Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126823 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
“Great. That’s all we need. That Sonny has more tales than anyone I know,” Shabina said. “He’ll feed her all kinds of nonsense.”
Vaughn scowled. “He’d better not lead her on. Nellie’s pretty innocent, and he’s older than she is.”
Shabina winced. Rainier was older than she was by more than ten years. She knew her parents would object just on the age difference—let alone the work he did for Blom. Rainier couldn’t see her as anything but a child. Part of that was her fault. Every time he came around it was because she was falling apart.
“There isn’t anything wrong with an age difference, Vaughn,” she countered. “And Sonny isn’t that much older than Nellie. He’s a good man. He’s local, born right here in Knightly. He had a full scholarship to attend Davis, from what Stella told me, but his father had a stroke and couldn’t work. He stayed home and supported the family.”
“He flirts a lot,” Vaughn pointed out.
“You think everyone flirts,” Patsy said.
“They do. The entire world revolves around flirting.”
Shabina shook her head and picked up the next order to carry it out to her customers. Business, as always, was brisk. She found the murmur of conversation and low laughter comforting. She loved the way the blend of locals and tourists came together, the locals often giving the tourists advice on where to shop for the best gear, or where the easiest boulders were if they were new to bouldering. Sometimes they asked Shabina where they could go to find really great coffee after her café was closed. Or where to go for nightlife.
It felt good to be able to turn conversations away from the murder and put the focus back on everyone having a positive time. Her crew delivered meals and drinks with smooth efficiency, busing tables and serving new customers, so the lines outside that always gave her a bit of anxiety lessened quickly. She knew she should be grateful that customers were willing to wait for openings, and she was, it was just that she wanted everyone to feel welcome. She didn’t take reservations. It was always first come, first served. She found that was the best way to get the most people served.
Stella and Raine came in just before closing and indicated they preferred to sit at one of the tables in the back that seated four. Shabina quickly cleared one for them. Vaughn shouted the phone was for her and it was urgent.
Paul Rafferty was the local sheriff. After closing, he wanted to bring two FBI agents to the café to meet with her to identify the feathers found at the crime scene. Rafferty hoped she would agree to aid the FBI in the capacity of the local ornithologist. There were petals from flowers there as well. Rafferty knew she was considered an expert in the local flora and fauna and hoped she might aid them with identifying the flowers that were used in the ritual. Stones had been on the altar. Shabina frequented obscure trails few others, even park rangers, hiked, and Rafferty hoped she might have seen these stones before.
Shabina seated herself at the table with Stella and Raine. “That was Paul Rafferty, the local sheriff, on the phone. He told me he was bringing two members of the FBI with him to ask me to identify feathers and flowers for them. They also have rocks, but I did tell them that isn’t my strong suit.”
She studied her friend’s face. “Why don’t either of you look surprised?”
“I knew Rafferty was going to ask you,” Raine admitted. “You are the acknowledged expert here in the field. It wasn’t much of a leap that they’d come to you. I’ve asked one of our lawyers to join us, just to be on the safe side.”
Raine indicated the man in a gray suit coming toward them. “This is Raymond Decker. He’s an attorney. If he tells you not to answer anything, don’t.”
Shabina frowned. “What’s going on? Why should I be worried about being questioned? I thought this was just about me classifying feathers and flowers for them.”
“I’m aware,” Raine said. “We’re just taking precautions. I always prefer to keep everything aboveboard. We’ll identify Mr. Decker as a lawyer immediately. If they read you your rights, that changes everything and you don’t say a word. Not one single word.”
Shabina shook Decker’s hand and politely thanked him for coming. She still didn’t understand. She glanced at Stella. How in the world was Raine aware that Rafferty would call her to ask her to identify plants, bird feathers and possibly rocks?
“Are you two going to stay here with me?” Now she was nervous to talk to the sheriff when she hadn’t expected to be. Identifying feathers and waiting to be accused of having something to do with murder were two different things.