Free Just a Memory by Lois Carroll

off for major holidays, the election meeting, and most of the summer ones off, she only had to plan seven programs. She'd only found one person in the group willing to be on a committee to help her. The goal didn't appear to be an impossible task, and right now, the work would take her mind off the burglary.
    She put up the 'Open at One O'clock' sign to explain her absence over the
noon
hour. Thankfully her customers seemed happy to put up with her occasional time off if it meant keeping such a unique shop in the area.
    She looked around the shop again before closing and locking the door. She wondered if she would ever get over the feeling that someone had invaded…no, violated her space. No matter how angry she felt, it didn't take away the feeling of fear and helplessness. She hated the feeling and the unhappy memories.
    She'd been surprised to find nothing stolen or ruined. It appeared someone had just wanted to mess the place up and break some glass. Why? Try as she may, Carolyn couldn't imagine even one person who could dislike (she didn't want to think in terms of hate) her enough to want to hurt her that way.
    For the first time since she'd opened the shop, she thought about giving it all up and getting a job elsewhere. This town had been home for half her life. She hated to leave, but if she didn't run the shop, that was her only choice. What could she do here to earn a living? Where else could she and Terri go? She managed to convince herself she was overreacting.
    Thinking as positively as she could, she concentrated on the one good thing that had resulted from the break-in: Charlie had installed a new metal door. Without a battering ram or explosives, she didn't think anyone could break through it. She knew she would feel a lot safer working there late at night during her busy seasons.
    Though Carolyn tried not to admit it to herself, another good had come from it all. Mac.
    The door be hanged, she thought, smiling at her unintentional pun. Meeting Mac was definitely the best part. He'd been so sweet to come back with the pizza merely because he wanted to be there for her. Of course she would have to be certain that she confined her feelings to only those of appreciation.
    Carolyn started her car and was backing out into the alley when she suddenly braked hard as a thought occurred to her. Mac was there as a friend, and not to check to see if she was involved with her own break-in, wasn't he? She didn't like the new unsettling feeling she got from that question. Although completely unfamiliar with police procedure, she didn't like thinking Mac would be that two-faced with her. Or was that the kind of thing the police did nowadays?
    How could Mac suspect her? She'd already reported nothing missing. If she'd faked a break-in, wouldn't she have claimed a lot of money and goods had been stolen?
    She groaned and shook her head to clear it. Making an effort to devote her attention to her driving and her thoughts to her meeting, she pulled into traffic and headed toward the motel coffee shop where the merchants met.
     
    Harry, stocky and pasty-complexioned with dark hair and beady dark eyes, chuckled at the morning radio personalities as he pulled his gray sedan around the corner and trailed Carolyn to the coffee shop. After she went in, he drove down the block and parked where he could keep an eye on the entrance. When she came out, he planned to see where she went next.
    He pulled out a cheap pay-as-you-go cell phone and keyed in some numbers. Time to report what he'd seen over the past twenty-four hours.
    He spoke into the phone for a few moments, detailing Mac's movements.
    "Then he brought pizza to this woman's store. And when they left later, he drove right behind her. I couldn't follow for long 'cause nobody was around and I didn't know if he would spot me. I looked up where she lives. She must be somethin' hot, taking him home on the first date." He barked a laugh that quickly died as he listened. "Yeah. I'm on