Read Online Lyndsey Cole - Lily Bloom 05 - Hidden by the Hydrangeas by Lyndsey Cole - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Lyndsey Cole
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for her family?”
“ I only saw Amber once so maybe it’s time to sit down with Kari and explain some of this to her. She’ll have more information than I do and would be able to give a more positive identification.”
Ryan looked at Lily and Daisy. “ Thanks for your help, I know it’s getting late for you to get to work so you two can go now.”
Anna held onto Lily’s arm. “Can’t Lily stay?” she pleaded with Ryan.
Ryan considered this request. “Alright. Do you need a ride Daisy?”
Lily got her keys out of her tote. “Here, take my minivan and open up the shop. If it’s not busy, take Rosie for a quick walk. I’ll get a ride back from Anna when we’re done.”
Anna hung onto Lily’s arm as they slowly followed Ryan back into the station. All the chairs were empty inside. Ryan glanced at Lily, then hurried down the hall, checking his office and the small conference room. Nobody. “Lily, check if she went into the bathroom.”
The bathroom was empty.
Anna hugged her body, trembling, and Lily helped Anna sit in one of the metal chairs. “Where would she go?” she quietly asked.
Shaking her head, Anna said, “I’m not sure, but the first place I would check is to see if she ’s with Gabe.”
“Gabe, the farm manager?”
Anna’s eyes searched Lily’s face. “Uh huh. He usually went out with Kari and Amber. I really don’t know who else she would turn to if she’s in trouble.”
Lily stopped Ryan as he strode past them down the hall, clearly on a mission. “Let me go with Anna to find Kari. She wouldn’t talk to you while she was here, maybe she’ll feel less intimidated if I go with Anna.”
Ryan pressed his lips in a tight line. “I don’t like this idea but you’re probably right. At this point, I need information to identify the victim so if you can get her to open up and agree to do that, it’s a step in the right direction.”
Lily told Anna, “I’ll go with you since my sister has my car.” They practically ran outside and got into Anna’s SUV and headed out to the Black Horse Farm. “What’s the story about Gabe?” Lily asked as Anna drove like a madwoman.
Lily gazed out the window, forcing herself to be patient while waiting for Anna to answer. She didn’t press, assuming Anna would offer something once she was ready. Instead, Lily told Anna about her conversation with Kari and how she offered Kari a job.
“Really? Why would you do that?” Anna asked in disbelief.
“Well, I remember how hard everything was at Kari’s age, not knowing what you want, too much time, hanging out with friends and maybe taking the wrong risks.” Lily looked at Anna. “All kids go through that but some get into more trouble than others. Most of us were just really really lucky. Maybe a part time job will help Kari figure out what she wants. Having someone give you responsibility helps develop self confidence.”
“But why Kari? You could hire anyone.”
“Believe me, it wasn’t planned, but when I saw how vulnerable she looked sitting at the police station, my gut told me what to do. She has to come to me now, I won’t offer again. Besides, if it doesn’t work out, then we can go our separate ways. But if it does work out, I have a good worker and she has a job, win-win.”
Anna let her mouth turn into a half grin. “She’s stupid if she doesn’t take it. Thank you.”
The SUV turned into the driveway for the Black Horse Farm and Lily noticed that Anna’s knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. “You didn’t tell me anything about Gabe yet.”
Anna answered quickly this time, like she had rehearsed the words in her head. “He’s a good guy, a little quick tempered, great with the horses, but I’m just not sure if he’s the right guy for Kari.”
Lily sympathized. “Unfortunately, that’s not your call. My mother likes my current boyfriend but I went through a few that did n’t meet her approval.”
Anna parked in
“ I only saw Amber once so maybe it’s time to sit down with Kari and explain some of this to her. She’ll have more information than I do and would be able to give a more positive identification.”
Ryan looked at Lily and Daisy. “ Thanks for your help, I know it’s getting late for you to get to work so you two can go now.”
Anna held onto Lily’s arm. “Can’t Lily stay?” she pleaded with Ryan.
Ryan considered this request. “Alright. Do you need a ride Daisy?”
Lily got her keys out of her tote. “Here, take my minivan and open up the shop. If it’s not busy, take Rosie for a quick walk. I’ll get a ride back from Anna when we’re done.”
Anna hung onto Lily’s arm as they slowly followed Ryan back into the station. All the chairs were empty inside. Ryan glanced at Lily, then hurried down the hall, checking his office and the small conference room. Nobody. “Lily, check if she went into the bathroom.”
The bathroom was empty.
Anna hugged her body, trembling, and Lily helped Anna sit in one of the metal chairs. “Where would she go?” she quietly asked.
Shaking her head, Anna said, “I’m not sure, but the first place I would check is to see if she ’s with Gabe.”
“Gabe, the farm manager?”
Anna’s eyes searched Lily’s face. “Uh huh. He usually went out with Kari and Amber. I really don’t know who else she would turn to if she’s in trouble.”
Lily stopped Ryan as he strode past them down the hall, clearly on a mission. “Let me go with Anna to find Kari. She wouldn’t talk to you while she was here, maybe she’ll feel less intimidated if I go with Anna.”
Ryan pressed his lips in a tight line. “I don’t like this idea but you’re probably right. At this point, I need information to identify the victim so if you can get her to open up and agree to do that, it’s a step in the right direction.”
Lily told Anna, “I’ll go with you since my sister has my car.” They practically ran outside and got into Anna’s SUV and headed out to the Black Horse Farm. “What’s the story about Gabe?” Lily asked as Anna drove like a madwoman.
Lily gazed out the window, forcing herself to be patient while waiting for Anna to answer. She didn’t press, assuming Anna would offer something once she was ready. Instead, Lily told Anna about her conversation with Kari and how she offered Kari a job.
“Really? Why would you do that?” Anna asked in disbelief.
“Well, I remember how hard everything was at Kari’s age, not knowing what you want, too much time, hanging out with friends and maybe taking the wrong risks.” Lily looked at Anna. “All kids go through that but some get into more trouble than others. Most of us were just really really lucky. Maybe a part time job will help Kari figure out what she wants. Having someone give you responsibility helps develop self confidence.”
“But why Kari? You could hire anyone.”
“Believe me, it wasn’t planned, but when I saw how vulnerable she looked sitting at the police station, my gut told me what to do. She has to come to me now, I won’t offer again. Besides, if it doesn’t work out, then we can go our separate ways. But if it does work out, I have a good worker and she has a job, win-win.”
Anna let her mouth turn into a half grin. “She’s stupid if she doesn’t take it. Thank you.”
The SUV turned into the driveway for the Black Horse Farm and Lily noticed that Anna’s knuckles were white from gripping the steering wheel. “You didn’t tell me anything about Gabe yet.”
Anna answered quickly this time, like she had rehearsed the words in her head. “He’s a good guy, a little quick tempered, great with the horses, but I’m just not sure if he’s the right guy for Kari.”
Lily sympathized. “Unfortunately, that’s not your call. My mother likes my current boyfriend but I went through a few that did n’t meet her approval.”
Anna parked in
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