Read Online Searching for Home (Spies of Chicago Book 1) by Jessica Keller - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jessica Keller
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Wonderland going down the rabbit-hole, Ellen fell, arms flailing. An ear-curdling shriek left her lips moments before she plunged into the icy water, but any sound she made ran away on the tails of the wind. Deep waves from the boat’s wake pounded over her as she fought to keep her head above the water. Her breath came fast. The chill prickled every inch of her skin like a thousand tiny knives.
She kicked, but her dress knotted around her legs.
So cold. So cold.
The lake yanked her under.
CHAPTER FIVE
Chicago, Present Day
Whitney glanced at Nate over the menu. Even as he looked down reading, the easy smile she’d grown used to tugged at his lips. In the midst of the last week his relaxed personality had worked as a balm on her strained nerves. After spending five nights in a row elbow deep, digging through boxes at the Chicago Historical Foundation, a comfortable silence drifted between them. The ten o’clock dash to the all-night diner had become an evening ritual. She’d almost forgotten about Owen and her trouble at work over the news article.
Almost.
The ginger-haired waitress shuffled over and filled their coffee mugs. Nate fished two creamers and a pack of raw sugar out of the ceramic container on the table and handed them to Whitney. She winked his way, knowing he’d down his cup without adding anything.
“I’m always amazed how late you young people can eat. What’ll your flavor be tonight?” The waitress tugged a memo pad out of her stained apron.
Whitney handed her the menu. “I’m going with the waffles. No whipped cream, the butter and syrup on the side.”
Nate chuckled, his dimples coming out to play. “Waffles, huh?”
“Breakfast is my favorite meal.” She smiled at the waitress. “And I missed mine this morning so I need to make up for it.”
“I’ll have the turkey club. But can I have fries instead of the coleslaw?” He unrolled his napkin and silverware as he spoke.
“Sure thing.” She tucked the memo away and lifted the coffee pot off the table. “Just wave when you need refills.”
When the waitress opened the door to the kitchen, the sound of frying grease ricocheted through the small eating area leaving the air thick with the smell of burgers and bacon. Two booths down a pair of grizzled old men ate pie over a crossword puzzle and a group of eight college students crammed around a small table near the front windows. Whitney caught shreds of their conversation as they bemoaned the grading system of a professor from their university. A bus boy slopped a faded rag over the table across from theirs, leaving a trail of light brown water.
Not the kind of place Owen would come to. Well, Owen would show his face and force down a burger if it would garner him votes. He’d even pose with the old men if the photo would land in the paper. But Nate fit.
“All right.” Nate cupped his mug and leaned his elbows on the table. “We’ve been working for hours on this Ingram story, but you haven’t told me yet what’s so life and death about it.”
She tucked her hair behind her ears and thought back over all the letters, newspaper clippings, and society lists they’d uncovered. “I’m just worried about Ellen. I’ve grown a little attached to her after everything we’ve found. What if she drowns in the lake? James didn’t get to tell her he loves her yet. And with the temperature of Lake Michigan in April, she wouldn’t have lasted long.”
“Don’t get me wrong. In all my time at the Foundation, I’ve never heard of the Cygnus Brotherhood. The whole story’s been fascinating so far, but I find myself wondering why you’re so stuck on the past.” Nate raised his pierced eyebrow.
“I guess.” She sipped her coffee. “In the beginning I wanted to make the horrible story about Lewis go away. I had grand dreams of discovering his reasons and wanted to be able to explain him better. But now I want to know these people I came from and what it means about me.
She kicked, but her dress knotted around her legs.
So cold. So cold.
The lake yanked her under.
CHAPTER FIVE
Chicago, Present Day
Whitney glanced at Nate over the menu. Even as he looked down reading, the easy smile she’d grown used to tugged at his lips. In the midst of the last week his relaxed personality had worked as a balm on her strained nerves. After spending five nights in a row elbow deep, digging through boxes at the Chicago Historical Foundation, a comfortable silence drifted between them. The ten o’clock dash to the all-night diner had become an evening ritual. She’d almost forgotten about Owen and her trouble at work over the news article.
Almost.
The ginger-haired waitress shuffled over and filled their coffee mugs. Nate fished two creamers and a pack of raw sugar out of the ceramic container on the table and handed them to Whitney. She winked his way, knowing he’d down his cup without adding anything.
“I’m always amazed how late you young people can eat. What’ll your flavor be tonight?” The waitress tugged a memo pad out of her stained apron.
Whitney handed her the menu. “I’m going with the waffles. No whipped cream, the butter and syrup on the side.”
Nate chuckled, his dimples coming out to play. “Waffles, huh?”
“Breakfast is my favorite meal.” She smiled at the waitress. “And I missed mine this morning so I need to make up for it.”
“I’ll have the turkey club. But can I have fries instead of the coleslaw?” He unrolled his napkin and silverware as he spoke.
“Sure thing.” She tucked the memo away and lifted the coffee pot off the table. “Just wave when you need refills.”
When the waitress opened the door to the kitchen, the sound of frying grease ricocheted through the small eating area leaving the air thick with the smell of burgers and bacon. Two booths down a pair of grizzled old men ate pie over a crossword puzzle and a group of eight college students crammed around a small table near the front windows. Whitney caught shreds of their conversation as they bemoaned the grading system of a professor from their university. A bus boy slopped a faded rag over the table across from theirs, leaving a trail of light brown water.
Not the kind of place Owen would come to. Well, Owen would show his face and force down a burger if it would garner him votes. He’d even pose with the old men if the photo would land in the paper. But Nate fit.
“All right.” Nate cupped his mug and leaned his elbows on the table. “We’ve been working for hours on this Ingram story, but you haven’t told me yet what’s so life and death about it.”
She tucked her hair behind her ears and thought back over all the letters, newspaper clippings, and society lists they’d uncovered. “I’m just worried about Ellen. I’ve grown a little attached to her after everything we’ve found. What if she drowns in the lake? James didn’t get to tell her he loves her yet. And with the temperature of Lake Michigan in April, she wouldn’t have lasted long.”
“Don’t get me wrong. In all my time at the Foundation, I’ve never heard of the Cygnus Brotherhood. The whole story’s been fascinating so far, but I find myself wondering why you’re so stuck on the past.” Nate raised his pierced eyebrow.
“I guess.” She sipped her coffee. “In the beginning I wanted to make the horrible story about Lewis go away. I had grand dreams of discovering his reasons and wanted to be able to explain him better. But now I want to know these people I came from and what it means about me.
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