“Garnet, are you alright?” a deep voice asked.
Deputy Underwood now stood next to me. My head came to the baseline of his neck. I felt like a penguin standing next to a robust ostrich.
I turned away from Clara and Preston. “I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
Behind his sunglasses, I knew Underwood was giving me a look. The same one Dad always gave when he suspected something was bothering me. For a moment, I wondered if Underwood learned it from Dad or, if it was the other way around.
“Just shaken up. What happened?” I nodded toward the bookstore.
A woman, who I assumed to be the medical examiner, walked out of the store. Behind her, workers in uniform rolled a stretcher. I focused my attention on Underwood. I didn’t want to see the body bag.
The deputy pressed his lips before saying, “Doris Ha
