Read Online Suspicions by Christine Kersey - Free Book Online Page A

recover, she
lifted her water glass and took a small sip. Then, picking up the
menu she asked, “What are you getting?” When she looked at Patricia
to see how she would react to the avoided question she was
surprised at the expression on her face. She almost looked
triumphant. No, Stacey thought, that can't be right. Why would she
be pleased that things aren't going well at my house? Why would she
care? It sounds like she has her own problems to deal with.
    The look on Patricia's face left as quickly
as it had arrived and Stacey doubted what she had seen. I must have
misread her face, that's all, she thought.
    “I'm just having a salad today,” Patricia
said, looking directly at Stacey.
    “What?” Stacey had been distracted by her
thoughts and forgotten she'd asked.
    “You asked what I was having. I'm having a
salad.” Patricia sipped her water and motioned for the waiter to
come over.
    As Patricia ordered, Stacey watched her face,
trying to remember exactly what she thought she had seen.
    “And you, ma'am?”
    Stacey realized the waiter was speaking to
her. “I'll have the same,” she said and handed him the menu.
    Once the meal arrived they spent the rest of
the time talking business. Stacey was relieved when it was time to
leave. She found she was exhausted. Trying to put up a cheerful
façade wiped her out.
    The women walked out to the parking lot with
Patricia approaching her late model car and Stacey getting into her
well-worn one.
    “Don't forget, Stacey. I'll stop by
tonight.”
    Stacey just nodded, thankful to be going
home. So many things were flying through her mind that it was hard
to concentrate on the road. One was her concern for Kyle. Then
there was her question about Jason's car and what that meant. Her
concern for Amanda's well-being was close behind, and lastly was
her curiosity about Patricia and what had happened to her
husband.
    When she arrived home, she thought of a way
to find out if Jason still owned the little brown car. Going
online, she looked up the phone number for the Department of Motor
Vehicles.
    “Can you tell me what cars are registered to
Jason Hunter?” she asked the woman who answered.
    “I’m sorry, ma’am. I can’t give that
information over the phone. I would need Mr. Hunter to come into
the DMV with photo identification before I can share that
information.”
    “Oh. Well, if I had the VIN for a certain
car, could you tell me who the registered owner is?”
    “Again, I’d need you to come into the DMV for
that.”
    Stacey thanked the woman and hung up,
frustrated that she hadn’t learned anything.
    I don’t have the VIN for that old car anyway,
she thought.
    Wandering over to the front window, Stacey
gazed at Amanda’s house and fought with herself over whether to
report the information Robby had told her. On the one hand, she
thought, it could be a critical clue in Kyle’s kidnapping. On the
other hand, it could possibly lead to Jason’s arrest.
    But Jason couldn’t kidnap a child, could he?
Stacey wondered. Could he be that desperate for money that he would
kidnap a child for ransom? Wouldn’t I know if he was planning such
a thing?
    Again she recalled her father and the
complete shock it had been when he’d been arrested for theft.
* * *
    The smell of chocolate filled the air as
Patricia pulled out the batch of cookies. She hummed to herself as
she scooped the fresh treats off of the baking sheet and set them
on the cooling rack.
    “I haven’t made chocolate chip cookies in a
long time,” she said to the empty room. “At least not since Mr.
Summers was here.”
    Most of the dough was gone when she poured in
half a cup of walnuts.
    “These are just for you, Stacey,” she said as
she watched the beaters spin. “A special treat for a special wife
and mommy.” She turned off the mixer as she spoke.
    The finished product was placed on a paper
plate, separate from the plain chocolate chip cookies. Patricia
covered both plates in colorful plastic wrap