Meg felt her excitement growing. She was going to be doing work on the manuscript Lilly was writing. Maybe as a first reader. “I’m looking forward to whatever you need me to do.”
“Great, because it’s something I’ve been needing to do, but I’ve put it off.” She handed Meg a new folder. “I need a list of all the mystery bookstores in the US. I’d love a few in London or Canada, too, but first, we need to cover the States. Please make it an Excel document. You know how to work in Excel, right? Anyway, I need the name, website, phone, address, any sister stores, owner, and author contact information. If you aren’t sure it’s focused on mystery, put that in the notes. I’d rather have too many than not enough.”
“Oh, a bookstore spreadsheet. Are you sure there isn’t one out there?” Meg briefly felt the disappointment, then thought about two more weeks, at least, of income being tucked into her account.
“You would think so, but I haven’t found one. And check out the book tour listings of at least ten other authors in my genre. That might stir up a new one or two for us to contact for the new release. Robert always pushed me to a few larger venues. Sarah says she doesn’t help set up tours—except, it seems, with her friends’ stores. I got a new publicist, again, at the publisher. She doesn’t know anyone. You’d think I could have someone stable, but no.” Lilly pulled out a folder with bookmarks and flyers tucked inside. “These are what I’ve gathered over the years, but some of the stores aren’t even in business anymore.”
“Okay, so this will be a moving target.” Meg thought of ways she could find the information.
“If you haven’t subscribed to the free edition ofPublishers Weekly, I’d suggest you do that. It will help. I’ll try to let you know what I see, as well. I tend to see it and then forget to send the information to anyone. This will be hugely helpful for planning the next tour.” Lilly’s phone rang. “And speaking of, Sarah is calling again, probably to complain about the stores Robert set up for the New York trip. Like I can do anything about it now.”
Lilly waved at Meg as she picked up the phone. “Sarah, what’s happening now? You know I’m trying to write before I leave tonight.”
Meg knew she’d been dismissed. As she left, the view out the glass sliders caught her attention. From this room, Lilly could see her entire beach, including the boardwalk from the house to the dock and toward the gate. If she’d been here the day Robert was killed, she could have seen him and maybe the attack.
She turned back to ask a burning question, but Lilly was flipping through her planner. “I know I have the owner’s name somewhere.”
Meg didn’t want to interrupt again. Especially not to ask if her employer had seen her former agent drown near her dock. It probably wasn’t a work-appropriate subject.
Before she left Summer Break, she gave Watson some water and walked him around the driveway and the house. The rain had stopped, and she could see the sun trying to break through the clouds. Maybe she wouldn’t be driving in the rain the entire day.
Summer Break, a three-story mini-mansion, had cedar shake siding, giving it a coastal feel. The front was completely fenced off, with a gate to the left, which might lead to a trail down to the beach. But from the front, you couldn’t tell that the house was even close to the waterfront. Trees surrounded the driveway area and blocked neighbors’ views of the property, except in the back.
Meg guessed the houses on either side of Summer Break had windows with views of the Seattle skyline, like those in Lilly’s office—views that encompassed Lilly’s dock. If someone had killed Meade on the dock, like Uncle Troy believed, maybe someone in one of the two houses on either side had witnessed it. If they didn’t, their architects should be fired.
Back in the car, she texted her uncle and asked if the neighborhood had been canvassed, especially those two houses after Meade’s body was discovered. She was surprised to see dots immediately show up on her phone’s screen, indicating he was typing a response. It was short.
Where are you?
Just leaving Summer Break after meeting with Lilly about my next assignment. I’ll be heading to the college next. I have Watson with me. Why?
He didn’t answer her question. And his answer was as curt and sparse as his question.
Stay out of my investigation.
Not her monkey, not her circus. She got it. But until Natasha was off the possible suspect list, Uncle Troy was going to keep hearing from her. Even if he didn’t respond, she knew he’d at least follow up on her suggestions. Checking out the scene for possible witnesses was another rule of “The Sleuthing Guide for Amateurs.” She’d added it last night to the tips list.
She needed to find a way to investigate without Uncle Troy finding out. Stay out of the professionals’ way. Or else.
She should write that rule down, as well.
* * *
Meg got lucky. Not only did she get all the paperwork she needed to reenroll, but also her former adviser was having office hours and didn’t mind Watson being part of the discussion. Or at least in his office.
“I’m so glad you’re coming back. I wasn’t happy when you decided to leave school for the start-up. I hear that didn’t go well.” Professor Valmer had a way of getting right to the point of the conversation.
“No, it didn’t.” Meg didn’t want to go into all the whys and the wherefores. It was water under the bridge. “You can’t step into the same river twice.”
Professor Valmer blinked and nodded. “Well put. So what are you thinking of majoring in this time? History, English, business, and computer science I think were your top four during your last two years.”
“I’m thinking business and English. I’m working part-time for my mom’s bookstore and for the author L. C. Aster. I’m working on a nonfiction book, but I’m not sure I’m doing it right,” Meg replied.
Professor Valmer laughed as he pulled up her transcript. “Oh, my dear, no one is ever sure they’re writing what they should be or the right way. It’s called impostor syndrome.”
She waited as he looked at the classes she’d completed. Then he printed out her transcript.
“From this, I believe you could still complete an English major with a business minor in no time at all. You’ve been very eclectic in your course choices. Almost like you planned this all along. I don’t think we can get you squared away full-time for the fall semester, but you could take a few classes and come in during the spring semester. Check out the summer schedule and see if there’s anything that meets a requirement or sparks your fancy. I’m excited to have you back.” He found the page in the degree requirements for a BA in English and then put a paper clip on the business minor requirements. “It might take a bit longer than two years, but I’m sure you’ll finish this time. If you keep your eye on the ball. And next year you might qualify for some scholarships.”
