Bookplate Special by Lorna Barrett Read Free Book Online Page A

territory—even if her territory didn’t go beyond the confines of Haven’t Got a Clue and the storeroom and loft apartment above it. Angelica wasn’t a cat lover, and had warned Frannie not to encourage the cat to come around . . . something Frannie obviously hadn’t taken to heart.
    Tricia climbed the steps and reentered her store. Ginny was still at the register, sniffling as she waited on a customer. “I’m going next door for a few minutes. Be right back,” Tricia said, and headed out without grabbing her jacket.
    The Cookery was quiet, with only one or two customers browsing the bookshelves. Now that Angelica had dismantled the cooking demonstration area, she’d gained more retail space. The store was doing well—too well for just one employee. That was just Tricia’s opinion, of course. Frannie insisted she could handle the additional work, but she did look a bit frazzled, something Tricia hadn’t ever seen in the year since she’d met her.
    Frannie stood by the register, waiting for her next customer to check out. Her expression darkened when she saw it was Tricia who’d just entered the store. She plastered on a fake grin and called out in her infamous Texas twang, “Howdy, Tricia. What can I do for you?”
    Tricia gave her friend a genuine smile. “Hey, Frannie, I just dropped in to see how things are going.”
    “I’m sure surprised to see you . . . after what happened and all.” Frannie nodded toward Booked for Lunch across the street, which was visible through the large display window. A sheriff’s patrol car—probably Captain Baker’s—was still parked outside. It might be hours before the forensic squad finished gathering evidence.
    Tricia had momentarily forgotten about Pammy. Frannie’s words brought the memory of her in the garbage cart back with the force of a hurricane. “Oh. Yes. It was awful. I hope you don’t mind if I don’t want to talk about it.”
    “Of course,” Frannie said, and shook her head sadly.
    “I was out behind my store a few minutes ago, and I couldn’t help but notice—”
    “Please don’t tell Angelica,” Frannie pleaded, her face drawn with concern. “I know she doesn’t want me to encourage Penny—”
    “Penny?” Tricia asked.
    “That darling little kitty. She’s the color of a bright copper penny, so I’ve taken to calling her that. But, Tricia, she’s got no collar and she’s as thin as a rail. I’m only setting out a little water and some dry cat food during the day. And I make sure the dishes are put away before Angelica gets back from her café.”
    On the one hand, Tricia wanted to commend Frannie for her compassion. But as a business owner, she wasn’t sure she should encourage deceit or out-and-out insurrection—especially as the store’s proprietor was her own sister. And yet . . . she’d seen that hungry little cat and her heart had ached for it, too.
    “I won’t tell,” she promised. “But now that you’ve been putting out food, she’ll expect to be fed. If Angelica finds out—”
    “I’ve got it all planned,” Frannie said, but a customer approached the register with a stack of cookbooks before she could tell Tricia exactly what that plan was. The shop’s door opened, and another three potential customers trooped in. Rats! Tricia had wanted to ask what Frannie knew about Stuart Paige. There was always tomorrow, she supposed.
    This time it was Tricia who forced a smile as she waggled her fingers in a wave and headed out the door for Haven’t Got a Clue. And true to her word, she had no intention of telling Angelica about Frannie’s feline indiscretion.
    Before she could make it back to the store, Tricia heard her name being called. She looked around and saw Captain Baker hailing her from across the street. He waited for a car to pass before crossing to meet her on the sidewalk.
    “Sir, you are guilty of a crime,” Tricia said, straight-faced. Of course, she’d been crossing Main Street at its center for