Read Online 06 Suspects and Surprises by Cindy Bell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cindy Bell
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a hint of it. In fact the only cars in the parking lot were the car that Suzie and Mary shared and Paul's. He opened the passenger door for her. Suzie slid inside and did her best to relax. She tried to convince herself that there was nothing she could do at the moment. She tried to give herself permission to actually enjoy her time with Paul.
When Suzie and Paul reached their favorite restaurant, Cheney's, Suzie was still trying to convince herself. She realized she hadn't spoken a word to Paul. Paul, who was usually rather quiet himself hadn't tried to coax her into conversation, but she knew that he had noticed. They walked up to the restaurant, hand in hand, but Suzie's mind was elsewhere.
“I'm sorry all of this happened, and especially on Mary's birthday weekend,” Paul said grimly.
“Me too,” Suzie said as he held the door open for her. There was a subtle buzz of conversation when they stepped inside, but as soon as the door fell closed behind them, that buzz became stony silence. Suzie was a little confused until she noticed people leaning close to whisper to each other. The hostess offered her a sad smile. Suzie felt a sense of alarm growing within her that she hadn't felt since she was in high school and had been teased for the braces she had to wear. She wasn't sure how to react to the knowledge that everyone in the room was talking about her. She felt Paul's strong hand on the small of her back.
“Table for two,” he told the hostess.
“Paul, maybe we should just get the food to go,” Suzie said softly beside his ear.
“Nonsense,” he replied. “I'm going to take any chance I have to show you off.”
Suzie raised an eyebrow at that. “I don't think that anyone wants me to be here,” she said.
“I do,” he said and met her eyes intently. “It's just you and me, sweetheart, nobody else here matters.”
Suzie realized he was trying to prevent her from running and hiding, but she wasn't so sure she agreed with him. She did her best to make it through the meal without bolting out the door, but she had a hard time thinking about anything other than the dirty looks, and curious stares she continued to receive. Obviously the rumor had spread through the majority of the town. Now, people were likely debating whether the death was the fault of Dune House and its owner.
Paul signaled to the waitress to bring their bill. Suzie felt a sense of relief. She couldn't even enjoy her food as her stomach was in knots. While they waited for the bill Suzie did something she almost never did. She pulled out her cell phone at the table. She texted Jason to see if he had found out anything about the case. She also sent a text to Mary to check on her. She wanted to do anything to avoid noticing the people around her who were judging her.
“Why don't we go for a walk?” Paul suggested. “It's a nice night for it.”
“I'd like that,” Suzie said and finally put her phone away.
As they left the restaurant Suzie could feel the eyes of others on her. She wasn't sure if she was just being paranoid, or if there really was something for her to be suspicious about. Either way she imagined that they were thinking horrible things about her. She was hoping that a little fresh air and escape from the people of Garber would help clear her mind. Paul led her down towards the harbor where his boat was docked.
“You seem a little preoccupied,” Paul said quietly as they walked hand in hand.
“I'm sorry,” Suzie said with a slight frown as she looked over at him. “Between this situation with Dune House, and Mary, I am a little preoccupied.”
“The party?” he asked and raised an eyebrow. “Do you need help with it?”
“No, it's not the party,” Suzie sighed. “I've barely even thought about the party since all of this happened. It's Wes.”
“Detective Brown?” Paul said with a grimace.
“I know you're not a fan,” Suzie shook her head. “Maybe I should have listened to you.”
“Now, I may not
When Suzie and Paul reached their favorite restaurant, Cheney's, Suzie was still trying to convince herself. She realized she hadn't spoken a word to Paul. Paul, who was usually rather quiet himself hadn't tried to coax her into conversation, but she knew that he had noticed. They walked up to the restaurant, hand in hand, but Suzie's mind was elsewhere.
“I'm sorry all of this happened, and especially on Mary's birthday weekend,” Paul said grimly.
“Me too,” Suzie said as he held the door open for her. There was a subtle buzz of conversation when they stepped inside, but as soon as the door fell closed behind them, that buzz became stony silence. Suzie was a little confused until she noticed people leaning close to whisper to each other. The hostess offered her a sad smile. Suzie felt a sense of alarm growing within her that she hadn't felt since she was in high school and had been teased for the braces she had to wear. She wasn't sure how to react to the knowledge that everyone in the room was talking about her. She felt Paul's strong hand on the small of her back.
“Table for two,” he told the hostess.
“Paul, maybe we should just get the food to go,” Suzie said softly beside his ear.
“Nonsense,” he replied. “I'm going to take any chance I have to show you off.”
Suzie raised an eyebrow at that. “I don't think that anyone wants me to be here,” she said.
“I do,” he said and met her eyes intently. “It's just you and me, sweetheart, nobody else here matters.”
Suzie realized he was trying to prevent her from running and hiding, but she wasn't so sure she agreed with him. She did her best to make it through the meal without bolting out the door, but she had a hard time thinking about anything other than the dirty looks, and curious stares she continued to receive. Obviously the rumor had spread through the majority of the town. Now, people were likely debating whether the death was the fault of Dune House and its owner.
Paul signaled to the waitress to bring their bill. Suzie felt a sense of relief. She couldn't even enjoy her food as her stomach was in knots. While they waited for the bill Suzie did something she almost never did. She pulled out her cell phone at the table. She texted Jason to see if he had found out anything about the case. She also sent a text to Mary to check on her. She wanted to do anything to avoid noticing the people around her who were judging her.
“Why don't we go for a walk?” Paul suggested. “It's a nice night for it.”
“I'd like that,” Suzie said and finally put her phone away.
As they left the restaurant Suzie could feel the eyes of others on her. She wasn't sure if she was just being paranoid, or if there really was something for her to be suspicious about. Either way she imagined that they were thinking horrible things about her. She was hoping that a little fresh air and escape from the people of Garber would help clear her mind. Paul led her down towards the harbor where his boat was docked.
“You seem a little preoccupied,” Paul said quietly as they walked hand in hand.
“I'm sorry,” Suzie said with a slight frown as she looked over at him. “Between this situation with Dune House, and Mary, I am a little preoccupied.”
“The party?” he asked and raised an eyebrow. “Do you need help with it?”
“No, it's not the party,” Suzie sighed. “I've barely even thought about the party since all of this happened. It's Wes.”
“Detective Brown?” Paul said with a grimace.
“I know you're not a fan,” Suzie shook her head. “Maybe I should have listened to you.”
“Now, I may not
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