Page 123 of It Runs in the Family

“I’ll pay for it. Do you want me to call one?”

I closed my eyes, hating that I was lying to him, but I also felt like I needed to stick with Boone. In my vision, he’d been searching for me. Maybe we could change something that got him to me a minute sooner. Sticking with Boone might save my life.

Even if I had to lie to the person who mattered most to me in the world.

“No,” I said, my voice breaking. “I don’t deserve you, Garrett.”

“You deserve me and a whole lot more. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I took a breath. “I’ve got to go. I’ll text you when I know more.” I hung up before he could say anything else.

As soon as I hung up, Boone reached over and pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry.”

To my surprise, I started to cry.

“You don’t have to do this, Iris,” he whispered into my ear. “We’ll figure out somewhere you’ll be safe. And we’ll tell your cousin something truthful, so you won’t feel so guilty.”

But at the moment, it felt like my best chance of surviving was to keep digging.

I pulled back. “I have to stay with you, Boone. You’re my only chance of staying alive.” He was helping me get answers I didn’t think I could get on my own. Plus, I’d seen him try to save me. That had to mean something.

His eyes widened. “What makes you say that?”

“I just know.” I reached up to swipe my tears away. “Now let’s go. We have a meeting with a grumpy man to get to.”

I hopped out of the truck, not giving him a chance to respond. I had a feeling I was running on borrowed time, and I was going to make the most of it.

Chapter Thirty

Boone had parked across the street from Marvin’s Mercantile. Main Street usually didn’t see much traffic, and today was no exception, so we easily crossed the street and entered the store.

Marvin’s Mercantile was supposedly over a hundred years old, and some of the merchandise looked like it had been on the display shelves since the day it opened. It had an eclectic mix of cheap clothing, knickknacks, and cheap jewelry. I headed to the counter with Boone in tow, relieved to see Cynthia behind it instead of her uncle, Marvin.

“Hey, Cynthia,” I said in a bright, cheery voice, even if I felt anything but. “How are you this fine morning?”

She blessed me with a bright smile. “I’m doin’ great, Iris. How’s your grandmother?”

“Just as ornery as ever.”

“No surprise there,” she said, resting the heel of her palm on the edge of a display cabinet showcasing cheap turquoise rings with “silver” bands that would likely turn a person’s finger green in less than two hours. “What can I do for you?”

“Well,” I said in a conspiratorial tone, as I leaned closer. “I’m lookin’ for a birthday gift for my cousin Hannah. Our cousin Rachel bought a bracelet here last fall, and Hannah absolutely loves it. I was hoping to get her one, and I know Rachel got hers here.”

Cynthia frowned. “I don’t know, Iris. If we had them last fall, we might not have any left.”

“I know, but I thought I’d check. It’s a blue braided bracelet with loose threads that tie on the wrist. Little red seed beads are woven into it.”

Her face lit up. “Oh, I remember those. We got three different colors, but the blue ones sold out on the first day.” She walked around the end of the counter. “But I have a few orange ones left.”

I let her lead us to the display rack. The bracelets were neon orange with bright green beads. Other than the colors, they were identical to Rachel’s and the one the dead woman had been wearing. “These are lovely,” I lied, fingering the braids of one of them, “but Hannah really loves the blue one.”

Cynthia made a face. “Sorry, Iris. We only got the three, and they sold out quick.”

“I see,” I said, “but Hannah really has her heart set on that blue one. I know Rachel bought one of them, but is there any chance you have a record of who bought the other two? I was thinking I might see if one of them would sell theirs to me.”

“I’ve got a good memory, but I don’t know if it’s that good.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “But if you really want to know, we can ask Marvin. That is, if you’re sure you want to deal with him…”

“In this case, yes.”