Trouble on the Books Read online

  Trouble on the Books

  A CASTLE BOOKSHOP MYSTERY

  Essie Lang

  Acknowledgments

  There are so many factors and people that go into the writing and publishing of a book so I should start with an umbrella thank you to all involved. Narrowing that down, my utmost thanks goes to Faith Black Ross, my new editor with a new publisher. That can be a bit daunting along with all the excitement that goes along with a new series. She has been both supportive and understanding and I certainly appreciate it.

  My agent, Kim Lionetti of BookEnds Literary Agency also deserves so much thanks for her ongoing guidance and support through what has been a challenging year. To my first reader, my sister Lee, many thanks as usual. Your support is invaluable. Heaps of thanks for your insight and writing savvy, Mary Jane Maffini, aka Victoria Abbott, always helping me find my way.

  Thanks also to my fellow amazing authors on Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen and Killer Characters blogs. And also, to the many talented authors who read the manuscript and offered comments and cover blurbs. What a great community to be a part of!

  And, my sincere thanks to the readers who keep on supporting and reading cozy mysteries. You make it happen!

  Chapter One

  The third time Shelby Cox hit her head on the low-hanging gargoyle that morning, she was sure the entire castle could hear her yell. Fortunately, it wasn’t yet open to the public.

  She dropped the heavy box of books she’d been carrying, kicked at it, and then let out a string of expletives. When she’d recovered her composure, she glanced around, relieved no one had been following her in, heaved the box back onto her hip, and hobbled over to the trolley, where she deposited it on top of two others. Moving-in day at the castle.

  “You break that gargoyle, you buy it.” The disembodied voice belonged to Loreena Swan, curator of the exhibits and the heritage attraction that was Blye Castle.

  As if I could break a cement gargoyle.

  Shelby knew that Loreena wouldn’t rush over to help her with her burden. She was probably too busy setting out and straightening her many brochures. Obviously, an autocrat in training.

  “Grumble, grumble,” Shelby hissed under her breath. “Witch.”

  “I won’t tell her you said that. My lips are sealed.”

  Shelby turned to face Matthew Kessler, her face feeling like it had just been zapped by a heat lamp. She’d hoped no one had heard. “You’d better not, or I fear that my days in this place will be a living hell.”

  Matthew grimaced. “You just have to show her total respect and do a lot of butt kissing.”

  “Like you do.” Shelby said with a straight face. She doubted it was true. As the caretaker of the castle and grounds, he was probably beyond Loreena’s reach, reporting only to the owners. He also came across as someone who wouldn’t be pushed around, someone you’d better not cross.

  “We have an agreement. She knows I won’t take any guff from her, and she also knows what she can do about it.” He hefted one of the large boxes of books off the cart and in through the door that Shelby had just opened, into the bookstore.

  Shelby had a moment’s concern. Those boxes were heavy. One hundred percent books. And Matthew had to be at least sixty if he was a day. Before she could say anything, he’d put it down next to the antique desk that served as checkout for the bookstore. She flipped on the overhead light switch and sighed. It had taken an entire day to fill three-quarters of the shelves. Now the final books needed to be added before the official opening the next day.

  “I hope you’ve got yourself some help putting out all these here books,” Matthew said as he straightened and took a deep breath. He looked around the room, and Shelby followed his gaze. Three hundred square feet on the main floor of the castle, an odd protrusion from the side of the building when viewed from the outside.

  “Help will arrive in a couple of hours on the launch. I wanted some time to myself to figure things out so that we can jump right in when she gets here.”

  “Well, then I’ll just finish bringing the boxes in, then get on with my duties.”

  “Thanks so much, Matthew.” She followed him back into the entrance hall and watched as he headed to the front doors, trying to make it look like a saunter. He looked the part of a caretaker, or woodsman even, in his worn jeans and red plaid shirt. She’d heard he’d been through a lot. She’d first bumped into him a couple of weeks ago when she’d visited the castle to get the lay of the land, or rather, bookstore. Her Aunt Edie had filled her in on some of his story.

