Ned replied, a troubled look on his face.
âWell, yes, I suppose it is,â Alice admitted, and her brow wrinkled for a moment in dismay. Then she shrugged. âBut itâs been great for business.â
At that moment the phone rang again, and Alice dashed back to the reception desk to answer it. Ned and I continued to browse the shop while she finished the call. About fifteen minutes later she returned.
âSorry about that,â she explained a bit breathlessly. âNow, what can I do for you two?â She studied Ned carefully and raised her eyebrows questioningly at me.
âThis is Ned Nickerson,â I replied. âNed, this is Alice Ann Marple.â
âVery nice to meet you,â Alice said as she shook his hand.
âYou too,â Ned replied. âNancy told me about your little shop, and I know how much she loves antiques.â
âActually, I was really looking for an old-fashioned typewriter,â I jumped in. âWould you happen to have any of those?â
I watched her closely to see her reaction, but Alice Ann barely blinked.
âNo, Iâm afraid not,â she replied. âBut I do have some vintage typewriter ribbon tins. Theyâre very collectible.â She pointed to a shelf of colorful lidded tins.
I shook my head. âBut who buys the ribbons without the typewriter?â I asked. âI was really hoping for a typewriter. I couldnât recall whether you had one in here or not.â
I smiled, and Alice did as well. She didnât seem rattled at all when I mentioned looking for a typewriter.
âYou might try Memory Lane on Oakwood,â she suggested. âStephen Grey is the owner, and he might have something like that in stock. Just tell him I sent you.â
âOkay, thanks,â I replied. âI appreciate it.â
âItâs no problem at all,â Alice Ann gushed. âI really am so grateful for your article. Not that Iâm pleased about the crimes that have taken place, of course,â she added, her face growing serious. âI hope you donât think Iâm an opportunist like all these tourists who have been calling this morning.â
âNo, no, not at all,â I murmured.
âI mean, Iâm not at all happy about the reason Iâm seeing so much new business. Itâs just that the inn has been struggling so much recently Iâve thought about throwing in the towel and retiring early. But this new business should be enough to keep us afloat at least through the end of the year, which is when we usually see a bump thanks to the ski resort in nearby Sugarville.â
âI understand,â I told her. âDonât worry, we donât judge you.â
âWell, thank you,â she replied, her cheeks reddening a bit. âIâm a little embarrassed to be profiting from the crimes, but what can you do? It is what it is.â
Ned and I nodded in agreement. Truthfully, I did agree with her. If she hadnât committed the crimes, then it wasnât her fault that was the reason tourists were flocking to the Cheshire Cat.
âWell, thanks for your time,â I told Alice as we headed for the door. âOh, one more thing. Any idea where I can find Paige Samuels? I wanted to ask her when she thought the bookstore would be reopening and if she was going to reschedule the Lacey OâBrien signing.â
âReally?â Alice Ann replied, looking more than a little curious. âWell, she often has lunch at the diner, so you might try to find her there. Or you can swing by her place. She lives in an apartment on Oakwood Lane, right above the antique shop, in fact.â
Alice prattled on. âI donât know where sheâs been keeping herself. I know the fire put her store out of commission for a time, and sheâs probably mad as blazes at Lacey . . . for so many reasons dating back to high school that I couldnât even begin to tell