Read Online Prime Catch by Ilona Fridl - Free Book Online

ago had adored George, but now time and wisdom had come into play. Something about him troubled her, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was. Were her detective instincts simply working overtime?
    The sun hung low on the horizon as they strolled back to her house, and shafts of red-gold rays cut between the buildings. George came up onto the porch with her, and she offered him her hand. “Thank you for the outing. I enjoyed the dinner and movie.”
    George cupped her chin. “I enjoyed the company. I forgot how enchanting you are.” He leaned down and kissed her. Sarah didn’t stop him. It had been a long time since anyone had kissed her.
    She stepped back and took a quick breath. “Goodnight, George.”
    He smiled. “Goodnight, Sarah.” She opened the door, then turned back to watch the figure disappearing down the street. Her feelings were in a turmoil. On the surface, she knew he had treated her like dirt and she shouldn’t give him the time of day. Then there was that breathless young woman who had fallen in love with him. She wanted one more chance.
    ****
    Sarah hummed to herself as she stepped into Millie’s for a fast breakfast early the next morning. She chose one of the stools at the counter, and Sally gave her a menu.
    “I’ll have a doughnut and coffee.”
    When Sally served her, she thrust a folded paper into Sarah’s hand. “I found this on the side table by Billy’s coat at home. I thought you might be interested.”
    When Sally moved down the counter to refresh the customer’s coffee, Sarah unfolded the sheet. It read:
    Men of the ANB
    We can’t trust the Americans to fix the problem of the canneries trying to starve us out. A group, Revenge Ravens, needs members to either fight for our fishing rights upstream or to eliminate the problem ourselves, once and for all. Able-bodied men are encouraged to join. Ask for the members in each ANB camp.
    Sarah refolded the paper and slipped it into her coat pocket. Amos is going to want to see this! She put fifteen cents down by her plate and waved to Sally. “Thank you for everything!”
    Sally acknowledged her and went back to work as Sarah exited the restaurant.
    She hurried to the sheriff’s office and ducked in the door. “Sam, is Amos in yet?”
    He nodded and waved his hand toward the door. “Got here a few minutes ago.”
    She knocked at the door. “May I come in?”
    “You’ve got something?”
    She opened the door. “Yes.” Closing it behind her, she gave Amos the notice. “Sally found this on the table by Bobby’s coat this morning.”
    Amos took a look at it. “This might be quite a network of saboteurs. Is there any way you could question some of these people?”
    “Just men are allowed at the meetings.” Sarah hesitated a moment. “Maybe I could go undercover.”
    “Trouble is, the men at the camp know you. They could see through any disguise.”
    “My cousin, Will, lives in Angoon. I’m not well-known there. Maybe I could go as his guest and take a look around. Most of the people there are Tlingits, so there isn’t as much suspicion.”
    Amos paused and rubbed his forehead. “Think you could pull off going as a man?”
    “I had two older brothers and a father. I think so.”
    “No, that isn’t what I meant. Physically.” He flushed a bit.
    Sarah laughed. “There are things I can do to become more masculine. I won’t stay very long, so the lav won’t be a problem.”
    “Do you think you can get your cousin to go along with this?”
    “I think so. If he gives me any reason to doubt, then I won’t go through with it.”
    Amos seemed resigned. “All right. I’ll let you set it up.”
    ****
    Sarah headed to the family home where her mother and Aunt Jane lived. As she reached the modest log cabin she’d grown up in, she saw her mother working in the kitchen garden and hailed her.
    Her mother hurried over and hugged Sarah. Sarah breathed in the warm earth smell before her mother pulled back. “Well, child, I