Read Online Inevitable Sentences by Tekla Dennison Miller - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Tekla Dennison Miller
Ads: Link
telephoned the sheriff’s office and Sheriff Hunter reassured her. “I’ll put on an extra car out there and keep it close to your place. Meanwhile, I’ll run the plate.”
“Thank you,” Celeste said. “How soon do you think the car will be here?”
“About a half hour,” Hunter said and added, “Don’t worry. I doubt he’ll be back any time soon. This is a fishing expedition. If I get anything on the plates, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, again.” She hung up and gazed around the kitchen. It seemed so ordinary, yet with the arrival of the van, everything had changed. She couldn’t kid herself that she’d actually convinced the driver. Probably all she’d done was buy time.
Well,
she told herself.
Maybe buying time is okay. Maybe the sheriff can track the guy down. Then this new cloud would disappear.
While she headed to her bedroom to let the women know they could come out, she also planned on gently scolding Marcy for taking a chance on being discovered, even though her appearance had encouraged the man’s exit.
Celeste barely reached the door when Lorraine burst through, screaming, “She’ll get us all killed.”
“What are you talking about?” Celeste asked.
“Adrian and that cop husband of hers. If he knows she’s here, it will only be a matter of time until we’ll all be found.” She spoke with such venom it frightened Celeste.
Lorraine must have eavesdropped on the conversation between Celeste and the man at the door. Of course. Probably they all had.
“No such thing is going to happen.” Celeste put all the no-nonsense attitude she could muster into her tone. “The sheriff is putting a second car out here to patrol the road to the lighthouse. No one else will get through. I—” she hesitated, then said firmly, “I promise.” But could she really make such a pledge?
“Big deal. Another cop.” Lorraine spun around to engage Adrian. “You should pack up and get out of here.”
Marcy gasped. “Lorraine!”
“Maybe she’s right, Celeste.” Adrian could barely get the words out. “I’ve put everyone in jeopardy.”
“You’ve done no such thing. You’ll stay here. I need you.” Celeste turned to Lorraine. “I’ll send no woman or children packing. No matter the perceived threat, you are all safer here.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Lorraine said and stomped off.
“Lorraine, don’t be that way,” Marcy said. She turned to Celeste. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks. Sometimes Lorraine can be trying,” Celeste murmured.
Marcy nodded. “Can’t we all?” She smiled and left to find Lorraine.
Adrian began to cry. “I can’t believe he’s found me.”
Celeste circled her arms around Adrian to stop her shaking. “We suspected this would happen to one of you, at some point. We prepared for it, didn’t we? I doubt, with the added protection from the sheriff, your husband or his messenger will do anything foolish.” She hugged Adrian close to her. “If your husband knows—or thinks he knows—you’re here, I can almost guarantee he is aware of the added patrol car.” She kept her voice calm and low. “Besides, I doubt the deputy will let anyone down this road unless they’re cleared by the sheriff’s office.”
“I pray you’re right.” Adrian pulled a tissue from a box on the windowsill and blew her nose. “Although”—she blew her nose again—“the intruder could work his charm and persuade the deputy to let him through. You know, do a favor for a fellow cop.”
Celeste released Adrian. “Would you rather I not go to town?”
“No,” Adrian answered. “I’m being silly. We need those supplies. With the storm approaching, there’s no telling when we’ll be able to get back into Marquette.”
“You’re sure you’ll be okay?” Celeste pressed. She really wasn’t sure herself whether leaving at the moment was a good idea.
“Yes. The sheriff’s car will be here in no time.” Adrian looked toward the window.
“I’ll wait until
“Thank you,” Celeste said. “How soon do you think the car will be here?”
“About a half hour,” Hunter said and added, “Don’t worry. I doubt he’ll be back any time soon. This is a fishing expedition. If I get anything on the plates, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks, again.” She hung up and gazed around the kitchen. It seemed so ordinary, yet with the arrival of the van, everything had changed. She couldn’t kid herself that she’d actually convinced the driver. Probably all she’d done was buy time.
Well,
she told herself.
Maybe buying time is okay. Maybe the sheriff can track the guy down. Then this new cloud would disappear.
While she headed to her bedroom to let the women know they could come out, she also planned on gently scolding Marcy for taking a chance on being discovered, even though her appearance had encouraged the man’s exit.
Celeste barely reached the door when Lorraine burst through, screaming, “She’ll get us all killed.”
“What are you talking about?” Celeste asked.
“Adrian and that cop husband of hers. If he knows she’s here, it will only be a matter of time until we’ll all be found.” She spoke with such venom it frightened Celeste.
Lorraine must have eavesdropped on the conversation between Celeste and the man at the door. Of course. Probably they all had.
“No such thing is going to happen.” Celeste put all the no-nonsense attitude she could muster into her tone. “The sheriff is putting a second car out here to patrol the road to the lighthouse. No one else will get through. I—” she hesitated, then said firmly, “I promise.” But could she really make such a pledge?
“Big deal. Another cop.” Lorraine spun around to engage Adrian. “You should pack up and get out of here.”
Marcy gasped. “Lorraine!”
“Maybe she’s right, Celeste.” Adrian could barely get the words out. “I’ve put everyone in jeopardy.”
“You’ve done no such thing. You’ll stay here. I need you.” Celeste turned to Lorraine. “I’ll send no woman or children packing. No matter the perceived threat, you are all safer here.”
“Yeah. Sure,” Lorraine said and stomped off.
“Lorraine, don’t be that way,” Marcy said. She turned to Celeste. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks. Sometimes Lorraine can be trying,” Celeste murmured.
Marcy nodded. “Can’t we all?” She smiled and left to find Lorraine.
Adrian began to cry. “I can’t believe he’s found me.”
Celeste circled her arms around Adrian to stop her shaking. “We suspected this would happen to one of you, at some point. We prepared for it, didn’t we? I doubt, with the added protection from the sheriff, your husband or his messenger will do anything foolish.” She hugged Adrian close to her. “If your husband knows—or thinks he knows—you’re here, I can almost guarantee he is aware of the added patrol car.” She kept her voice calm and low. “Besides, I doubt the deputy will let anyone down this road unless they’re cleared by the sheriff’s office.”
“I pray you’re right.” Adrian pulled a tissue from a box on the windowsill and blew her nose. “Although”—she blew her nose again—“the intruder could work his charm and persuade the deputy to let him through. You know, do a favor for a fellow cop.”
Celeste released Adrian. “Would you rather I not go to town?”
“No,” Adrian answered. “I’m being silly. We need those supplies. With the storm approaching, there’s no telling when we’ll be able to get back into Marquette.”
“You’re sure you’ll be okay?” Celeste pressed. She really wasn’t sure herself whether leaving at the moment was a good idea.
“Yes. The sheriff’s car will be here in no time.” Adrian looked toward the window.
“I’ll wait until
Similar Books
