Free Sew Deadly by Elizabeth Lynn Casey Page B

words filtered through her mind as she raised her face to the noonday sun and closed her eyes once again. In many ways she was the new zoo animal. From a big city zoo, no less.
    “You’ll find your place, I just know it. You have a happiness about you that will win everyone over. You just wait and see.”
    Oh, how she hoped Leona was right.
    On impulse, Tori rose from her spot on the steps and headed in the direction of the women. Perhaps they were simply curious about who she was yet too shy to introduce themselves.
    Or maybe not.
    The second her destination became obvious, the women scattered like fireflies on a warm summer’s night, seemingly desperate to avoid her at all costs.
    “Miss Sinclair?”
    Distracted, Tori turned back toward the library, saw her assistant standing at the door.
    “Yes, Nina?” She knew her voice sounded flat, but she was exhausted. And maybe even a little homesick.
    “Mr. Wentworth from the school is on the phone. He confirmed his class visit tomorrow morning and then asked to speak directly with you.” Nina’s gaze skirted across the tree-covered grounds of the library, her attention alternating between Tori and the few remaining women who’d simply moved their cluster to a patch of shade across the street. “Would you prefer I take a message?”
    Tori peeked at her watch and shrugged. She wasn’t going to eat anyway. So what difference did it make?
    “I’ll take it, thank you.” She marched up the steps, grabbed her paper sack from its perch against the wall, and followed Nina into the library. In the absence of patrons, she opted to answer the teacher’s call from the main library extension.
    “Mr. Wentworth, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting. What can I do for you?” She exhaled slowly as she waited for the man’s reply, her head pounding once again.
    “ Milo , please. Nina confirmed the third grade’s visit to the library tomorrow. The kids are really looking forward to it. But . . .” His voice trailed off for a moment only to return on a slightly quieter note. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
    “Okay?” She massaged her temple with the fingers of her free hand. “I don’t understand.”
    “Last night. Behind the library. You were the one who found Tiffany Ann Gilbert’s body, weren’t you?”
    A deafening silence filled her ear as her stomach began to churn at the memory.
    “Yes.” She tightened her grip on the phone as she sank onto the stool behind the information counter. “I can’t get the image out of my mind.”
    “Tori, I’m so sorry. It must have been awful for you.” A momentary silence morphed into a parade of hurried, yet hesitant, words. “Look, I know you’re new here. And that you don’t really know anyone. But if you need to, um, talk or anything . . . you . . . could, um, give me a call. If you want.”
    Under normal circumstances, Milo Wentworth’s shy gesture would have piqued her curiosity. Today, though, it barely registered.
    “I appreciate that but—”
    “Oh. I’m sorry. That was mighty presumptuous of me. I’m sure you have lots of people you can talk to.”
    The disappointment in the man’s voice broke through her pity-party. “No. It’s not that. I-I’m just tired, I guess. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
    An audible breath released in her ear. “I figured as much. I figured, too, that your idea for the children’s room never got presented to the board.”
    “In light of the circumstances, the meeting was canceled.” It was funny how something that had claimed her attention for the past week had become so unimportant in the matter of mere seconds. “We rescheduled though, for next week.”
    “I’m sure you’ll get it. It’s a tremendous idea. Something the kids will just adore.”
    “I hope you’re right.” She looked around the empty library, tried not to let her thoughts travel to the parking lot. But it was no use. “I’m sorry about Tiffany Ann. I know you knew her.”
    “I