“I’m hoping to be both. I spent my life as a ballerina. Now that I’m retired, I thought I could teach others a little bit about it.”
“That’s good. That’s nice. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of takers once word gets out. Of course, I’ll post it for you. Just need to get some tape.” Cupping her hand over her mouth, Dinah let out a loud bellow. “Jefferson!”
The echo of a much softer reply. “Yes?”
“I need you. And can you grab some tape?”
“Sure thing, honey.”
Dinah beamed over at Grace. “He’ll be right out.”
Jefferson didn’t take long. Within minutes, he strode out from a different point in the store; it looked like one of the hallways back behind where they had the copier. Grace was able to spot him immediately because the big, black man absolutely towered over the aisles.
She put him at 6’4’, maybe 6’5”. Jefferson was pretty thick and kind of wide, with thighs like tree tru
nks and a paunch of a belly hanging low in front. He kept his black hair short, a vein of grey twisted throughout the tight curls. A pair of wire-rim glasses sat on his nose. Those, added to the faintly bemused expression on his face as he headed for them, made his size seem not so noticeable after the surprise wore off.
He was older, maybe a good ten years older than his wife, and the way his eyes lit up behind his glasses when he looked at her revealed how much he deeply loved her.
“Your tape,” he said, holding out a roll of scotch tape. “Now, what did you need me for?”
“To hang something for this sweet young girl. You can reach without the stepladder.” Dinah spared another smile for Grace. “Come on. Let’s put this by the register so that none of the regulars miss it.” As she marched over toward the counter, the other two following close behind, Dinah made introductions. “Jefferson, this is Grace. She’s the outsider who’s been staying with Maria.”
Since Jefferson’s hands were busy, reaching up to place Grace’s poster next to the sign that listed the five brands of cigarettes they carried behind the counter, she didn’t offer to shake even if it seemed like she should. Instead, she waved. “Hi.”
“Nice to meet you, Grace.” Once the poster was in place, Jefferson shook his head, his glasses slipping down his nose. He absently set them back. “You know, it’s so strange you’ve come by today. Maybe it’s just the day for outsiders.”
Outsiders.
A sudden chill skittered up and down her spine. Outsiders. Plural. What did Jefferson mean?
His wife obviously wondered the same thing. “You have some other outsider customers this morning, Jefferson? I didn’t know that.”
“Did I forget to mention it? It was early, probably when you were picking up some of Addy’s scones. Two fellas stopped by, definitely outsiders. Fancy suits, shiny shoes, and one was wearing a pair of mirrored shades. The other one, Di? I swear, he had hair longer than you.”
Not Tommy, then. Not Boone. Still didn’t make it any easier to hear. Because the suits? The shoes? The shades? All hallmarks of Tommy’s associates.
Maybe it was a coincidence.
Please let it be a coincidence.
Jefferson continued, as if entirely unaware at how every word was he said was another sharp sting against Grace’s contentedness. “They spent some time looking around the store, but didn’t buy anything. Asked me about a place to stay, though. Wanted my recommendation since they were new to town.”
“What did you tell them?” asked his wife.
Yes, Grace wondered, her heart leaping up to lodge in her throat. What did he tell them?
“Sent them on to Bonnie Mitchell’s place. The Hamlet Inn.” Over the rim of his glasses, Jefferson’s gaze landed on Grace. He frowned. “Ah. I forgot all about Maria’s little bed and breakfast. I should’ve sent them over her way, given her some business, but it totally slipped my mind. I guess I never think of her, not after what happened the first time she had an outsider stay.”
Dinah wrinkled her nose. “Mack Turner. Devil take his soul.”
“That’s right.” Jefferson clucked his tongue. “Got what he deserved in my opinion, no mistake.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Mack Turner? Grace hadn’t met all the locals yet, and most of them were a bunch of faceless blurs, but that name wasn’t familiar. She tucked it away, though, just in case. It would be worth it to ask Maria, especially if the idyllic town held other dangers.
Then Jefferson murmured, “Real strange pair,” under his breath. He was back to talking about the other outsiders. She needed to pay attention.