chapter 10

ASHTON

Her entire system was decrepit. She was still operating on a handwritten ledger. The bare minimum was computerized. I was getting a headache just staring at her computer screen. It looked as old as the first computer ever created.

My phone was buzzing.

I pushed back the desk chair, which had a good view into Easter Lanes as I reached for it. “Yes?”

Silence, then a growl. “You’re at Easter Lanes?”

This was Detective Worthing.

I stood up, phone pressed to my face as I stared at the window where I could see Molly behind the counter. She was helping a few customers, but there. I saw it. Her head was folded down. Her shoulders hunched forward. She was looking around. The customers left, and she remained in the same spot, her hand reaching for a rag and wiping the same circle over and over as her eyes were skirting around the place.

What did she do?

“Should we expect a surprise visit from you soon?”

A dry laugh again, caustic at the end. “Can’t say it would be a surprise, considering