Eye of the Beholder

get an advance copy from the publisher."
    "How long have you been selling his books?"
    Dylan's thin shoulders lifted in a small shrug. "Ever since he started writing them. The first one came out about four years after he opened the Institute. Let me see, that would be—"
    "Seven years ago, to be exact," said a familiar voice. "Webster owes you a great deal, Dylan. I have a hunch you've sold more of his books than all of the shops in Tucson and Phoenix combined."
    Dylan grinned. "Peace and serenity, Joanna."
    Alexa turned to see Joanna Bell walking briskly toward them along the terra cotta sidewalk. She had a plastic container of Cafe Solstice tea in one hand. Stewart had created a special blend just for her. He called it Joanna's Rainbow.
    Joanna was a few years younger than her half-brother, which put her somewhere in her mid-fifties, Alexa guessed. She was a striking woman with dark eyes and patrician features.
    She wore her discreetly tinted hair in a sophisticated knot at the nape of her neck. Like Webster, she favored turquoise and silver jewelry. In addition to her Dimensions bracelet, she wore several silver and stone-studded bangles, a modern interpretation of a traditional squash blossom necklace, and enough rings to blind a deer on the highway at night.
    "Hello, Joanna," Alexa said.
    Joanna smiled at her, but there was an oddly tense, searching expression in her eyes. "Didn't I see you at the Avalon Resort reception last night? Thought I caught a glimpse of you in the crowd, but I lost you again."
    "I just dropped in for a few minutes."
    "Did you get a look at some of the art and antiques? Edward Vale did a magnificent job. I'm not a great fan of the Deco style, but I have to admit that it's perfectly suited to the Avalon Resort."
    Alexa hid her surprise with some effort. She told herself that it was a good sign that the other woman had noticed the hotel's collection. But it nonetheless struck her as strange. Until today the only art Joanna had ever shown any interest in was the craft of jewelry design.
    Alexa studiously avoided the subject of her former career with anyone at Avalon Plaza . It was all part of the grand plan to keep a low profile until she made her comeback.
    She was wondering how to change the topic before it strayed into dangerous territory when Dylan took the problem out of her hands.
    "Were you okay with everything last night, Joanna?" he asked gently.
    Alexa glanced at him, startled by the unmistakable note of concern in his voice.
    "Yes, of course, Dylan." Joanna gave him a wan smile. "Thank you for asking. I'm fine. It's been a long time, after all."
    Alexa suddenly felt very awkward. She glanced from one to the other, sensing undercurrents.
    "You two will have to excuse me," Joanna said quickly. "I've got a shop to open. Things are getting busy around here. The tourists are really starting to pour into town for the festival."
    "See you later." Dylan watched her walk away toward the door of Crystal Rainbow.
    "Am I missing something here?" Alexa asked. "Or is it any of my business?"
    "What?" Dylan blinked a couple of times and then shook his head. "Sorry. I just figured you knew."
    "Knew what?"
    "Joanna was engaged to Harry Trask, the guy who tried to turn the old Avalon Mansion into a resort twelve years ago. When he died in a car crash, she was pretty shaken up for a while. Had a bout with depression. I was a little worried about her last night. Didn't know if seeing Harry's son again after all this time would bring back some unhappy memories."

    At
four o'clock
that afternoon, Alexa found herself alone in Elegant Relic. Through the front window, she watched a truck bearing the logo Avalon Herald pause in front of the vending machine outside her shop. A young man hopped out of the back and filled the box with several copies of the town's only daily newspaper.
    She grabbed some change from her satchel and raced outside. She plunked the money into the slot and seized a copy of the Herald.
    Back inside Elegant Relic, she opened the paper on the counter beside the cash register and scanned the front-page article on the Avalon Resort & Spa reception.
    The Herald was a typical small-town paper. Cheerful and folksy in tone, it tended toward stories on local tourism, Avalon High School football games, and the annual Spring Festival. She told herself it did not matter whether or not the paper had said anything about her art collection at the new resort. She was pretty sure the Herald did