Page 71 of The Scenic Route
Her car and Rory’s pickup were the only vehicles parked in the pole barn, so Felicity was surprised to see Lou in the gun shop, wiping down the display cases with vinegar water.
“Hi! I swapped shifts with another barista so I could spend all day here,” Lou announced before Felicity could get a word out. “Callum dropped me off. He’s going to join our back-room party later, if that’s okay with you?”
“The more, the merrier,” Felicity said with a shrug. “I know he knows how to be quiet.”
Lou laughed. “Unlike me?”
Waving off the concern, Felicity said, “I have a feeling you wouldn’t be president of the Simpson Murder Club if you couldn’t zip it when you need to.”
“Simpson Murder Club?” Rory repeated. “I didn’t know it had an official name.”
“It doesn’t, that I know of.” Moving a couple waiting area chairs so that the backs were to a wall and they faced the entrywith the back-room door on their left, Felicity sat. With an approving tilt of his head, Bennett took the other chair. “I just made that up.”
“I don’t know how you can sit,” Lou admitted, spraying another glass display case. “I have so much nervous energy, I can’t stay still. I drove Rory batty in about five seconds, so she handed me these and pointed at the nearest shiny surface.”
“Worked out for an hour this morning.” Felicity gave Bennett a pat on his knee as another thank you for thinking of it. “Otherwise, I’d be cleaning right next to you—or maybe doing laps around the store.”
Rory finished filling out whatever form she’d been working on and stood. “I’ll show you around the back,” she offered, heading toward that door, and Felicity followed, Bennett right behind her.
“I’ll hold down the fort out here,” Lou called after them. “I know you’re not officially open yet, and you have a monster of a gate with razor wire and everything that’s still closed, keeping people out, but I’ll still…well, keep cleaning, I sup—”
The door closed, cutting off Lou’s nervous chatter midword.
“Soundproof?” Felicity asked, impressed as she looked around the roomy space. There was a deep sink, lots of counter area, and even a centrifuge, which she figured was used somehow for cleaning guns.
Rory tipped her chin in a nod.
“How will we know if Dino comes in?” Felicity wandered around looking at everything, her hands tucked behind her back like a kid at a museum. There were a couple of dismantledguns, the pieces laid out neatly on towels, waiting to be fixed or cleaned, she assumed.
In answer, Rory lifted a remote and turned on a bank of TVs set in the wall across from the sink. The interior and exterior of the store were revealed in crisp definition from multiple angles, so every corner of the space could be seen. Even the woods and open areas around the shop were covered, all the way to Rory’s very impressive fence bordering her property.
“Sound too—but just in the shop.” Rory pushed a button, and Felicity could hear Lou humming tunelessly to herself.
“Nice,” Felicity said, glancing at Bennett, who looked impressed.
“There’s an exterior exit.” Rory pointed to a door with numerous dead bolts on it.
Felicity wondered if she and her sisters should consult with Rory about treasure-hunter-proofing their home.
“Everyone involved in this will enter and leave through the back. If you hear a knock, check this camera”—Rory pointed to one that looked out on a small porch and lots of trees beyond—“and then you can let them in if you recognize them. If you don’t, text me.”
“Got it.” The gun store was ideal for a sting. Felicity wished they could transport it to Langston. “Thank you, Rory. This is perfect.”
Rory gave a stiff nod. “I’m about to open, so I’ll send Lou back. Sorry.”
Felicity laughed. “No problem. Her chattering doesn’t bother me. She’s fun.”
“A good ally too. Make sure to lock this door behind her.” With another tight dip of her chin, Rory went into the front area of the store. As promised, Lou came through the door a few seconds later, turning the dead bolt before Felicity had to remind her.
“Ready for this?” Lou asked, obviously excited.
Her enthusiasm was catching, and Felicity grinned back. “Let’s do this.”
***
Then they waited.
And waited.
