Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 81986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 410(@200wpm)___ 328(@250wpm)___ 273(@300wpm)
It wasn’t. This expense was the last thing we needed, and I had no clue how we’d find the funds to fix or replace the machine. But Worth was breathing hard, hand braced against the counter, and I was willing to tell a white lie if it helped him feel less terrible.
My arm remained around him as a younger patron approached the counter. Anyone who wanted to have an issue with me showing Worth affection could take a number.
“Espresso machine is broke—” I didn’t finish the warning before the young woman squealed. She had green hair in stubby pigtails, dark lipstick, and a rapt expression that instantly put me on edge.
“Oh my God. It is you, isn’t it?” She leaned forward to gesture at Worth. “You’re Worth Stapleton.”
“Who wants to know?” Drawing myself up to my full height, I stepped in front of him before he could answer.
“I’m Ellie. Of Ellie’s Awesome Podcast reviews. I’m kind of a true-crime junkie.” She pointed at her black T-shirt, which warned against messing with a woman who knows how to stage a crime scene. Lovely. “I’m spending my summer visiting the sites of some of my favorite crimes.”
“We’re about to close early,” I said firmly. “Marta, add another sign saying we’re closing early on account of the machine being down, and we’ll open for non-espresso drinks in the morning.” Turning back to stare down Ellie, I hardened my voice further. “Sorry, but I’ll have to ask you to leave now.”
“Aww. Couldn’t he sign something for me first?” Ellie pouted. “I’m a big Professor Justice fangirl, and I just loved his podcast series on the Stapleton housewife disappearance. So much drama. And now there’s going to be a book.”
“So there is.” Worth sounded nine hundred years old as he stepped around me. “No autographs.”
“Oh, please? I’ve driven out to the lake, walked around that cabin, driven by the house—”
“You did what?” My jaw flapped open as Worth made a wounded sound.
“Don’t worry.” Ellie waved a hand dismissively. “I didn’t go in or anything. There was a dog barking, so I didn’t even park.”
“I’m going to be sick.” Worth rushed away toward the restrooms.
“You can leave now.” I glared at Ellie. “And no more poking around town. This isn’t some TV show.”
“I know.” Her perky tone hadn’t flagged one bit in the face of my ire. “That’s what I love about true crime. Real people and places.”
“Yeah, real people with real losses.” There was a granite edge to my voice. “Worth lost his mother and father both. Have some compassion.” I shook a finger at her when she didn’t budge. “And if you don’t want a restraining order, you’ll stop visiting private property.”
“Hey, I’m not some sort of stalker.” She held up both hands, which featured black-and-white nails. “The Stapleton case is public knowledge.”
“Worth isn’t. You leave him alone.” I issued the order with every ounce of command I possessed, and Ellie finally scurried away. I immediately sent messages to Holden and Monroe, warning them about Ellie’s true-crime tourism. I doubted Holden intended for his podcast to have groupies, but I couldn’t help how my back muscles tensed.
While waiting for Worth to emerge from the restroom, I called Rob, our friend who was also the chief of police for Safe Harbor, to ask for advice on how to handle the situation. After finishing my call, I approached the restroom Worth had disappeared into.
“Worth?” I knocked softly. “You okay?”
“No.”
“Can I come in?” I’d already been on edge, and now my heart clattered against my ribs.
“I’ll come out.” He slipped out the door to head for the nearby storeroom, sinking onto a stack of boxes of bagged coffee beans. “Don’t worry. I doubt I have anything left to hurl.”
“Here.” I handed him a bottle of water from the stash on the shelf. “I alerted Holden and Monroe to the true-crime junkie. Neither knew anything about her. And then I called Rob. As soon as he heard it was about you, he went into police chief mode in a hurry. He’ll schedule some extra patrols to drive by our house.”
“Our house.” Worth all but spat the words. “I thought… It’s always going to be that house. The one connected with a notorious crime.”
“That’s not entirely true.” I placed a hand on the back of his neck, rubbing lightly. “And I’m trying to help the house be something else. Something more. Filled with love and family. It’s not the house’s fault. That’s why I rescued it from the developers.”
“The same ones that want to buy this place? They wanted to knock the house down?” Pulling away from my touch, Worth clenched the water bottle hard enough that it made a crackling noise. “Maybe you should have let them. Less chance of attracting true-crime groupies. God. I didn’t even know that was a thing.”