“It’s not like it’s hard,” Zoe huffs. “I was at a café yesterday and got a ham sandwich, and it was just a few slices of ham, a piece of Swiss cheese, and some mayonnaise. That was it! Six dollars. I kid you not.”
“I don’t know.” Cassie bites her lip. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“Well, come up with a better one then.” Zoe glances around the store through her mascaraed ‘lashes. “Because otherwise, this place is gone.”
Zoe is right. Cassie hates to admit it, but she’s absolutely right. And Zoe is the only other person in the world who cares. When they were both graduating and Cassie told Zoe about inheriting the shop, Zoe jumped at the idea of helping out. They both loved books, and between the two of them, their literary knowledge was encyclopedic. They made excited plans about how much fun they’d have running Bookland together.
The reality wasn’t as great as the fantasy. When none of their ideas to boost sales panned out, Zoe took a second job bartending. She also has some online job Cassie doesn’t understand except she hopes it doesn’t involve pornography. Cassie has offered to release Zoe from any work or financial obligation, but Zoe has stuck it out. I believe in this place, Zoe keeps saying. We can make it work.
Zoe doesn’t know the truth. There’s only one reason the bookstore hasn’t gone under, and it’s something Cassie can never tell her about.
The door to Bookland jingles, signifying a new customer. Cassie looks up eagerly—this is only her second customer the entire day. The crimson paint seems to be repelling customers. Just what she needs. Maybe Zoe can mind the store while she goes out to get that vinegar.
It’s a young man, which is a bad sign. Young men do not make up even one percent of their customers. Cassie isn’t sure if it’s because men that age don’t read or perhaps they only read electronic books. But before he even opens his mouth, she knows what he’s going to say.
“Excuse me,” the young man says. “Do you have a copy of Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy?”
He’s a medical student. Of course.
“We don’t carry medical books,” Zoe says regretfully. “But maybe I can show you some other things you might like…”
“Well, all I really need is—”
Except before the man can finish his sentence, Zoe is leading him by the arm to the back of the store. That’s why Cassie is glad Zoe sticks around, even if she has to work two jobs on the side. Zoe will persuade him to buy a few books he doesn’t even want, just for the chance of getting her number. She’ll taunt him with it until the sale is final. Without Zoe, Bookland wouldn’t have a chance.
While Zoe is in the back with their customer, Cassie raises her eyes to look at the crimson paint splattered across the entrance. God, it looks so much like blood. She wonders when the vandals who did it were here. Was it in the middle of the night, when the streets were empty? Or were they watching the door in the evening, waiting for her to lock up to make their move?
She hates to admit it, but she sometimes still gets that feeling someone is following her. Ever since that first date with Joel. It’s a creeping sensation going up her spine, and it only happens when she’s alone. Sometimes she’s certain she hears footsteps. But whenever she dares to turn around, there’s nobody there.
Is it someone clever enough to follow her without being detected? Or is she simply losing her mind?
After all, why would someone follow her? She has no enemies. And she has just about the most boring life ever. All she does is work and go out on dates with Joel. She enjoys her life, but it’s hard to imagine it would be interesting to an observer.
Then again, if someone threw paint on her door, they’re more than an observer.
Cassie shakes her head. The policeman said it was vandals and he’s probably right. The simplest explanation is usually the correct one. What are the chances someone is following her?