Free Teacup Novellas 02 - Strike the Match by Diane Moody Page A

setting up so we can open for business.”
    He nodded. Again.
    A bizarre thought popped into her head. “Shep, would you be interested in helping out here at the tree lot this year?”
    He blinked. Several times.
    “I just thought . . . well, I’ve seen you in town a lot lately. I thought maybe you’d like to give a hand. We’re getting such a late start this year, which means we’ll be awfully busy.”
    “Well sir . . .”
    She waited for more. There was none. “It’s actually a lot of fun.”
    “Not much good with folks.”
    That’s an understatement . . . “That’s okay. You wouldn’t have to sell the trees. Maybe just help keep the trees stocked, tie them on the top of folks’ cars if they need help. That sort of thing.”
    He looked off in the distance. His mustache twitched as he chewed on the side of his lip. Or so she supposed. She felt sure he was trying to put together enough words for an excuse of some sort.
    “Well, it was just an idea. No harm in asking,” she said, trying to sound indifferent. Why can’t he just go back to his boat and quit wasting my time?
    “Okay.”
    “Okay?”
    “Uh huh.”
    “Uh huh, you’d like to help out, or uh huh, it was just an idea?” For the love of Pete, mister, spit it out!
    “I’ll help.”
    She was sure the shock registered on her face. Well, bust my garters. I never . . .
    “Start now?”
    “You want to start now?” Nita asked, still in disbelief.
    “Okay.”
    She smiled, feeling like they’d made a major breakthrough. In what, she had no idea.
    “Well then. That’s great. Let me get Theodore to show you around, show you the ropes.”
    She passed him off to her fellow volunteer, confident he’d have more luck communicating with Shep than she did. “That is the strangest man I have ever met. You could die of old age waiting for him to finish a thought.”
    “What’s that?” Arlene asked, setting the cash box under the covered table.
    “Oh never mind. Can you mind the fort for a few minutes? I’d like to run over to Tyler’s and make sure he and Keri eat a hot meal. If I don’t make them sit and eat, they’ll grab one of those nasty corn dogs at the convenience store and call it dinner.”
    “Sure enough. We’ve got plenty of help. Take your time.”
    She buttoned her coat and took one final look at their newest volunteer just as he turned to look over his shoulder at her. She waved, watching his face crimson as he nodded in response.
    “Never thought I’d see the day,” she mumbled, heading toward her car.
     

     
    “Keri, just because you’ve known him all your life, you can’t dismiss him as a suspect. In fact, at this point, everyone’s a suspect. You have to start from that point of view.”
    “What about ‘innocent until proven guilty’?” she asked, obviously fighting the familiar frustration that seemed to always lurk between them. “Isn’t that a basic premise? This is still America, last I checked.”
    “You’re right, but as an investigative reporter, you start with a list of suspects then eliminate them as you verify your facts. And you can’t eliminate Jerry just because you know him.”
    “No offense, Grant, but you didn’t grow up here. You don’t know these people. Dad and Jerry may have had their differences over the years, but Jerry would never do something like this.”
    “Yeah? And you know this how? Because he used to bounce you on his knee when you were little? Because he joined the family for Thanksgiving dinner? Bought you Barbie dolls back in the day?”
    “No,” she answered defensively. “But he was like family. I know the guy. He just wouldn’t do something like this.”
    Grant leaned back in his chair. “But am I right in remembering Nita told me he and your dad had a nasty falling out a while back? Ten years or so?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why was that?”
    Her eyes narrowed as she exhaled. “Jerry went through a tough time. His daughter was accidentally killed by a drunk driver. His