Page 52 of The Damaged Hearts Bargain

“Listen, you can’t know everything about a person,” Rosalee told her, standing up straighter now. “You didn’t know Cal before, though I’m not denying she’s changed now that she’s back. And I know you’ve got the hots for her, but that doesn’t mean you should be blind to her failures.”

“I thought you said that there were things that didn’t stand up?” Lucy asked, picking up her coffee and sipping at it.

“Aye, I did. But there are some things that do. I can’t speak for Cal’s motivations, can’t speak for what actually happened that night. But I do know two things. First, that Doris Renton caught her red-handed with that money in her possession having broken into the club room.”

“And what’s the second?” Lucy asked, heart beating harder.

“That that cash-box showed not a sign of being tampered with. Not a scratch. Whoever took the money didn’t break into it, they had a key and there were only two of those.”

A shiver went down Lucy’s back. “Right, Cal’s mum must have had one since she was the treasurer. What about the second one?” This could be it. Another suspect.

Rosalee raised an eyebrow. “Reverend Whitaker.”

And Lucy’s heart sank again. The vicar. Of course. He was still around, white haired and charming and absolutely beyonddoubt. But then, so was Cal, wasn’t she?

Rosalee shook her head. “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear.” She put her coffee cup down. “Hold on a minute.”

She disappeared into the back then came back with Doris Renton, who had obviously been cleaning, her apron still on and her hands in yellow gloves.

“Right, young Lucy here’s worried about Callan Roberts. Doing a little private investigation work,” Rosalee said. “Any doubts about what you saw that night?”

Doris shook her head. “Not a one. The girl was there plain as the nose on your face. And the money was in her hand, we counted it and everything. There’s not a doubt. You’d do better steering clear of that one, you would.”

Rosalee rolled her eyes behind Doris’s back at Lucy. “Right, thank you Doris, back to hoovering if you don’t mind.” Doris grumbled her way out and Rosalee turned back to Lucy. “Not wanting to believe something doesn’t mean it didn’t happen,” she said. “But I’ll grant you this, Cal’s changed. She’s a better person now than when she left. And I suppose you have to give her her due for that. Though she could have done more to look after her mum.”

Lucy nodded and finished up her coffee. “Thanks, Rosalee,” she said, even though she didn’t exactly get what she was looking for.

Back out in the sunshine she wondered where to go now, what to do. Whatever Rosalee said, whatever Doris had seen, she just couldn’t believe that Cal was lying to her, or had lied to her. She was too broken for that, too changed by what had happened to her. The false accusation had ruined her life and Lucy didn’t think anyone could make that up.

She wandered her way over to the bakery where she found George slicing up sandwiches in the kitchen.

“Everything going alright, oh King of the Bookshop-cum-café?” she asked.

“Perfectly fine,” said George. “Though, to be honest, it’s a bit quiet without Pen and Ash around.”

“You’ve got Fabio to keep you company,” Lucy said as the fat gray cat strolled through the kitchen.

“He doesn’t talk much,” George said. “And aren’t you supposed to be with your lady-love packing boxes?”

“For someone lacking in company, you’re anxious to get rid of me,” Lucy said, pulling herself up so that she was sitting on the counter by the sink. “I told Cal I’d be there this afternoon. You might need my help this morning.”

“I’m doing just fine,” George said, knife sharp in his hand. “But you look like you’ve got things on your mind. Want to talk about them?”

Lucy bit her lip and then nodded. She could use someone else to bounce ideas off. In short order, she told George everything she’d learned.

When she was done, he sighed and shook his head. “Sounds pretty clear cut to me,” he said.

“Except it’s not, except I believe Cal absolutely and completely.”

He stood up so that they were eye to eye. “Why?”

“What?”

“Why?” he asked again. “Why do you believe her?”

Lucy blew out a breath and then shrugged. “I… I don’t really know. I just know that I do. I know that… I know we’ve only just met but I feel like we’ve known each other forever. There’s something about her, George. Something sad and broken but proud and stubborn all at the same time. And I don’t think she’s lying.”

“Alright, strike that,” he said. “Do you think she’s telling you everything then?”

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