. “I taught her everything she knows about writing.”

Tricia doubted that. She faked a shiver. “Wouldn’t a nice cup of coffee be just the thing on this cool October evening?”

Stella leveled an evil glare at Tricia. “Not really. In fact, I don’t think I’ll stay for the refreshments.” She scowled at the book in her hands. “And I don’t want to take trash home, either.” She dropped the picture book on the floor and pivoted, walking away.

“Stella! Surely you don’t mean that.”

The retired teacher glanced over her shoulder. “I sure as hell do!”

“What do you want me to do with Lauren’s book?”

“Throw it away,” Stella grated, but then her features softened. “No, maybe some child here in Stoneham might improve his or her reading skills because of it. But I don’t want it. I want nothing to do with Lauren Barker or her work. She’s dead to me,” she practically spat and, with that, stalked out of the library.

---

* * *

After the ruckus caused by Dan Reed and Stella Kraft, the rest of the signing went without incident. Tricia relieved David to hold the books open for signing so that he could again act as the host of the affair.

Once all the books had been signed, the guests mingled among themselves, partaking in the cookies and beverages. The gift-wrapped box still sat on the table. Tricia had noted the beautifully calligraphed tab with a burgundy satin ribbon that was taped under a matching bow.

“Should I have opened this when the crowd was still seated?” Lauren asked.

“Uh, no,” David answered. “I don’t know where it came from or how it got here. It’s been sitting here since just after we set up the chairs.”

Lauren’s eyes widened. “It’s not a gift from the library?”

David shook his head.

Lauren took a step back. “Would you mind opening it?”

David glanced in Tricia’s direction. She merely shrugged. He pulled at the ribbon and then carefully slid his index finger under the tape and removed the paper. The nondescript box was plain white with no markings. David raised the lid and pulled aside the pristine-white-and-iridescent-glitter tissue paper.

Lauren gasped and took another step back.

Tricia stepped forward. Inside the box was an uncut peanut butter sandwich on white bread.

“Is this some kind of a sick joke?” Lauren asked.

David looked puzzled. “I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about this. What do you want me to do with it?”

“Throw it away!”

“Are you sure—?”

“Yes! Just…get rid of it.” Lauren seemed pretty shaken by what seemed like an inoffensive lunch offering.

“Of course. Some of the kids might have a peanut allergy, anyway,” David said, picked up the box, and ducked out the room’s back entrance.

“Can I get you anything?” Tricia asked, noticing Lauren’s sudden pallor. “Perhaps a cup of coffee.” With lots of sugar.

“No, no thanks. But I think I might grab one of those cookies. I haven’t had dinner yet.”

Tricia let her go and turned to see David return.

“I’d better make an appearance at the front of the room where the patrons are gathering. I hope I don’t get chewed out too badly,” he said.

“It wasn’t that bad an event.”

“It wasn’t that good, either.” David straightened and put on a brave face before offering Tricia his crooked arm. “May I escort you?”

“I’d be delighted.” David had learned a lot from watching old black-and-white movies. He knew how to treat a lady.

Angelica, Ginny, and Sofia had already left the library, and Tricia mingled for a few minutes before noticing Lauren was no longer present. Looking out the room’s opened double doors, she saw the children’s author standing not far from the checkout desk with a man dressed in jeans and a black leather jacket, with salt-and-pepper hair and a silver-streaked beard. But when she looked again, she saw that both had disappeared.

The crowd had pretty much dispersed when Tricia caught up with David a few minutes later and asked about the author’s whereabouts.

“I don’t care where she went. I’m just glad she’s gone. The contract the library signed said she would do a reading. After all, that’s why we were paying her to be here. It wasn’t a minimal fee, either. She certainly didn’t hold up her end of the deal, and I’ll call her agent on Monday to see if we can renegotiate the terms.”

“I’m sorry your first event wasn’t entirely successful, but it seemed like most of the people were satisfied with having their books signed.” Tricia thought about it. “In fact, many of the parents had multiple books for her to sign. Betty Barnes must be very pleased with the sales.”

“I wouldn’t know. Once the signing was over, she packed up her leftover stock and left the library in a hurry.”

Tricia frowned. How odd.

“What do you make of the whole gift-wrapped sandwich?” David asked.

“Someone’s idea of a bad joke?” Tricia offered.

“Maybe.”

She and David hung around until the last patrons left the library’s community room. None of the volunteers had stayed to clean up the refreshments table, so she helped David clear away the mess, fold the chairs, and wash the library’s big coffee urn. David even vacuumed the space and finished just after the library closed for the night. He was tasked with locking things up—something he’d done only a couple of times since being hired—and he and Tricia walked along the concrete path to where their cars were parked in the nether regions of the lot.

A lone car sat in the farthest reaches of the lot. “That’s weird,” David said. “There shouldn’t be anyone left here. I wonder if it’s another dumped vehicle. Kids steal cars, have a joy ride, and then leave them in our lot. It’s happened a couple of times since I started working here. Usually, they’re pretty dented up, too.”

But the car in question looked to be in pristine condition. Tricia and David exchanged curious glances. “Do you think we should check it out?” he asked.

“It can’t hurt.”

Hand in hand, the couple walked toward the car. “Thanks for giving us reserved seats in the front of the room. Maybe Angelica will cut you some slack because of it.”

“Mark my words—I’m going to win her over. Eventually,” David said.

It couldn’t come soon enough for Tricia.

Shadows were few in the lot’s darkest spot. When they arrived at the vehicle, David tested the door and found it locked. It was too dark to see inside the car, which had tinted windows and sported a sticker from a well-known rental agency on its back window.

“Who’d park their car in the library lot overnight?” Tricia asked.

“People who live in their cars. That’s happened a few times in the past month or so, too. I can’t imagine how uncomfortable it must be.”

“Should we call the police?” Tricia asked.

“Probably not. I mean, if the car is still here tomorrow, I’ll give Chief McDonald a call.”

But Tricia wasn’t sure they should wait that long. Taking out her phone, she hit the flashlight icon. A burst of light illuminated the area, and Tricia placed it against the driver’s side window. Her stomach did a flip-flop. Lauren Barker lay slumped against the console, unmoving. Tricia knocked on the window, but there was no response.

“Uh-oh,” she muttered.

“What’s up?” David asked.

Tricia passed her phone to David, and he peered through the glass, then he, too, knocked on the glass to no effect.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked, his voice taking on an odd tone.

“I don’t think you should delay that call to Chief McDonald,” Tricia said. “Just in case.”