Read Online Finding Peace (Love's Compass #1) by Melanie D. Snitker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Melanie D. Snitker
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boss wants us on it. Meet me at the station as soon as you can.” His partner’s voice sounded rushed.
“Will do.” He ended the call. “Sorry, Lexi, I’ve got to go.” He strode into the living room where everyone else was visiting. “I’m sorry I have to leave early, but I’ve got to go back to the station. Lance and I got called in. I had fun, though!” He kissed Grams and Patty on the cheek and gave both sisters a hug. He swung Gideon into his arms for a big squeeze before tossing him gently onto the couch. The boy laughed as he rolled off the cushions and landed on the floor. Tuck looked at Laurie. “There’s been another break-in on the other side of town. I’ll let you know if we find any evidence leading to the guy who broke into your studio.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “I appreciate that. Stay safe.”
He gave them all a wave and strode from the house. Laurie’s last words played over in his mind and it tugged on his heart.
~
Tuck shined a flashlight on the broken window at Powell Elementary School. “And someone heard the window breaking?”
“One of the teachers was heading out when she heard it. She turned the hall light on and that must have been enough to scare the punk away.” Lance snapped a few photos. “Doesn’t Serenity work here?”
“She sure does.” Tuck didn’t appreciate seeing anything like this in his town, much less in a place that hit so close to home.
There was very little evidence since the person had not gone inside. But they did make casts of several shoe impressions in the dirt under the window before they wrapped up their investigation.
“What are you thinking, Tuck?”
“This could have been anyone. Most likely some kid who was bored.”
“I would be more convinced if we had caught the guy who broke into the photography studio.”
“So would I.”
~
Laurie got to her apartment much later than she had intended. The evening over at the Chandler home had been a huge success. She thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone and felt like she had made a great deal of progress with Gideon.
By the time she was heading out, he had even brought his favorite toy train to show her. Serenity had been the one to confirm the appointment for the photo shoot. She invited Laurie to join them for another Sunday evening meal afterwards. Excited about the business – as well as the company – Laurie had quickly agreed.
Her mind drifted to Tuck. There was no doubt about it. The thought of the tall police officer made her smile and gave her a bubbly feeling. She hoped he would be at the dinner in two weeks.
She spent a couple of hours on one of her previous photo shoots, working the images on her computer. When she got too tired to focus, she pulled up her website.
She had been meaning to go through and change the look for a while. On the homepage, images of past clients faded in and out as the photo album displayed one after the other. The cute little redheaded girl with Down’s syndrome made her smile. The image of an older couple laughing at a joke only they understood made her wish to someday have a love like they shared. And the photo of seven kids – four boys and three girls – piled on top of each other with toothless grins made her laugh. She remembered the escapades of having so many children in her studio at one time.
Yes, she loved her job and she was blessed to be able to make a living doing what she enjoyed the most.
Laurie backed up all of her work to a small hard drive on her desk, closed the laptop, and readied for bed. She switched the lights off in her living area.
A clatter downstairs followed by shattering glass made her jump. Goosebumps covered her arms and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She held her breath. Frozen in place, she waited for another sound. She heard nothing but the hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the clock that hung over the television.
Emptying her lungs, she took
“Will do.” He ended the call. “Sorry, Lexi, I’ve got to go.” He strode into the living room where everyone else was visiting. “I’m sorry I have to leave early, but I’ve got to go back to the station. Lance and I got called in. I had fun, though!” He kissed Grams and Patty on the cheek and gave both sisters a hug. He swung Gideon into his arms for a big squeeze before tossing him gently onto the couch. The boy laughed as he rolled off the cushions and landed on the floor. Tuck looked at Laurie. “There’s been another break-in on the other side of town. I’ll let you know if we find any evidence leading to the guy who broke into your studio.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and nodded. “I appreciate that. Stay safe.”
He gave them all a wave and strode from the house. Laurie’s last words played over in his mind and it tugged on his heart.
~
Tuck shined a flashlight on the broken window at Powell Elementary School. “And someone heard the window breaking?”
“One of the teachers was heading out when she heard it. She turned the hall light on and that must have been enough to scare the punk away.” Lance snapped a few photos. “Doesn’t Serenity work here?”
“She sure does.” Tuck didn’t appreciate seeing anything like this in his town, much less in a place that hit so close to home.
There was very little evidence since the person had not gone inside. But they did make casts of several shoe impressions in the dirt under the window before they wrapped up their investigation.
“What are you thinking, Tuck?”
“This could have been anyone. Most likely some kid who was bored.”
“I would be more convinced if we had caught the guy who broke into the photography studio.”
“So would I.”
~
Laurie got to her apartment much later than she had intended. The evening over at the Chandler home had been a huge success. She thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone and felt like she had made a great deal of progress with Gideon.
By the time she was heading out, he had even brought his favorite toy train to show her. Serenity had been the one to confirm the appointment for the photo shoot. She invited Laurie to join them for another Sunday evening meal afterwards. Excited about the business – as well as the company – Laurie had quickly agreed.
Her mind drifted to Tuck. There was no doubt about it. The thought of the tall police officer made her smile and gave her a bubbly feeling. She hoped he would be at the dinner in two weeks.
She spent a couple of hours on one of her previous photo shoots, working the images on her computer. When she got too tired to focus, she pulled up her website.
She had been meaning to go through and change the look for a while. On the homepage, images of past clients faded in and out as the photo album displayed one after the other. The cute little redheaded girl with Down’s syndrome made her smile. The image of an older couple laughing at a joke only they understood made her wish to someday have a love like they shared. And the photo of seven kids – four boys and three girls – piled on top of each other with toothless grins made her laugh. She remembered the escapades of having so many children in her studio at one time.
Yes, she loved her job and she was blessed to be able to make a living doing what she enjoyed the most.
Laurie backed up all of her work to a small hard drive on her desk, closed the laptop, and readied for bed. She switched the lights off in her living area.
A clatter downstairs followed by shattering glass made her jump. Goosebumps covered her arms and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She held her breath. Frozen in place, she waited for another sound. She heard nothing but the hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the clock that hung over the television.
Emptying her lungs, she took
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