Read Online Baked Alaska by Josi S. Kilpack - Free Book Online Page B

chair between her and Sadie. Her eyes were puffy, her face free of makeup, and the dullness of her eyes reflected the same thing her voice had already communicated—she was exhausted. Her bright pink acrylic nails seemed out of place in the solemn room.
    Shawn knew Tanice. Did he know this girl, too? Did she have the answers Sadie was desperate to know?
    When the young woman sniffled, Sadie couldn’t get her package of tissues out of her bag fast enough. She lifted the strap over her head to make it easier to dig through and to make sure she didn’t inadvertently show the photo hiding there. She wished she’d thought to leave it in her room.
    “Thank you,” the woman said, taking the proffered tissue a few seconds later and dabbing at her eyes.
    “You’re welcome,” Sadie said. She wondered how to start a conversation, but then realized that she didn’t know what had happened after she’d left deck twelve last night. Shawn was talking to security, and this girl was obviously upset. Had Tanice’s condition become worse? Could she have...died?
    Heat grew in Sadie’s chest at the thought, and she wondered how much longer she’d have to wait to talk to her son.
    “Ms. Lewish,” the receptionist said.
    “Yes?” the woman answered.
    “Officer Jareg said you can leave the papers with me if you’d like. He hates to take more of your time.”
    “I’m fine to wait,” Ms. Lewish said, smoothing the papers on her lap. “I have some questions for him too.”
    “Okay,” the receptionist said. “I’ll let him know you’re waiting.”
    The sound of a door opening and voices talking from the hallway caused both Sadie and Ms. Lewish to come to their feet, then look at one another. Sadie looked away first while she fumbled with her bag, holding it tight against her stomach.
    The sound of people approaching the waiting area drew their attention, and Sadie let out a breath when Officer Jareg and Shawn appeared from around the corner.
    “Shawn,” she said, unable to keep his name in her mouth a second longer. She took a step toward him before realizing he was looking past her at Ms. Lewish.
    Ms. Lewish also said his name, but so softly Sadie almost didn’t hear it. She was unable to read the expression on the woman’s face. Surprise, maybe?
    Shawn’s expression was definitely one of surprise— unpleasant surprise—then he looked at Sadie and an equally certain look of fear replaced his expression.
    “Do you two know one another?” Sadie asked.
    “Pete and Bre should be right behind me,” Shawn said quickly, looking over his shoulder.
    Ms. Lewish was still staring at him, though he was clearly ignoring her.
    “You’re Shawn Hoffmiller?”
    Sadie and Shawn both looked in Ms. Lewish’s direction. She was scrutinizing Shawn, looking him up and down but not out of admiration, which set Sadie’s back up a little bit. Ms. Lewish narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression tight.
    “Let’s wait out in the hall,” Shawn said. He took Sadie’s arm and pulled her toward the door.
    “Wh-whoa,” Sadie said, stumbling behind him and trying to keep from dropping her bag. “Hang on.”
    Shawn didn’t hang on. He opened the door with one hand and was in the process of pulling Sadie through it with the other when Pete and Breanna entered the tiny room, made even smaller by the seven adults now crowding it.
    “Shawn,” Sadie said in reprimand, trying to catch her bag that was sliding toward the floor, but without success. The bag hit the floor and Sadie’s tissues, nail clippers, gum, wet wipes, useless cell phone, a roll of Ziploc bags, and both pictures spilled across the security office. The picture of Pete and Shawn landed face up, but Sadie’s breath caught in her throat as she watched the other picture slide across the slick commercial carpet—face down, at least. It bounced off Pete’s foot before shooting to the right.
    She twisted her arm out of Shawn’s grip and shot him an annoyed look as she