[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“I can’t imagine who it would have been.”Reed cleared his throat.“Could I add to this conversation? You are Penelope Lear.”“So?”“Well, I think we have to consider the possibility that someone could take you for a ransom.This treasure map has brought people to town who aren’t the most trustworthy.They want a treasure, and I don’t think they care how they get it.”“But no one knew that I was going for a drive that day.”“No one?” Tucker found that hard to believe.He’d been around her and knew how she loved to talk.She glanced at him.Or maybe it was more of a glare.An ice-cold, blue-eyed glare.“I bought a few supplies and rented a Jeep.I wanted it to be a surprise.”A smile tugged on the corners of his mouth, but he fought it back by clearing his throat.“Of course.”“Well, it obviously doesn’t matter.If someone wanted to snatch me, they would have done it by now.”Reed returned to the conversation.Tucker watched the cop pull his gaze from Amy, back to Penelope.Four months changed things.It changed how people felt.It changed how Reed looked at Amy.It hadn’t changed Tucker much.He didn’t feel as if he knew one thing more than when he’d left.Four months getting his head on straight should have done something more than have him thinking about Penelope Lear.Last night he’d gone through his dad’s paperwork.Of course he’d left everything to Tucker.Not that there was much of anything to leave.An old fishing boat, a truck and the house.He was still going through paperwork, but he didn’t expect much more than that.None of it really mattered.Saying goodbye would have mattered.He forced himself back into the conversation and listened as Reed explained to Penelope that she needed to stay close to town and not go off by herself.Tucker wondered how long she’d listen to the cop’s advice.The office door opened, bringing a gust of cold air and Herman Lear.Tucker glanced from the man in the doorway to the woman sitting a few feet away from him.She froze and then her mouth dropped a little.He hated what he saw.By calling her father, Reed had put her squarely back in Herman’s control.Obviously she thought he’d made the call, not Reed.She glared at him, her eyes tearing up for the first time since Reed had called her into his office.The idea of someone following her didn’t upset her.Her father’s presence did.“What’s going on?” Herman Lear stood in the center of the room, a dominating force in a black overcoat, his hair steel gray and his face weathered but still hard and unbending.“Mr.Lear, I called you here because we have reason to believe your daughter’s safety is in jeopardy.”“What makes you believe that?”Tucker stood up and indicated for the older man to sit, mainly because they’d all relax if Mr.Lear wasn’t looming over them.“Someone followed her into the woods.”“Do you have proof?”“Someone was snooping around the cabin while she was there and someone followed us back to town.”Herman Lear turned his back on Tucker, ignoring the chair, and stared at his daughter.“Did you notice anyone?”“Not once.It could be anything.” Penelope’s chin jutted and her voice was strong.“I don’t care.You’re going to pack your bags and head home.”Penelope shook her head.“No, I’m not.I’m staying in Treasure Creek.”“I think this vacation of yours is over.I’m not going to leave you here and have something happen to you.”“Nothing is going to happen.”“Why in the world do you want to stay here?” Herman sat on the edge of Reed’s desk.“I love this town, Dad.And I don’t think I’m in danger.”“Well, I think you are.I know you’re an adult, but this is about your safety.We’re flying out this afternoon.”“I’m not.” She picked up her purse and stood.“Chief Truscott, I appreciate the warning.Dad, I’m not leaving.”She didn’t tell Tucker goodbye, just glanced his way and then smiled at Amy as she walked out the door.Tucker watched as she walked across the snow-covered street in the direction of the general store.Joleen Jones grabbed Penelope as she walked through the door of the general store.Penelope stiffened and then relaxed, because it was Joleen.Exuberant, energetic Joleen.Poor Mr.Peterson.It seemed that he was still the target of the socialite in the fur coat, suede boots and overdone jewelry.As horrendous as it all was, Joleen was still easy to like.“Well, honey, it is about time you made it back to town.”Penelope smiled at the greeting.“It’s good to be back.”She glanced in the direction of the police station and let out a quick sigh of relief because no one had followed her.So, now that she was here, what did she buy? How did she kill time in Treasure Creek’s general store?She could be like the men who stood on the corner with their cups of coffee.It wasn’t good coffee.She’d tried it when she first came to town.And then she figured out that it was “guy” coffee.It was strong enough to cut through metal and was meant to keep women at bay.The general store, she learned from Amy, was where the men of Treasure Creek came to hang out.Not to gossip, of course.Men don’t gossip.They talk about the weather and about politics.And sometimes about what their neighbors were up to.But it was never gossip.Penelope smiled and then turned her attention back to the perfume cloud that was Joleen.“Are you going to church tonight?” Joleen asked a little loudly.Probably more for Harry than Penelope.“I might, if I can get away.” From her parents.But Joleen was going to church?Penelope smiled, because she knew that people in town had prayed for Joleen.She was positive they’d prayed for her as well.“Well, what about the Christmas pageant? My goodness, honey, you missed out on so much, and you weren’t gone long at all.And not only that, but I heard you came back to town with that hunky lawyer who has been missing since June.Is he off his rocker?”“What?”Joleen softened her smile.“I mean, he took off on his own and he’s been gone for months.That isn’t something a sane person would do.People in town are talking, wondering if maybe he had some kind of breakdown.”“He seemed fine.” Penelope sifted through the rack of jeans.Normal, plain old jeans.She pulled off a couple of pairs that would fit her and then grabbed a couple of sweatshirts.“You’re not going to wear that!?” Joleen covered her mouth with her hand and then turned a little pink because Harry cleared his throat.“Not that they aren’t lovely.”“They’re warm.If you ever end up lost in the woods, you’ll appreciate warm.Hey, how is Delilah?”“Who knows.”“I thought the two of you were friends.”“We were, until I realized she doesn’t have a loyal bone in her body.And who needs friends who aren’t loyal?”Penelope nodded because she got that.Across the street at the police station, Tucker Lawson was telling people stories about her life
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]