  “You have yourself a good day, Shelby, and just call out if you need anything,” Matthew said as he pushed the final box across the floor and into the room. “Don’t let the witch get you down. You just stand your ground. It’s your bookstore, after all. I hope you’ll like it here,” he added and wandered off.

  Shelby nodded and glanced around. This was her new life. Running two bookstores, the main one, Bayside Books in Alexandria Bay, and the seasonal one in Blye Castle on Blye Island, part of the Thousand Islands.

  She had vague memories of touring the better-known Boldt Castle as a small child. It had then seemed magical and massive. Blye Castle, on the other hand, was smaller, only four stories tall compared to six. But the dark oak walls throughout the main floor were just as regal, as was the sumptuous staircase set toward the back of the grand hall, branching out into two circular sets of stairs after the first landing. It took her breath away. Imagine living here.

  She went back into the bookstore and pulled out a feather duster, flicking it over the shelves even though she knew the space had been professionally cleaned the day before. She took a few seconds to look around the room and then smiled. The three hundred square feet allotted to the store was the only part of the castle that had been recently renovated, substituting large bay windows for the smaller casement ones that had originally been there. The area was now bright and light, ideal for two comfortable club chairs placed invitingly in front of the windows, tempting shoppers to spend some time looking through hopefully future purchases. It was just the sort of bookstore she herself would love to shop in.

  Back to dusting. The task made her feel more like this was really her store. Or rather, half of it was. That thought still made her feel the need to pinch herself and make sure it wasn’t a dream.

  She was still an upstate New York gal at heart even though she’d been brought up in Boston. And she knew she’d made the right decision coming back to Alexandria Bay, even before she’d learned that she was a part owner of the Bayside Books stores. It also afforded her the opportunity to find out more about her mom, who had died when Shelby was a toddler. That was a definite plus.

  She just wasn’t ready to be knocking heads with Loreena Swan. But it looked like that might go with the territory. She’d have to get some advice from her Aunt Edie on how to handle the dragon. Although Edie had been sidelined by knee replacement surgery a month before, she was still more than ready and able to offer advice, or criticism, from the comfort of her home. And begging her niece Shelby to take a leave of absence as an editor at a small publisher in Massachusetts had been Edie’s way of dealing with her own change in lifestyle.

  Shelby pulled out the layout Edie had given her, showing how the books were to be shelved and, also, where the new chocolate section should be set up. She wished she had one of those delicious truffles right now.

  It might help her deal with Loreena.

  Chapter Two

  “You know, you have to bring in a whole lot more local books. That’s what our tourists are looking for. And look at this, you have far too many mysteries,” Loreena Swan dictated a little later in the day, swinging her arm in a circle to include the entire bookstore. It wasn’t hard,
since the store was so small.

  “I’m working on it, Loreena. Thanks for the suggestion,” Shelby answered in what she hoped was an assertive voice. She hated confrontations but knew she had to come across as strong if she was going to work with this woman. Her dad had often told her she looked stern, even when she was in relaxed mode. He said it was her dark eyes and thin lips. She knew it was because she often had to remind herself to smile. She might as well put it to use, she thought, and put aside the books she had been shelving to turn toward Loreena. Time to face the dragon head on.

  Loreena looked the part, like she’d just volleyed a flame full of bad karma. She’d planted her feet in a wide stance, maybe for balance, Shelby thought, but more likely for emphasis. Her hands were firmly embedded on each hip, maybe to showcase her figure-hugging fuchsia top and skinny black pants, but more likely to look like she meant business. Her obviously-out-of-the-bottle red hair fit the flaming scenario. But her teeth were out of place. More like a ferret. Appropriate, since she seemed to work so hard at ferreting out negative things to say about everyone.

  That thought made Shelby smile.

