Free Traci Tyne Hilton - Mitzi Neuhaus 03 - Buyer's Remorse by Traci Tyne Hilton

effort to pull it out. The copy she had had made to replace her missing keys didn’t work with ease, but the new locks were coming in the evening, which was a huge relief. A dark shadow crossed the door as she yanked the key out and turned around. “What did you buy me?” she asked with a smile.
    Joan wasn’t there.
    Mitzy put her hand up to give her eyes some shade and looked down the sidewalk. Tabby’s door was swinging shut. Just a customer passing, Mitzy thought. But there weren’t any new cars in the parking lot since she had last looked. Mitzy walked the few feet over to Tabby’s shop and popped her head in.
    “Hey there!”
    “Oh, hey Mitzy. How are you doing today?” Tabby greeted Mitzy with a sympathetic smile.
    “I’m doing well. Did someone just come in here?”
    “Some guy popped his head in for a second, but he didn’t come all the way in. Must not be the artsy type.”
    “Weird,” Mitzy said under her breath. Something tapped her shoulder, and she jumped.
    “Here’s your coffee,” Joan said. “Let’s go.”
    Mitzy had not been able to convince Joan that real art was made in Tabby’s paint your own ceramics shop. But now seemed like a good chance. She decided to forget about the mysterious shadow and went all the way in to the shop.
    “Come in, Joan. You really have to see Hannah’s stuff.”
    Joan dragged her feet a little but made it all the way in.
    “Tabby, this is Joan, our stager. I wanted her to see Hannah’s work. As much of it as you have. She is always looking for beautiful things for homes.”
    Tabby stepped forward and smiled. “Sure. I love showing off my kid’s work.” She motioned to the shelf that held another Mt. Hood scene platter.
    Joan walked to the shelves and peered at the platter. “This is really beautiful. It’s like the one in your office, Mitzy, but different. They’re all one of a kind pieces , aren’t they?”
    Tabby smiled proudly. “Of course. She makes a number of these every time she comes down from school.”
    “I’d love to see what she does with dinnerware. Has she done plates and things?”
    “She has done a few sets. I have her card if you are interested.”
    Joan stretched out her hand but didn’t look away from the work on the shelves. “Yeah, this is really great. Not at all what I expected. I owe you an apology.”
    “Don’t worry. I run the shop for hobbyists and parties, but we do get artists in who just want to play. Even I’m surprised at how beautiful the work that comes out of my kiln can be.”
    “Mitzy, I want to buy this platter. I want it right now and I don’t want to carry it all over town.” She dug in her huge bag and pulled out a card. “I don’t care how much; it’s a lovely piece.”
    Tabby took the card. Mitzy checked her watch. “Okay, get it, run upstairs, and then come right back.”
    Joan snatched up her new platter as soon as it was wrapped in paper and toted it back to her office.
    Mitzy turned to Tabby but she had taken a call. Mitzy drummed her fingers on the shelf in front of her for a moment and then moved on to the next shelf of pottery. She inched her way to the door, hoping Joan would come back. Mitzy leaned her forehead against the glass door and watched the street.
    Traffic was heavy; it looked to be a busy delivery day in the Eastside Industrial neighborhood. Three semis stopped as the light at the nearest intersection changed. Each truck turned cautiously to the right, heading in the direction of the freeway. Two men were standing on the sidewalk, looking across the street. Mitzy squinted to see them better. One was tall, and skinny, wearing a cap. The other was built like Alonzo, and wore a trench coat.
    She looked down at her watch. Three minutes had passed since Joan left with her platter. Were those men waiting for a bus? She couldn’t remember if there was a stop there or not. She looked up again to see if there was a bus stop sign, but the men were gone. There wasn’t a bus stop