Free Shopping is Murder (McKinley Mysteries Book 6) by Carolyn Arnold
Authors: Carolyn Arnold
truth—and say that you got a tip that the deceased was in the store and it might somehow be connected to his death.”
Jimmy ’s face took on straight lines. “You never told me exactly what you two are thinking happened, and why I need to get involved.”
“This is where faith comes in,” Sara said.
Jimmy laughed. “Faith?”
“We have to hold some things back.” She let her gaze drift to the woman. She was still on the phone. “How did you like the Mercedes anyway?”
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Yes, and I—” she glanced at Sean, “ we , darling, do it marvelously, in my opinion.”
“I believe so, yes.” Sean smiled at her.
“So, Sara, you’re telling me that if I do this I can have your car?” Jimmy’s turn to tease.
“No, but I’m telling you that you can borrow it for a while.”
Sean adjusted his seated position and stared at her wide eyed.
“What? We do have yours, Sean.” She smiled at him.
“Listen, Jimmy,” Sean began, “ you probably won’t even need to show your badge, and if you do, flash it nice and quick. Use a fake name.”
“And the need for me to get involved?”
“You have the badge. In case it’s needed.”
“You know what you’re doing with this.”
“We should at this point,” Sara said.
“So, if I’m not providing a warrant, which we all know I don’t have, and I’m not letting them study my badge, are you suggesting I threaten them in some way?”
“Jimmy, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She threw in a cutesy smile and her eyes drifted to the woman who was now off her phone. She wasn’t going to voice her thoughts, but she hoped Jimmy picked up on the subliminal. He deserved someone to love him—a relationship like she had with Sean.
She was happy when he got up and offered the woman some napkins.
Playing A Part
JIMMY KNEW IT WAS A bad idea, but he introduced himself to the woman in the food court by offering up a couple napkins. It was when she wiped her jacket that he noticed the ring he had missed before—and it wasn ’t just any ring, it was one she wore on an important finger.
He should have known better than to allow himself to explore the mental folly that she could have been the one for him. After all, he had romance in his life at one time and he had given up on that notion when Clara left.
He shook the nonsense aside. There was more to life than love and romance, and he was on this planet to prove that theory. They say everyone has a soul purpose. Apparently his involved wandering about in solitude.
Groovin ’ Beat wasn’t so groovin’ at this time of the day. The only ones in the store were employees—a man of about twenty, a girl of about the same age, and a man in his thirties.
Jimmy addressed the older man. “Are you the manager?”
The redheaded man gave Jimmy a once over. “I am. Max is the name.”
Not that he needed to make that announcement—his nametag did it for him.
“I need to talk with you in private,” Jimmy said.
The twenty-something man moved over to them with confusion pressing down his brows. His tag read Collin. “Are you here about the camera footage?”
“I am.”
Collin settled his focus on Jimmy. “Who are you? There wa—”
“I’m Jarvis.” Jimmy managed not to showcase the smile that threatened to show through. The name just came to him. Maybe he had watched Iron Man one too many times. Collin kept his eyes on him and everything clicked together. The kid was hoping to see Sara. “You were expecting someone else?”
Collin ’s face flushed. The manager, Max, crossed his arms and an eyebrow shot up. He leveled a gaze on his employee.
“Yeah, kinda. You still haven’t answered as to why you’re here.”
“Doesn’t matter, other than to say I have the badge.” Jimmy pulled it out quick, cupping it in his hand so his number was covered.
“Oh.”
Jimmy was able to hold back any visible signs of his amusement.
Max put his hands on his hips,
Jimmy ’s face took on straight lines. “You never told me exactly what you two are thinking happened, and why I need to get involved.”
“This is where faith comes in,” Sara said.
Jimmy laughed. “Faith?”
“We have to hold some things back.” She let her gaze drift to the woman. She was still on the phone. “How did you like the Mercedes anyway?”
“I know what you’re doing.”
“Yes, and I—” she glanced at Sean, “ we , darling, do it marvelously, in my opinion.”
“I believe so, yes.” Sean smiled at her.
“So, Sara, you’re telling me that if I do this I can have your car?” Jimmy’s turn to tease.
“No, but I’m telling you that you can borrow it for a while.”
Sean adjusted his seated position and stared at her wide eyed.
“What? We do have yours, Sean.” She smiled at him.
“Listen, Jimmy,” Sean began, “ you probably won’t even need to show your badge, and if you do, flash it nice and quick. Use a fake name.”
“And the need for me to get involved?”
“You have the badge. In case it’s needed.”
“You know what you’re doing with this.”
“We should at this point,” Sara said.
“So, if I’m not providing a warrant, which we all know I don’t have, and I’m not letting them study my badge, are you suggesting I threaten them in some way?”
“Jimmy, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” She threw in a cutesy smile and her eyes drifted to the woman who was now off her phone. She wasn’t going to voice her thoughts, but she hoped Jimmy picked up on the subliminal. He deserved someone to love him—a relationship like she had with Sean.
She was happy when he got up and offered the woman some napkins.
Playing A Part
JIMMY KNEW IT WAS A bad idea, but he introduced himself to the woman in the food court by offering up a couple napkins. It was when she wiped her jacket that he noticed the ring he had missed before—and it wasn ’t just any ring, it was one she wore on an important finger.
He should have known better than to allow himself to explore the mental folly that she could have been the one for him. After all, he had romance in his life at one time and he had given up on that notion when Clara left.
He shook the nonsense aside. There was more to life than love and romance, and he was on this planet to prove that theory. They say everyone has a soul purpose. Apparently his involved wandering about in solitude.
Groovin ’ Beat wasn’t so groovin’ at this time of the day. The only ones in the store were employees—a man of about twenty, a girl of about the same age, and a man in his thirties.
Jimmy addressed the older man. “Are you the manager?”
The redheaded man gave Jimmy a once over. “I am. Max is the name.”
Not that he needed to make that announcement—his nametag did it for him.
“I need to talk with you in private,” Jimmy said.
The twenty-something man moved over to them with confusion pressing down his brows. His tag read Collin. “Are you here about the camera footage?”
“I am.”
Collin settled his focus on Jimmy. “Who are you? There wa—”
“I’m Jarvis.” Jimmy managed not to showcase the smile that threatened to show through. The name just came to him. Maybe he had watched Iron Man one too many times. Collin kept his eyes on him and everything clicked together. The kid was hoping to see Sara. “You were expecting someone else?”
Collin ’s face flushed. The manager, Max, crossed his arms and an eyebrow shot up. He leveled a gaze on his employee.
“Yeah, kinda. You still haven’t answered as to why you’re here.”
“Doesn’t matter, other than to say I have the badge.” Jimmy pulled it out quick, cupping it in his hand so his number was covered.
“Oh.”
Jimmy was able to hold back any visible signs of his amusement.
Max put his hands on his hips,