Rinn could still hear Hunt Junior through the receiver, even though it was up to Daniella’s ear. “Josephine, is that you?”

“It’s Joelle, sir. But yes. What can I do for you?” Daniella didn’t miss a beat.

Rinn shook her head. You can’t just impersonate our manager.

Daniella narrowed her eyes, like she was saying, Watch me.

“Why weren’t you at the register already?” That was Hunt Junior again.

“Sir, the store isn’t open yet, and I was just double-checking the takes from last night in the office. Otherwise, we’ve been setting up the store for opening, which is why such a junior employee had to answer the phone.” Daniella gave an honestly impressive stink eye in Rinn’s direction.

Rinn straightened her spine. She would not be intimidated by Daniella or her rudeness.

“Fine. Call me as soon as you’ve got final numbers. It’s important.” Leave it to Mr. Hunt to sound miffed and mollified all at once.

“Will do, sir.”

Mr. Hunt couldn’t see it, but Daniella did a little mock salute and hung up the phone.

Despite everything, Rinn had to stifle a laugh.

Daniella, however, was not amused. “Do you understand what you nearly did?”

“Answer the phone?” Rinn couldn’t imagine what she’d done to upset Daniella this early in the day.

Daniella scoffed. “You’ve got to be joking. You nearly got Jo fired.”

“Why would Mr. Hunt fire her for not being at the register before we’re even open?”

Daniella put her hand on her hip. She gave Rinn a good long stare. Her smudgy eyeliner lent her expression a feral quality. And then she pointed to the store around them. “Do you think everything is just peachy keen around here? You think that the store is just doing swell? Because it isn’t. The store is dying. Of course Hunt Junior would be worried about her manning the register. Don’t you know anything? Don’t you have eyes?”

Rinn frowned. “I know there aren’t customers. How many times does somebody have to say it? The store is closed right now.”

“You know, for such a smart girl, you can be so stupid.” And then Daniella was off, clearly unwilling to explain further.

And that left Rinn with one thought, one idea rattling around in her head. She couldn’t believe it. She didn’t want to believe it.

Wild Nights Bookstore and Emporium was dying?