Read Online Inevitable Sentences by Tekla Dennison Miller - Free Book Online Page A

for the worst—that someone had found the location of one of the women.
    She let him knock a second time. She didn’t want to appear too eager. She cracked the door open, keeping one foot braced at the bottom to hold it in place, or if necessary, to kick it shut.
    “Yes?” she said, peering through the small opening. He had a salt-and-pepper beard and a nondescript black jacket with no identifying logo.
    “Hello, ma’am.” The man nodded and smiled broadly.
    Too friendly, Celeste thought.
    He looked at the box. “I have a package for Adrian Chappell.”
    Celeste’s heart skipped. Adrian’s cop husband had found her. Celeste had prepared and even mentally rehearsed for a time like this. She wouldn’t give this man even the merest hint that she recognized the name.
    “Who?” She opened the door a little wider to appear more confident. Although she wanted to ask for identification, she decided she was better off playing dumb rather than being suspicious. If she acted too wary, he might get the idea she was hiding something.
    “Adrian Chappell, ma’am. She has to sign for it, too.” He showed her a form with Adrian’s name typed on it.
    Celeste knew this wasn’t the normal routine. “I’m sorry you had to come all this way. There’s no such person here,” Celeste asserted coolly, her tone implying polite regret, but also boredom.
    “Oh?” The man tried to peek around Celeste.
    “I’m sure I have the right place.” He tilted the package and pointed at the address.
    Celeste glanced at the name and address on the shipping label. She looked the man straight in the eyes. “Someone has made an error. As I said, there’s no Adrian Chapp … what is the last name?”
    “Chappell.”
    “Well, anyway, no such person lives here.” Celeste started to push the door closed, but the man grabbed it to keep it open.
    What was he planning to do? She wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep her cool. Her stomach was churning. Her heart was about to explode through her chest. How was she going to get rid of this man who, she had no doubt, intended to do harm at the least to Adrian, and probably to all the rest of them, too?
    “My boss will be upset if I don’t deliver this.” The man seemed to be trying to convince Celeste how worried he was about his failed delivery. “You see, today is Friday. It’s Adrian’s birthday.” The man produced an insincere smile.
    Celeste’s heart raced. It was Adrian’s birthday. Celeste had planned to surprise her with a cake from the bakery.
    Celeste mustered all the courage she had. She wanted this intruder off her property. “Look. I already told you. There is no one here by that name.
    I cannot accept a package addressed to someone I don’t know. My best suggestion is for you take it back to the place you got it and tell them they’ve made a mistake.”
    “Mom.” Marcy peeked into the room. “I need your help.”
    Celeste was not happy about Marcy showing herself, even though the man would have had a difficult time getting a good look at her. “I’ll be right there. This gentleman is leaving.” She never took her eyes off of him.
    He hesitated for a moment and stared deeply into Celeste’s eyes as though searching for a way to break her down.
    She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction and stared back with equal determination.
    Finally, he tapped a finger to his head and said, “Thank you for your help. Have a nice day.” He sounded sarcastic.
    Celeste locked the door and watched the man get into his van. He set the package on the passenger’s seat, studied the house for a few moments, and drove off. Although Celeste wrote down the plate numbers, she was certain whoever sent the package would not be easily identified, especially through something as obvious as a license plate. She leaned against the door, gathering her composure and her thoughts.
    “Quit wasting your time and get a handle on the situation,” she told herself aloud.
    She immediately