Page 32 of This Feeling

“Promise me you won’t do this again. I’m in the same town as you now, that has to be good enough.”

I could practically hear the frown I knew she was making.

“I’ll back off, I promise. Enjoy your day. Bye, sweetheart.”

“Bye, Mom.”

I hit End, tossed my phone onto the sofa, and walked toward the windows that overlooked Main Street. It was late spring, so there were more people than normal. Moose Village didn’t get as many tourists as Lake Placid, and the town was okay with that. The type of people who came to our sleepy little town were looking more for a place to relax. Step back in time to where everyone knows everyone, and life is at a slower pace.

I frowned when I saw a young guy stop and look into The Book Nook. I was pretty sure one of the Banks’ owned the bookstore, I just couldn’t remember which one. The last thing I wanted to do was call my mother back and ask her. I watched as the guy stared into the window, looked down the street, and then looked into the window again. He started to walk around the corner and leaned on the building as he surveyed the area.

“What in the hell are you doing?” I whispered.

When a couple walked by and no one else was walking toward him, he moved to the front door and looked as if he was trying to open the door. When it wouldn’t open, he peered through the windows again.

Turning, I grabbed my phone and hit James Quinn’s number.

“Don’t tell me you’re changing your mind and want to be an accountant now.”

I chuckled. “No, but are you on duty?”

“No, Gavin is. Why?”

I cleared my throat and said, “It may be nothing, but a guy in his mid-twenties is standing outside the bookshop.”

“The Book Nook?”

“Yeah. Does the Banks family still own it?”

“Yep. Aurora Banks runs it now, and her younger sister, Lou, works there. Granny Larson sold the bookstore to Aurora just a few years ago.”

Good Lord, did everyone in this town pass their stores on to their kids?

Granny Larson was also known as Louanne Larson Banks. Lou Banks was named after her grandmother. That much I knew.

“I’ll have Gavin swing by and ensure everything’s okay. I believe the bookstore’s closed today. At least, that’s what my mother said. Aurora and Lou are at a book conference.”

I watched the guy slowly start down the alley between the bookstore and the Sweet Spot.

“He’s heading down the alley. I think you need to get someone over here; he was trying the door to see if it was locked.”

“Gav is less than a minute out. I sent him a text.”

Sure enough, a Moose Village patrol car parked on Main. I watched as Gavin got out. He was talking into his radio as he walked up and looked through the windows.

“I’m going to go down there.”

“Um, Declan, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Just let Gavin handle it.”

“I won’t get in the way, James.”

“Jesus, is this a preview of what it’ll be like having you on the force?”

Laughing, I replied, “You wish. I’ll call you back.”

I ended the call before he could say anything else and headed out the door.

By the time I got to the bookstore, Gavin was walking up from the alley.

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