  “What? You think it’s funny? I also notice that you don’t have any copies of The Thousand Island Memories, which is my guidebook to Blye Island and the Thousand Islands area.” Loreena’s right foot, encased in a two-strap wedge sandal, started tapping. “It’s been written up in the media so much that a lot of people ask for it each year. In fact, I’d say it’s the best known of the local guidebooks.”

  “It’s on order,” Shelby mumbled, although she wasn’t sure what book Loreena meant. She hadn’t come across Loreena’s name as an author when restocking.

  “It better be. It’s a very popular book. That’s obviously why it’s sold out.”

  Or maybe we never carried it.

  Loreena began pacing, inspecting the shelves. “Honestly, Shelby. I’d think you’d be trying really hard to impress your aunt if you want to stay on once she’s back working. This just isn’t good enough.”

  That did it. Time to practice being assertive. Shelby moved very close to Loreena and tried to look her in the eye even though Loreena had at least a foot on her.

  “Your comments are duly noted, Loreena; however, this bookstore belongs to my aunt and me, and we are leasing the space from the Alexandria Bay Heritage Society. That in no way gives anyone the authority to dictate what we will carry and how it’ll be set up.” She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her jean jacket to hide the shaking.

  Loreena sputtered, looking like she’d like to choke Shelby or, at the very least, slap her. Shelby managed to stand her ground. Loreena took a deep breath and, in a voice to rival the Ice Queen, stated, “You had better take a look at your contract, Miss Cox. You cannot talk to me like that, and you can’t, you can’t … oh!” She stomped off.

  Can’t what? Shelby took a couple of deep breaths and then did some shoulder rolls to relieve the tension. What a witch. An aging witch. That thought made Shelby feel a bit better, although she’d always been taught to be polite to her elders. What must Loreena be? Fifty? Sixty? Close to Edie in age, anyway.

  “Wow, that was quite the verbal exchange,” Trudy Bryant said as she backed in through the door that Loreena had left wide open. She set the box she’d been carrying down on the floor and lifted out a cup of coffee, setting it on the counter. “I picked this up while waiting for the launch, so it’s probably on the cold side now. Is the microwave set up?” She looked around the room, then reached down into the box again. “And I brought over the extra coffee maker from the store.”

  “That’s great. Thanks, Trudy. Even cold coffee will do right now.”

  Trudy glanced at the door. “Loreena is overbearing and hard to get along with at the best of times, although Edie always seems to ignore her, but I’ve never heard her sound so threatening. You don’t think there’s anything in the contract, do you? Edie would be heartbroken if we lost this spot.”

  Trudy and Edie Cox had been best friends since grade school and both had grown up in Alexandria Bay. Edie had decided to stay and make her future there, and when Trudy had returned many years later after her husband died, they had easily resumed their friendship. The fact that Trudy was Edie’s second-in-command at Bayside Books meant that Shelby valued Trudy’s opinions, but she wished she hadn’t been there to hear what had just transpired.

  “Please don’t mention it to Aunt Edie.” Shelby reached down and pulled her purse from under the counter. “I’ll tell her, but I need to make sure we’re all settled into the new season before that.” She rooted around in her purse and found an elastic to wrap around her long, wavy, dark-brown hair, which she pulled back into a ponytail. Nothing worse than having her hair flying all over the place when she was trying to work.

  Trudy nodded, her own short gray hair blowing slightly in the breeze from the small fan on top of the counter. “I won’t. I don’t like to upset her while she’s recovering, but you know, she’ll have some good advice on how to handle that battle-ax.” She winked at Shelby.

  Shelby smiled, feeling a bit better. “I hope there weren’t too many people in the entrance hall that heard that.”

  “Just me and a few volunteers. I think Loreena has them browbeaten though, so they’re probably on your side. Now, what can I do?” She looked around. “It appears that you and Taylor got most things sorted before boxing them.”

  “We tried. She’s a hard worker. I’m sure we’ll make a good team over here. I just hope the staff at both stores aren’t stretched too thin with the extended hours. Of course, since I’m just easing into all this, I totally trust your judgment.”

