Free Arsenic and Old Books by Miranda James Page B

about the note—if that was what it was—Singletary picked up from the table in the bakery. Perhaps it set up this little assignation.
    â€œI know,” Jordan said, “and my cash register is feeling it.” She grinned. “Seriously, it’s always good to see you two. How about a T-R-E-A-T for my buddy here?”
    I shook my head. “No, your buddy has a tummy full of Helen Louise’s chicken, and he doesn’t need another bite.”
    Jordan looked down at the cat. Diesel gazed expectantly up at her, thinking his treat would soon be forthcoming. “Sorry, boy,” she said. “Next time make sure you drag Charlie in here
before
lunch, okay?”
    The cat meowed, and Jordan and I shared a grin. All he probably understood was that he wasn’t getting a treat. He continued to stare up at Jordan, however. He was an optimistic cat.
    â€œI’ll try to remember,” I promised.
    â€œWhy don’t y’all come back up by the register?” Jordan cocked her head in that direction. “I’ve got a few things set aside for you that I think you might like.”
    That was all I needed to hear. Service like this was the reason I loved shopping at the bookstore, rather than online.
    From the shelves behind the main counter Jordan retrieved a stack of five paperback books, each of them the latest entry in series I enjoyed.
    â€œThey showed up just this morning,” Jordan said. “I was going to call you earlier but I got busy.”
    â€œGuess I must have sensed somehow that I needed to stop by.” I smiled to show my appreciation. “I’ll take them all.”
    While Jordan was ringing up my purchases, I decided to do a little fishing. “You certainly have a wide range of customers. Right before you came back to say hello, I thought I spotted one of the writers from the paper and one of our political hopefuls chatting together.”
    Jordan frowned. “Really? Which ones? I haven’t seen Ray Appleby in a couple of weeks. He usually takes time to talk when he comes in.”
    â€œNot Ray Appleby. A young woman named Kelly Grimes. I thought I saw her talking to Jasper Singletary.”
    â€œI don’t know her. I think I’ve seen her name in the paper, though,” Jordan said. “I went to school with Jasper.” She paused. “In fact, we dated in high school, but he was a little too intense for me. Too driven.”
    â€œIs that so?” I said, realizing how inane a remark it was even as it left my lips.
    Jordan didn’t appear to notice. “I heard he had a girlfriend, but I don’t know what her name is. The friend who told me didn’t know, either, only that Jasper was finally involved with someone.” She giggled. “Frankly, we were all starting to think he was gay, because nobody ever saw him with anyone but all those guys who seem to follow him around everywhere.”
    â€œHe seems to be working pretty hard to get himself elected,” I said as I handed over my credit card. “If he’s still as driven as he was in high school, then I’d say he probably doesn’t have much time for a personal life.”
    â€œTrue.” Jordan swiped the card in her machine and then handed it back to me. I signed the receipt, and she bagged up the books. “He was always pretty single-minded. Wouldn’t let anything—or anyone—get in the way of his goals.” She giggled again. “Evidently I wasn’t one of his goals, though back then I sure wanted to be. He’s a hunk and a half.”
    â€œIf you say so,” I murmured. Jordan had the reputation of going through men like some women go through shoes, but I didn’t know whether there was any truth to the stories I’d heard. Melba had never said a word against her, and I took that as a sign that the rumors were simply that: rumors.
    Jordan frowned suddenly. “Kelly Grimes, you said?”
    I