Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews (read aloud txt) 📗

the delivery woman, then took the food bags from her. “It’s the least I can do for all the two of you are going through to help me.”

Spence and I protested her generous offer, but Jo remained stubborn. She seemed to ignore us as we followed her to her office toward the center of the bookstore. Her obstinacy was her only flaw—and one of many characteristics we shared.

We gathered around Jo’s cozy conversation table for lunch. The air in her office was brisk. I was convinced she kept the temperature down for an excuse to wear her orange-and-green college cardigan.

In my peripheral vision, I noticed Jo had added a few more stress balls to the collection on her desk. A peek at her hands revealed she’d all but decimated her fingernails. While we dug into our soups and sandwiches, we kept our conversation light—delicious food, wonderful weather, weekend plans.

“My big weekend plan is celebrating my parents’ fortieth wedding anniversary.” A grin stretched my lips. “My brother’s going to teleconference me in to the celebration to surprise them.”

“Congratulations to your parents.” Jo paused with her soup spoon partway to her mouth.

“That’s wonderful.” Spence sketched a toast with his bottle of iced tea.

“I’m happy for them.” I sighed with satisfaction and a tinge of regret for the distance between us. If only I could use some vacation time. “And I’m taking Phoenix to a new vet after work this evening.”

“I hope this one can help him.” Spence gave me a look of concern as he finished his Southern-fried fish sandwich.

Jo swallowed a bite of her Southern-style buttermilk fried chicken sandwich. “Has he shown any improvement at all?”

I flexed my shoulders in a restless movement. “A little, but he’s still not himself. In Brooklyn, he loved to explore. He was always getting into something. Ever since our move, he’s been disinterested in everything.”

“Hopefully, the vet will be able to treat Phoenix and he’ll make a speedy recovery.” Jo set aside the remains of her sandwich, and chicken stew with tomatoes and herbs. Her voice bounced with an optimism I hadn’t heard in days.

“I hope so too.” Since my favorites—turkey club and New England clam chowder—weren’t on the sandwich shop’s menu, I’d made do with the turkey-and-cheddar sandwich and chicken noodle soup. I slid a look toward Spence. “Your mother came to see me this morning. She asked me to stop our investigation.”

“Really?” Spence sounded amused.

“Really?” Jo was horrified.

“Really.” I held up my hand to stop Jo as she started to interrupt. “But I was able to change her mind.”

Spence took a deep drink of his iced tea. “She gave me a similar lecture about the newspaper and my position in the community.”

Startled, I frowned at him. “You could’ve warned me your mother was opposed to our inquiry.”

His smile was unrepentant. “Now where’s the fun in that?”

Jo’s wide-eyed look of concern swung from him to me and back. “Your mama’s a member of the library’s board of directors. Is Marvey’s job in jeopardy? I don’t want her to get in trouble for helping me.”

I blinked. “My job isn’t in jeopardy. Ms. Holt agreed I could continue our inquiry.”

“But, Marvey, your boss’s boss came to your office.” Jo emphasized her words as though willing me to feel her fear. She turned to Spence. “Would your mama fire Marvey for helping me?”

“Don’t worry, Jo. My mama won’t do that.” His tone was somber, but I caught the glint of humor in his dark eyes.

Jo didn’t appear convinced. “How do you know?”

“Well, first, my mama’s a savvy businesswoman.” He set down his sandwich and gave Jo his undivided attention. “And second, she’s told me often enough she’s impressed by what Marvey’s already accomplished for the library in the short time she’s been here.”

I pinned Jo with a direct look. “Are you satisfied?”

“She’s been singing Marvey’s praises.” Spence collected his sandwich.

I patted his firm arm, which was covered by his pale cream business shirt. “That’s enough now, Spence. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Yes, thank you, Marvey. I’m satisfied.” Jo folded her arms across her chest. “I just don’t want either of you getting in trouble with Spence’s mama any more than I want to lose my store.”

A chill crawled through me. What would happen to To Be Read if we weren’t able to clear Jo’s reputation? What would happen to the community if it didn’t have convenient access to a bookstore?

“We’re going to prove your innocence.” Spence’s tone made a believer out of me. “I heard back from Isaiah, our Peach Coast Inn manager. He confirmed Pelt checked in Saturday night, after the deputies would’ve taken his statement for Fiona’s murder.”

“Thank you for looking into that for us, Spence.” Was it wrong that part of me was disappointed Willy hadn’t lied about when he’d gotten into town?

Jo pushed aside her half-eaten sandwich. “Does this mean we have to take him off our list?”

“He’s still a person of interest as far as I’m concerned.” I finished my soup. “But it would’ve been easier to build an argument to investigate him if we had proof he’d had time to commit the murder.”

“We’ve been investigating for five days.” Jo balanced her elbows on the table and cradled her head in her hands. “Tomorrow will be a week since Fiona’s murder, but we don’t have any additional information to present to the deputies and they’re still focused on me. What are we missing?”

I jerked my chin toward Spence. “We’re meeting with Buddy’s lawyer Monday. We’re going to keep digging, Jo.”

Hoping to lighten the mood before going back to work, I redirected our conversation to more casual topics—upcoming new book releases, summer plans, and the weather. We cleared the remnants of our lunch and made our way out of Jo’s office. In the store, I faced a view of shelf after shelf after shelf of books. As usual, the sight sent my inner bookworm into a fit of ecstasy.

Without To Be Read, residents would have to drive nineteen point one miles to the nearest