Sweet Jiminy by Kristin Gore Read Free Book Online

people who lived right here in Fayeville, and there’s not a single mention of them anywhere.”
    â€œYou must have your dates wrong,” the librarian replied. “You can check the 1965 box if you like.”
    â€œIt was 1966. Lyn Waters’s husband and daughter, Edward and Jiminy, were murdered that June. They were driving back from a leadership seminar Jiminy had won an essay contest to attend and they went missing. Two weeks later their car was found stripped and burned on the banks of the river. Their bodies washed ashore nearby.”
    The librarian’s expression changed as Jiminy recited these facts. She put down her fork.
    â€œThose aren’t the sort of deaths the Ledger covered back then,” she said evenly.
    â€œDo you remember hearing about them?” Jiminy asked.
    The librarian met her gaze.
    â€œI remember hearing that Lyn’s husband and daughter had gone and got themselves drowned. I didn’t ask any questions. We don’t talk about things like that.”
    Jiminy stared back, then sneezed powerfully, grateful that her body instinctively rejected such attitudes. Unfortunately this town seemed rife with them, and she was beginning to feel allergic to simply being here.
    She took her leave and exited into the bright sunshine of the courthouse yard, where, slightly dazed, she made her way to the nearest tree and sank into its shade. With one hand on her diaphragm and the other propped beneath her head, she lay on her back, closed her eyes, and focused on her breath. She began to count how many heartbeats she could fit into one inhalation and had just stretched herself to three when she sensed someone standing over her. Her heartbeat surged as her eyes flew open. It was Bo.
    â€œYou looked so peaceful,” he said.
    â€œIt’s a good disguise,” she answered.
    His grin was easily unfurled. She gazed at his white, white teeth and thought of sails on Lake Michigan.
    â€œDo you wanna go get some food or something?” she asked.
    It wasn’t like her to usher an invitation, but she’d come to realize that spending time with Bo delighted her. Her life had been short on delight and she felt greedy for it now.
    Bo’s grin tacked starboard as he shook his head.
    â€œI’d love to, but I haven’t earned it yet,” he answered. “I’ve got a long date with the lymphatic system,” he said as he held up his MCAT book. “Maybe later?”
    â€œLymph node hussies,” Jiminy muttered.
    Bo laughed.
    â€œYou sticking around?” he asked. “This is my favorite spot to study.”
    Jiminy thought about it.
    â€œNo, I’ve got things to do, too,” she replied. “But call me later?”
    â€œWill do.”
    His promise flapped in the air between them, crisp and clear and healthy.

Chapter 5
    W henever Willa walked into the HushMart superstore, she felt like she was arriving in another country and should have to show her passport for entry. An entire populace could live in the building and have everything they needed at their fingertips, at low, low prices. It was a wonder of a place.
    She still occasionally happened upon entire sections that seemed new to her, and she wondered if the store was secretly expanding at night. The lot that had been zoned for it backed up to a limestone cliff, so there wasn’t anywhere obvious for it to grow, but Willa had a hunch that those light green–vested managers were far too innovative to let a little geology hamper their progress.
    â€œHave you sampled our hickory-smoked chew toys?” a voice chirped.
    It was one of the green-vests, offering what appeared to be a barbecue-scented shoe.
    â€œNo, thank you,” Willa replied.
    â€œThey’re for dogs. Do you have a dog?”
    Willa shook her head.
    â€œThen you’re in luck! The store’s opening a pet zone next month, so you can buy one!”
    â€œBuy one? Fayeville’s already