Read Online Letters in the Attic by DeAnna Julie Dodson - Free Book Online Page A

kept her smile sincere and impersonal. It was the best way to deal with a flirt.
    Finally, Roy handed Alice a paper towel to wipe the excess ink off her fingers. “I guess that’ll do it for now. Anything else, Chief?”
    Edwards shook his head. “Just let me know if the prints on the note belong to somebody besides the mayor or one of these ladies.”
    “Will do.” Roy gathered up his things and nodded particularly at Annie. “See you girls around.”
    “Anything else we need to do?” Annie asked once Roy had gone.
    “Not really, but do be careful. Here’s my card. If you get any more notes, any kind of communication at all that seems out of place to you, let me know right away. If you see anybody who’s where he shouldn’t be or who just feels wrong to you, let me know that too. Big or small, we can check it out.”
    “I really appreciate it.” Annie put the card in her purse. “You guys are my heroes.”
    The police chief ducked his head a little. “It’s what we’re here for, ma’am.”
    “Thanks, Reed,” Alice said. “Tell your mother I said hello.”
    “I will, Alice. You take care now.”
    Alice hurried Annie out of the building.
    “I told you so. I told you he likes you.”
    Annie stopped short and put one hand on her hip. “What are you talking about?”
    “Don’t pretend you don’t know. Roy Hamilton likes you.”
    “Oh yeah? Well, even if he did, and I’m not saying he does, are you trying to palm him off on me?”
    Alice laughed. “I’m not trying to do anything. He’s the one who’s obviously smitten, like every other guy in town.”
    “You’re such a comedian.” Annie started walking again. “Who, exactly, is ‘every other guy in town’?”
    “You don’t need to look any farther than that guy back there.” Alice gestured toward the town hall. “Don’t deny it now.”
    “You’re crazy. I’ve hardly spoken to the chief before today. Besides, I’m sure I heard he’s married.”
    “You know very well who I’m talking about, and it’s not Reed Edwards.”
    “If you mean Ian, I’d have to conclude that you have an overactive imagination.”
    “I’m not the only one who’s noticed.”
    Annie rolled her eyes. “Then they have overactive imaginations too. Ian and I are just friends. Is there any reason a grown man and a grown woman can’t just be friends?”
    “None at all, except when they aren’t.”
    “OK, OK. If ever Ian and I aren’t, you’ll be the first to know. Deal?”
    Alice grinned. “Deal. Now let’s go shopping.”
    “Umm—maybe that’s not such a good idea just this minute.”
    Alice’s face fell. “What do you mean? You said we could go look at clothes and then have coffee. I was planning on some pie, too, if Peggy’s got coconut.”
    “I don’t think they’d really want us putting our hands all over the merchandise in our present condition.” Annie held up her hands, displaying ten black fingertips. “Do you?”
    “Hmm, maybe we’d better take a trip to the hardware store and see if they have some of that industrial-strength hand soap.”

7
    Things were quiet for the next couple of days. Annie looked for more information about Susan on her laptop computer at home, but she didn’t find any useful information. And she hadn’t had a chance to go back to the library for help in the search. Mary Beth hadn’t yet made any definite plans for Tom Maxwell to install her cabinets, so Annie had to hold off on visiting Sandy Maxwell. Besides, she needed to take care of mundane things like laundry and cleaning from time to time. Gram wouldn’t have stood for a less-than-tidy house.
    Annie’s twin mysteries were not uppermost in her mind when she picked up the mail from her entryway floor. Not until she saw the unaddressed envelope at the bottom of the pile.
    “Somebody was here, and I didn’t even notice.”
    She opened the front door, but the street was deserted. There wasn’t even a dog in sight, but still she felt as if someone