Read Online Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book One) by Amy Saunders - Free Book Online
Authors: Amy Saunders
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old
enough to stalk you."
"He hasn't
been stalking me." Belinda glanced at him reprovingly.
"He seems to
show up everywhere you are."
"He lives
next door."
Bennett shrugged.
"It's still odd."
"About as
odd as, let's say, you showing up at every turn? And I can't say you live
anywhere near me." Belinda folded her arms, her eyes back to normal.
She was smart,
and catching on. Bennett liked that.
He decided to
take the conversation down a different street. "Do I make you
uncomfortable?"
Surprise lit up
her eyes. "I haven't decided yet."
"Then maybe
I should give you more time."
Belinda's arms
dropped and she rubbed the tip of her finger. "Just as long as you don't
kidnap me again."
Bennett smirked,
falling into pace with her down the sidewalk. "Where were we? Before
Jarrett interrupted us?" Bennett knew exactly where they were, but he
wanted to give her a chance to volunteer.
Belinda's face
look troubled. "I...I can't recall."
So much for that.
Bennett guessed that he and Jarrett were now even after the market incident. It
made no difference. She'd now given away that she welcomed his presence, so he
wasn't about to disappoint her.
~ * ~
Victoria took
several turns down side streets the next afternoon, heading towards Lily's
house. They went uphill, Belinda putting down her window to inhale the salt
air. In an enclave beyond where most people traveled, Lily's family's house was
nestled behind a gate. Belinda wanted to check it out to learn why she was back
in Portside—and what she might want with a kid like Jarrett.
"So we just
watch to see what happens?" Victoria said, biting into a candy bar.
"What if she doesn't leave?"
Belinda shrugged.
"What if you
can't get inside if she does leave? Unlike your house, this woman appears to be
serious about her security. And they have a much bigger gate and wall than you
guys do."
Belinda sighed.
"This might be a complete waste of time."
"Nonsense.
You're a Kittridge, remember?"
Belinda cringed.
"I actually said that, didn't I?"
"Yep." Victoria licked chocolate from her fingers. "But he enjoyed it immensely."
"Do you
really think that?"
"Absolutely.
He basically said so himself. After all, you, Belinda Kittridge," Victoria dropped her voice an octave, "are never a waste of time." She pondered
that. "You know, I bet he knew it was us all along."
"And he
still came?"
"Why not?
He'd get to see you."
Belinda didn't
want to admit it right then, but she kind of liked that idea.
After close to an
hour of twirling her hair, discussing possible names for Belinda's shop, and
eating one of Victoria's candy bars, the gate finally slid open and Lily zipped
out of her driveway in her silver convertible. Belinda and Victoria hunched
over as she passed, just hoping Lily didn't see them. As soon as she'd
disappeared around the bend, Belinda jumped out of the car.
"Keep
watch!" she said before slamming the door.
Victoria watched
as Belinda squeaked through the gate before it trapped her inside. Belinda
caught her breath and marched around to the back entrance, peering inside where
it was dark and empty. She found a side window open and with a little pressure,
popped the screen out and climbed through. Belinda dashed up the stairs to find
Lily's bedroom. Not that she knew what she was looking for. Just any clues to
what Lily's ulterior motive could be for coming back to Portside. Notes,
tickets, receipts. Anything.
Belinda found the
room she suspected belonged to Lily. She glanced out the window and all she
could see was sky—and the occasional head bobbing along the Ocean Walk beyond
the backyard. The house was insanely quiet except for the chatter of walkers
blown up by the wind.
After peeking
into a few dresser drawers, Belinda found an envelope buried under some
clothes. Money? She pulled it out out of curiosity. Inside was a thick stack of
photographs. Belinda flipped through them, the first few just of Mark.
Belinda sighed.
He had been a handsome guy.
enough to stalk you."
"He hasn't
been stalking me." Belinda glanced at him reprovingly.
"He seems to
show up everywhere you are."
"He lives
next door."
Bennett shrugged.
"It's still odd."
"About as
odd as, let's say, you showing up at every turn? And I can't say you live
anywhere near me." Belinda folded her arms, her eyes back to normal.
She was smart,
and catching on. Bennett liked that.
He decided to
take the conversation down a different street. "Do I make you
uncomfortable?"
Surprise lit up
her eyes. "I haven't decided yet."
"Then maybe
I should give you more time."
Belinda's arms
dropped and she rubbed the tip of her finger. "Just as long as you don't
kidnap me again."
Bennett smirked,
falling into pace with her down the sidewalk. "Where were we? Before
Jarrett interrupted us?" Bennett knew exactly where they were, but he
wanted to give her a chance to volunteer.
Belinda's face
look troubled. "I...I can't recall."
So much for that.
Bennett guessed that he and Jarrett were now even after the market incident. It
made no difference. She'd now given away that she welcomed his presence, so he
wasn't about to disappoint her.
~ * ~
Victoria took
several turns down side streets the next afternoon, heading towards Lily's
house. They went uphill, Belinda putting down her window to inhale the salt
air. In an enclave beyond where most people traveled, Lily's family's house was
nestled behind a gate. Belinda wanted to check it out to learn why she was back
in Portside—and what she might want with a kid like Jarrett.
"So we just
watch to see what happens?" Victoria said, biting into a candy bar.
"What if she doesn't leave?"
Belinda shrugged.
"What if you
can't get inside if she does leave? Unlike your house, this woman appears to be
serious about her security. And they have a much bigger gate and wall than you
guys do."
Belinda sighed.
"This might be a complete waste of time."
"Nonsense.
You're a Kittridge, remember?"
Belinda cringed.
"I actually said that, didn't I?"
"Yep." Victoria licked chocolate from her fingers. "But he enjoyed it immensely."
"Do you
really think that?"
"Absolutely.
He basically said so himself. After all, you, Belinda Kittridge," Victoria dropped her voice an octave, "are never a waste of time." She pondered
that. "You know, I bet he knew it was us all along."
"And he
still came?"
"Why not?
He'd get to see you."
Belinda didn't
want to admit it right then, but she kind of liked that idea.
After close to an
hour of twirling her hair, discussing possible names for Belinda's shop, and
eating one of Victoria's candy bars, the gate finally slid open and Lily zipped
out of her driveway in her silver convertible. Belinda and Victoria hunched
over as she passed, just hoping Lily didn't see them. As soon as she'd
disappeared around the bend, Belinda jumped out of the car.
"Keep
watch!" she said before slamming the door.
Victoria watched
as Belinda squeaked through the gate before it trapped her inside. Belinda
caught her breath and marched around to the back entrance, peering inside where
it was dark and empty. She found a side window open and with a little pressure,
popped the screen out and climbed through. Belinda dashed up the stairs to find
Lily's bedroom. Not that she knew what she was looking for. Just any clues to
what Lily's ulterior motive could be for coming back to Portside. Notes,
tickets, receipts. Anything.
Belinda found the
room she suspected belonged to Lily. She glanced out the window and all she
could see was sky—and the occasional head bobbing along the Ocean Walk beyond
the backyard. The house was insanely quiet except for the chatter of walkers
blown up by the wind.
After peeking
into a few dresser drawers, Belinda found an envelope buried under some
clothes. Money? She pulled it out out of curiosity. Inside was a thick stack of
photographs. Belinda flipped through them, the first few just of Mark.
Belinda sighed.
He had been a handsome guy.
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