Mercy forced herself to remember what DJ Belmont looked like and figured she’d deserve an Oscar if she could pull off the next round of questions without gagging. “Looked like Matthew McConaughey with blond hair? Like white-blond? Tall and kind of rangy? Wore a cowboy hat?”

Ginger blinked, then blushed. “Yes.”

Oh dear. This girl had a crush on DJ. Mercy was suddenly, viciously glad that he’d stopped coming by. This girl was far too nice to end up as DJ’s prey.

Mercy made herself smile. “Any idea where he came from? I’d love to find more cabinets like this. Maybe even a hope chest.”

Ginger looked down at the counter, then glanced around furtively, as if checking for anyone else who might be listening. “Well, I did see him leave once. He drove into the forest.”

The Modoc National Forest started just a few miles west of town. Mercy leaned in, forcing a conspiratorial smile to her face. “Can you give me any more than that?”

Ginger glanced around again, then inclined her head. “I followed him,” she confessed. “He was mysterious and I was young and stupid. And crushing.”

“I can see why,” Mercy agreed. “He was something.” Something evil, vile, and utterly disgusting. “I might have crushed on him too, when I was younger.”

Might have, but hadn’t. Gideon might remember a “nicer” DJ, but in Mercy’s memory he was a spiteful, spoiled bully.

“I didn’t follow him long,” the girl whispered, “but he went south on 395 and turned onto Modoc County Road. I followed him for about twenty miles, and then he turned onto a road that wasn’t paved. It was a private road, not part of the national forest. I wasn’t brave enough to go any farther. It was just a crush, you know?”

Mercy smiled gently. “I know. Thank you.”

“Ginger!” a man bellowed from the other side of the store. He wore an apron and stood behind the deli. “Stop yakking and get back to work.”

“Sorry, Nick,” Ginger called, then dipped her head so that she could roll her eyes unseen. “He owns the store. Sorry.”

“I don’t want to get you into trouble. I’ll be going now.” Mercy turned to find Rafe holding the jewelry box under one arm, leaning on his cane with the other. “Ready, honey?”

“Whenever you are, snookums,” Rafe replied.

Sasha appeared from the snack aisle, hands filled with bags of chips. Erin walked beside her, looking amused at Sasha’s gagging sounds. “Be cute outside,” Sasha told them. “We’ll be out in a few minutes. We’re stocking up on supplies.”

Leaving them to shop, Rafe loaded the jewelry box into the back of his Subaru, then opened Mercy’s door. “Matthew McConaughey?” he murmured, eyes narrowed. “Really?”

“If Matthew had a rotted soul,” Mercy muttered. “I hated DJ.” Her voice shook. “Hated him.”

Rafe had the sense to look apologetic. “Sorry.” He closed her door, then came around to his side. “I was being a jealous jerk and that was wrong of me.”