Page 35 of The Fixer and the Fugitive

“Fine,reformedterrorist,” she amended.

“That’s better. And I am definitely a people person. So let’s go peopling.” He rubbed his hands together in anticipation, causing Celeste to bite back further warnings. It was kind of cute to see how excited he was. It almost made her wish she shared his enthusiasm. Not that she was a misanthrope. People were all right, some better than others. But she had come here with the express purpose of trying to heal. She didn’t see how that was possible surrounded by so many distractions. And people were always distracting, in one way or another.Solitude.When she got home, she would add it to her list of important things. Right now she yearned for solitude because solitude seemed necessary for healing.

Her glance fell on Sam, standing in the middle of the sidewalk and gaping around town with a fascinated smile, as if he’d landed on the Vegas strip at sunset. There hadn’t been any solitude since he showed up. Strangely she didn’t mind so much. It was kind of nice to have him there to fill the space. And despite everything, he was fun, upbeat, and cheery. Previous to his arrival she would have said someone like that would annoy her. Instead it lightened a little of the weight inside her. But since she couldn’t put a name to it, she couldn’t write it on her list. She needed more time to ponder, to figure out how to achieve the lightness Sam brought, but without Sam of course. Maybe she would try reading again. Maybe what she needed was to get out of her own thoughts. Sam definitely made her do that. Perhaps books would, too.

“It looks like books I used to read about the American West. In fact, I think I saw this place in a documentary,” he said.

“You watch documentaries? I so would have beaten you up if we went to school together,” she said.

“You would have had to get in a very long line,” Sam said, unconcerned by her critique. He pointed across the street. “Is that a general store?”

“It’s a hardware store. Hence the giant sign that proclaims ‘Hardware Store.’”

“Can we instead pretend it’s a general store? With checkers and a cracker barrel of dubious cleanliness?”

“Okay,” she agreed, unable to deny him when he looked so excited.

“Do you think we’ll meet the proprietor?” he asked.

“I guarantee it,” she said, turning to cross the street. She felt a little bit proud that she actually knew Tony, the owner of the hardware store.This must be what it’s like to be a name dropper,she thought as she heard herself add, “I’ll introduce you. He’s a personal acquaintance.”

Sam whistled appreciatively. “Acquaintance. Wow. You must be a somebody.”

She laughed, the giggle thing she hated and had spent years trying to suppress in order to be taken seriously. Sam seemed to like it, though. At the very least it made him smile down at her in a warm and cozy sort of way that made her smile harder in return. In fact they were so caught up smiling at each other they didn’t realize someone was now standing in front of them until he spoke.

“New girl! You’re becoming a regular. Who’s your friend?” Tony said.

“You mean you don’t know?” Celeste asked. She glanced at her watch. “The rumor mill is really slowing down.”

“Elliot is strangely averse to telling me insider police information. But don’t blame me for his morally upright code; he gets it from his mother,” Tony said.

“This is Sam. He’s staying with me a while,” Celeste said.

“Hello, and welcome to Paradise,” Tony said, putting out a hand. “Where do you hail from?”

“Canada, lately,” Sam said, returning his shake.

“I’ve never heard a Canadian accent that sounded so Middle Eastern,” Tony mused.

“I’m a melting pot,” Sam said.

“I would say me too, but I basically arrived on a direct pipeline from Sweden,” Tony said, motioning to his six foot, blond-haired, blue-eyed frame.

“This is some place you have here. I know I’ve only been here ten seconds, but if I could suggest changing the name to ‘General Store,’ it would be a real tourist draw,” Sam said.

“Seeing as how I’m the only game in town, I could change the name to ‘Opera House’ and still attract the same number of people. It’s really a nice racket. During tourist season I can sellanything if I affix a picture of a bear, moose, or huckleberry to it.”

“Does Harvard know about you? You could teach a business ethics course,” Celeste noted.

“Where do you think I learned it?” he returned. Someone from a back office called his name. “That’s my cue, but let me know if you need anything. Might I recommend the huckleberry bear moose munch in aisle five? Makes good gifts to send back east, for those longing to get a taste of Montana.” With a head tip toward aisle five, he was gone.

“I’m suddenly completely surprised there’s no used car lot attached next door,” Sam noted. “Let’s get some of that moose munch.”

“Why? It sounds disgusting,” Celeste said.

“Yes, but it has huckleberries and bears and moose on it, so, you know.” He shrugged and began heading in that direction.

“Who are you going to send it to?” Celeste asked.

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