Holiday shoppers filled the aisles of the Poison Pen when Phaedra arrived a short time later. “Wow. Busy much?” she asked her harried father as he rang up the last of a line of customers. “It’s been like this all day. We’re offering free gift wrapping in the reading room, and your mother’s been inundated. And the new girl didn’t show up. I haven’t had a break since we opened the doors.” “I’ll take over.” She rounded the counter and tucked her purse into one of the cubbies underneath. “Go.” “Well . . . if I’m not keeping you from anything?” “Not a thing. I’m off this week, remember? Take a break,” she insisted, shooing him away. “Before I change my mind.” He thanked her, answered a question from a customer, and disappeared upstairs. Another line began to form, and she busied herself ringing up one purchase after another. She drew the next stack of paperbacks toward her. On top was Homer’s Iliad. “Will this be all for you today?” “Unless you have a Dog House Special stashed away behind the counter, then yes, that’s all.” “Hector!” Phaedra glanced up, surprised. “No Dog House Specials today, sorry. Just books. What brings you here?”…