Page 84 of Rules

I bent and picked up Joey. "I need to speak with you urgently." My voice was tight with controlled panic. "Official business."

Ruth nodded, came over, grabbed Joey and handed him to Mary, who looked me up and down then took over at the counter. Ruth led me toward the back room, maintaining a professional distance.

Once in the back, I closed the door behind the swinging doors.

"What's going on?" she asked once we were alone. Her stance was one of aloofness, not inviting at all. Her arms were tightly crossed. "Are you alright?"

I stood feet from her, my hands on my utility belt. "The roses you delivered to me and Law. Who ordered them?" I stepped forward. "Was he here? Did he talk to you?"

"Who? Tobias, what are you talking about?" She blinked, clearly taken aback by my intensity. "I don't know who sent them."

"RUTH! This is important. Did you talk to him?"

"Talk to who?"

I stepped forward, Ruth stepped backward. "I need to know."

"Know what? Tobias you're not making any sense."

"Why did you back away from me? Did he hurt you?" I grabbed her and spun her around looking for any marks or cuts. "Did he hurt you?"

"Stop," Ruth pulled away from me, retreating two steps farther back. "Tobias, what is going on?"

Taking a deep breath, I blew it out and asked again. "Who sent Law and I the flowers?"

"I don't know. The order came through FloralConnect, the online ordering service that distributes to local shops. There wasn't a name and it was paid for with a gift card."

"Did anyone come in to pick up the order, change it, ask about it?"

She shook her head. "No, I only knew about it when the online order came through yesterday morning for delivery today. Ithought it was odd so I checked and that's how I found out they paid with a gift card. What's this about? Who are you missing?"

"Did anyone unusual come into the shop yesterday? Anyone you didn't recognize?" I pressed, scanning the back room as if Michael might be hiding behind the filing cabinet.

"Tobias, what's going on?" Ruth crossed her arms, a hint of her fiery spirit returning. "You're acting like you're interrogating me, like some kind of prisoner."

"Michael," I said simply. "The roses were from Michael."

Her eyes widened. "Michael? THE Michael? Melanie and Cameron's Michael? The one who escaped?"

"Yes. He's back. We believe he's already killed two women. And now he's sending taunting messages through your shop."

Ruth's face paled. "Oh my God."

"So, please Ruth, I need to know was he here?"

"No, Tobias, I promise he wasn't."

"Have you noticed anyone watching the shop? Has anyone been in who made you uncomfortable?"

"No, nothing like that." She moved to her computer. "Look, I can show you the order."

I followed her to the desk where her computer sat. She logged into the FloralConnect portal and pulled up the order details.

"See? Paid with a gift card, delivery instructions for both the Sheriff's Office and Bear's Bail Bonds." She scrolled down. "Special instructions: exactly eleven red roses must be delivered today."

"What kind of gift card?"

"Their system just shows it as a FloralConnect gift card. Those can be purchased online or at certain retailers."

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