Part 13 (2/2)
”I didn't know it could be anonymous. And since you seemed to be nosing around-”
”I wasn't 'nosing.'”
”I thought I'd tell you what I knew and let you do what you want with the information.”
”I see. So you don't want to get Alice in trouble, but you don't mind if I do.” Stella's voice rose in annoyance.
”Shh!” Bunny looked around nervously. ”No, that's not it at all. I just didn't know if it was important or not.”
”Let's see. Alice was financially ruined because of a business deal she made with Weston. You didn't think that was important?”
”Of course I did. I'm telling you, aren't I? But ... all right ... I'll say it plain: if Alice killed Weston, who's to say she wouldn't do the same thing to me for ratting on her?”
”That's what you're really afraid of, isn't it? Be honest. You've worked for Alice for a little while. Do you think she could have shot Weston?”
”After hearing how angry she was, yes. Yes, I do.”
”Then all the more reason for you to tell your story to the police. They can do a far better job at protecting you than I can.”
”Protect me? Sheriff Mills?” Bunny scoffed. ”Why, he'd be more apt to give the killer a big old pardon and a slap on the back for doing him a favor.”
Stella's eyes opened wide. She knew there was a story behind Mills's comment that morning. ”Why would Mills view Weston's death as a positive event?”
” 'Cause of Alma, of course. Mills has been sweet on her for years. Whole town knows it. Heck, if you've been down to the Sweet Shop, you've probably seen it yourself.”
”Yes, I noticed that he seems interested in her-romantically.”
”Yeah, well, so was Weston.”
”Weston and Alma?”
”Uh-huh. I'd seen Weston sniffing around Alma quite a few times in the past several months. Never saw him at her house-I live next door-so I can't say if there was something to it or not. And Alma's tightlipped when she wants to be, so I don't know if she returned the feelings, but if Mills noticed them flirting ... well, let's just say that with Weston out of the way, he has a clear path to Alma.”
”First it was Alice. Now you're trying to say that Sheriff Mills-”
”No! No, I'm not sure I'd go so far as to say that ...”
”What are you saying, then?”
”Nothing. Nothing, except that some men will stop at nothing to impress a-” Bunny, her face registering a combination of shock and recollection, stopped what she was doing and stared at a spot somewhere above and past Stella's head.
Stella turned around but was unable to identify the cause of Bunny's sudden near-catatonic state. ”What is it? What's wrong?”
”Nothing. I ... I, um ... I have to go.”
”What? Now? But you were telling me-”
”There's nothing else to tell,” Bunny snapped and rushed out of the store, b.u.mping into Nick on the way.
”What's with Edna Winter? And where's she going in such a hurry?”
”That was Alice's receptionist. Her name's Bunny.”
”Yeah, I know who she was. I was ju-” Nick began to explain before the meaning of his wife's words. .h.i.t him. ”Wait a minute, did you say Bunny? That woman was named Bunny ?”
”I didn't believe it at first either.”
”Yeah, wow. Either there was a point in her life when she was actually cute or the universe is playing a very cruel joke on her. Seriously, if all bunnies looked like that, no one would ever have put the words Easter or Playboy in front of them.”
”Nick,” Stella scolded.
”Sorry, it had to be said. She sure had your ear a long time, though. What did she want?”
”Lots of things. I'll tell you back at the camp.” She nodded toward the stack of items Nick held in his arms. ”Did you find everything?”
”Yeah. Some chocolate for my sweetie, a flashlight to replace the one you 'lost,' a bottle of wine to make up for yesterday's champagne,” he said with a raise of his eyebrows, ”and the air mattress.”
”Oh, yes, the air mattress. Never in my life would I have imagined finding an inflatable bed so appealing.”
”I probably liked them as a kid. But now?” Nick straightened his posture. ”What do you say we get out of here?”
”I'd love it,” Stella replied as she removed the chocolate bar from Nick's arms.
”Thanks, honey. That really lightened the load.”
”Just doing my part.” She followed him to the counter, where a somewhat elderly clerk was chitchatting with a woman who looked to be in her early forties.
The clerk gave Nick a brief glance before returning to his conversation.
The Buckleys waited in patient silence, but after several seconds had elapsed it became apparent that the clerk had no intention of ending his social hour prematurely. Was this the infamous Clyde that Alice had warned them about? Surely it must be, for Stella refused to believe that two men in the same town were capable of delivering such abysmal customer service.
Nick cleared his throat noisily.
The clerk showed no reaction.
”Did he hear you?” Stella whispered in her husband's ear.
Nick shrugged and then dumped his items beside the till. ”Excuse me, sir.”
The action brought about the desired effect. The clerk ceased talking and approached the cash register, but not before taking a long look out the store window at the Buckleys' vehicle. ”Hmph,” was his only remark upon seeing the license plate.
Nick's eyes slid to Stella, who was shaking her head in disbelief.
”I'm gonna need to see some ID,” the clerk announced.
”For what?”
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