Confessions of a Curious Bookseller(83)
Fawn
From: Florence Eakins
Sent: Tue, Jul 9, 2019 at 9:41 PM
To: Fawn Birchill
Re: A few words
That’s fine, Fawn. You don’t have to say anything.
Flo
July 11, 2019
I have an update on Rainbow. This morning I awoke to find her door ajar. Careful not to disturb her, as I know her work is very sensitive, I snuck over and gently knocked with only the tip of my finger. When she didn’t answer, I called to her, but still there came no response. I waited a few breaths and informed her in a kind tone that I was coming in. I only wanted to see if she was all right, as she has had this door securely shut for days and has only emerged to use the bathroom, find food, and dispose of Jellybean’s poo.
Ever so carefully I eased the door open, and what I saw nearly knocked me over. I stood at the threshold of her small bedroom to find it completely emptied of her belongings. There was no trace of her and Jellybean; it was as if she was never there to begin with. My heart sank. At first, of course, I thought that she had left in the night, upset with me over something, but she was never the kind of person to take offense to anything at all—a quality about her that I found both rare and refreshing.
So, feeling rather dejected and still reeling over the loss of Jane, I steadied myself on the doorjamb and took some deep, cleansing breaths. I couldn’t understand how I managed to lose her, this ray of sunlight in my life. I should have told her sooner how much she meant to me; perhaps then she wouldn’t have left. Immediately I thought of Jack and how he wouldn’t take her sudden disappearance very well. I walked into her room and stood with my back to the window, trying hard to find a clue—anything that would tell me what the hell had happened—when I noticed an envelope taped to the wall beside the outlet.
Hungrily I opened it to find a letter and one hundred dollars cash enclosed. I would have included the letter verbatim in my journal, but soon you will understand why this was not possible. Unfortunately, I am forced to re-create what I read within. Here is the best my memory can do: Fawn,
It was such a pleasure staying with you in your lovely home. I enjoyed the time we spent together, as well as meeting and getting to know the late and fabulous Jane. But it is with a heavy heart that I must perform my last great vanishing act and leave this fine place behind. Please know, Fawn, that though we have reached the end of our time together, though the rainbow must eventually fade, there is always another to be admired elsewhere. This rainbow is thrilled to announce that she is currently headed to Atlantic City to perform in her very first casino show. Because of your support and willingness to take me in for not much money at all, I was able to perfect my craft in a way that fits AC’s standards. I am closer than ever to reaching my Vegas dream and will forever count you as a dear friend who played an important role in that. I hope my last two months of rent will help as you find another occupant.
All the love and a pot of gold,
Rainbow and Jellybean
If I do say so myself, I think I did pretty well capturing what she wrote before the disappearing ink she used rendered all her words extinct. (Thankfully, the cash did not go the way of the ink.)
I will now tell Jack the news. I know he won’t take it well, for I think he might have had a little crush on her.
From: Mark Nilsen
Sent: Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 8:32 AM
To: Fawn Birchill
Subject: Coffees
Hi Fawn,
I’m a little baffled this morning. I walked in to find two freshly made cappuccinos and two black coffees (the exact drinks that were vanished by your magician friend) steaming on the coffee counter. I was the only person here this morning to open, and after checking last night’s footage, I have no explanation for how they suddenly appeared on the counter.
This is kind of freaking me out. I am not accusing you or her of doing anything because the footage definitely proves no one was here. On top of that, the alarm never went off. What do you think?
Mark
From: Fawn Birchill
Sent: Fri, Jul 12, 2019 at 10:16 AM
To: Mark Nilsen
Re: Coffees
Hi Mark,
Rainbow has gone off to AC to perform magic tricks in one of the casinos, so I’m not sure how this is possible. Perhaps she was paying her debts, though I, too, remain entirely perplexed as to how this could have happened, unless you are spinning me quite the yarn. That said, I’m not sure why you’d lie about this.
Equally baffled,
Fawn
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Fawn Birchill/CuriousCatBooks/1m
Fawn here! The #CCBE: chock-full of personality—literally by the thousands! Come meet them all at the #CCBE!!
To: Jack Grisby >
12:20 PM
Funeral started. How is everything going?
To: Fawn Birchill >
12:25 PM
OMG A sink hole took store