“I just came in for a book.” But she looked at the display, her lips pursing in her wide face. “Do look tasty, don’t they? You’d be the new girl.”

“Yes.” Nell’s throat was raw and hot. She feared her voice sounded the same. “I’m Nell. Can I get you anything?”

“Maybe I’ll just have a sit-down with a cup of tea and one of those tarts. I’ve got a weak spot for a good fruit tart. None of those fancy teas, mind. Give me good orange pekoe. You tell that Pete to keep his dog out of my wash,” she added to Zack. “Else he’ll be doing my laundry.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled at Nell again, kept his eyes on her face deliberately as he’d noted how quickly it had paled when Gladys Macey had called him sheriff. “Nice meeting you, Nell.”

She gave him a little nod. Kept her hands busy, he noticed, but not quite steady.

Just what, he wondered, would a pretty young woman like that have to fear from the law? Then again, he thought as he walked downstairs, some people were just naturally skittish when it came to cops.

He scanned the main level, spotted Mia stocking shelves in the mystery section. Either way, Zack decided, it wouldn’t hurt to ask a few casual questions.

“Busy in here today.”

“Mmm.” She slid paperbacks into slots without looking around. “I expect it to get busier. Season’s just underway, and I have my new secret weapon in the café.”

“Just met her. You’re renting her the yellow cottage.”

“That’s right.”

“You check her employment record, references?”

“Now, Zack.” Mia did turn now. In her heels she was nearly eye to eye with him, and she gave his cheek a sassy pat. “We’ve been friends a long time. Long enough for me to tell you to mind your own business. I don’t want you going up to my café and interrogating my staff.”

“Okay, I’ll just haul her down to the station house and get out my rubber hose.”

She chuckled, then leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You brute. Don’t worry about Nell. She isn’t looking for trouble.”

“Got twitchy when she found out I was sheriff.”

“Honey, you’re so handsome you make all the girls twitchy.”

“Never worked on you,” he countered.

“A lot you know. Now go away, let me run my business.”

“I’m going. Have to do my sworn duty and scold Pete Stahr over his smelly dog.”

“Sheriff Todd, you’re so brave.” She batted her lashes. “What would we islanders do without you and your stalwart sister protecting us?”

“Ha, ha. Ripley’s due in on the noon ferry. Any sooner, I’d stick her with dog detail.”

“Is a week up already?” Mia grimaced and went back to shelving. “Oh, well, nothing good lasts forever.”