  “Speaking of which,” continued Trudy, “I’m hoping many of our regulars will come over here for the grand opening for the season. I’m making sure to remind them all about it. We have a strong and loyal readership base. Of course, since we’re the only bookstore in Alexandria Bay, that’s to be expected. But it does go beyond that. Our customers like what we offer, the things they can’t get online. Advice, discussions, gossip,” she added with a wink.

  Shelby nodded. There were so many details to be aware of when running a business. She loved books, but her retail experience had been limited to two summers during high school, working at a local dress shop. It had done wonders for her wardrobe but hadn’t really added a lot of other skills.

  “Are you going to be okay?” Trudy asked. “Don’t let Loreena get you down.”

  “Thanks, Trudy. I am, or at least, I will be once I get some tips from Aunt Edie on ignoring Loreena.” She gave the older woman a hug. “And please thank Erica for the chocolates. These will be a great start, and as soon as I see how quickly they sell, I’ll put in a regular order. It must be a real treat having a daughter who’s a chocolatier.”

  Trudy pointed to her midriff. “You can see just how tasty it is. I introduced the store book club to them a couple of months ago, and Erica’s sales shot up.” She chuckled and finished off her coffee before starting to shelve the mysteries. “By the way, we’re all hoping you can come to the next meeting and meet the gang, the Bayside Book Babes Plus One.”

  “I’ve been meaning to.” Shelby shrugged. It was another one of those items on her list that she just never seemed to get around to doing. There was still so much about the book business to learn. “By the way, who’s the ‘Plus One’?”

  “We have one male in the group. I won’t call him a token male because he really gets into the spirit of things, but we thought we’d immortalize him in our name.” Trudy smiled. “Our meeting is a week from this coming Wednesday, at my house. I’ll send you an email to remind you, shall I?”

  “Sounds great. Who came up with that name, by the way?”

  “Edie. Who else!”

  Shelby chuckled as she removed the small trays of assorted truffles and chocolates, carefully placing them in the new refrigerated display case that had been delivered the day before. She knew they would be a popular addition to the store. Just to be cer
tain, she chose a chocolate ganache truffle and popped it whole into her mouth.

  At that moment, the phone rang. Shelby eyed the ceiling and chewed far too fast, regretting not being able to savor the flavor. She glanced at the phone as she picked up the receiver. Her aunt. Had word traveled so quickly? She glanced at Trudy, who gave her a thumbs-up.

  “Is everything all right with you?” Edie asked without waiting for Shelby to say a thing.

  “Well, sort of. Why do you ask?” Shelby felt her heart beating faster.

  “I just got a call from the president of the Heritage Society. It seems that Loreena Swan has registered a complaint against you and the store.”

  Chapter Three

  “Oh, Aunt Edie, I’m so sorry. I flew off the handle this afternoon. She was badgering me, complaining about the stock and how things were set up, even though I followed the plan you’d given me. She was just being a total jerk, and I tried to keep calm, but …”

  Edie chuckled. “I’m not calling to add to your misery, Shelby. I just wanted to know what’s going on over there. I have complete confidence in you, but I think you need to stay out of her way in the future. She’s not one to easily forgive and forget.”

  Shelby sighed. “I did mention something about how it was our store and no one could tell us how to run it. And she said something about reading the contract. Did I do wrong?”

  She could hear Edie shuffling some papers. “Not really. However, there is a clause in our contract about catering to the tourist trade. So, along with books covering the history and geography of the Thousand Islands, I’ve included anything that’s local nonfiction. I’ve even stocked some books on castles, and as you’re undoubtedly aware of by now, I’ve added some local fiction authors to the mix if they portray the sense of setting strongly in their books. So, what’s her problem?”

  “Loreena said we didn’t have enough, but I think what really got her going—and she added this after the fact—was that we don’t have her book on the shelves. I’ve never even heard of it, nor did I come across it when reordering the stock for the opening.”