Read Online The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo - Free Book Online Page A

pleased. In fact, she looked very alarmed. “You’d better put that down, Maggie. Please. We can’t be too careful.”
    Alicia looked worried and Maggie quickly did as she was told. Though she wondered what menace might lurk in the beautiful bouquet, besides a few thorns on the rose stems.
    â€œJen has some really obsessive fans. You wouldn’t believe some of the things they do to get close to her,” Alicia confided in a hushed tone.
    â€œCan I come out now?” Jen asked in a playful, singsong tone. “Is the coast clear?”
    She stood in the doorway, a silhouette backlit from the lights within the shop. Maggie saw that her friends had gathered in the front room as well, and were standing just behind the movie star. Saying good night, perhaps.
    As Jennifer began to walk out to the porch, a voice called out from the empty street: “Jennifer! I love you! We were made for each other . . . We need to be together now . . . You came back . . . to be with me . . . finally.”
    â€œGet back in the shop! Quickly!” Alicia spun and pushed Jen back inside, then slammed the door closed behind her.
    Maggie was left alone on the porch. She knocked on the door with one hand behind her back, afraid to take her eyes off the street. She swallowed hard, staring out at the empty scene.
    Not a shadow stirred. She had no idea where the voice had come from. From across the street somewhere? It had seemed so at first. But she wasn’t sure.
    Suddenly, it sounded closer. Much closer.
    â€œJen . . . please. Don’t run away . . . Don’t be like that. It makes me so . . . upset.”
    The voice didn’t sound upset. More like angry. And louder . . . and closer. Though Maggie still couldn’t see anyone as she huddled against the door, peering into the darkness.
    â€œLet me in! You’ve locked me out here!” she called to her friends, trying hard not to sound panicked.
    Finally, the door flew open. Maggie practically fell into the shop, but Phoebe caught her, her own face pale with concern. Suzanne yanked Maggie’s arm and pulled her aside while Dana slammed the door again and twisted the locks.
    â€œMaggie . . . get in here! What are you doing?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? I got locked out,” Maggie insisted.
    But before anyone replied or even tried to explain, Lucy ran out of the storeroom. “I locked the side door. Just to be safe.” Alicia stood huddled next to Jennifer, as if ready to block a bullet.
    â€œDid you see anyone?” Alicia asked Maggie.
    Maggie shook her head, feeling silly now. It was just a lovelorn fan. Obviously. “I didn’t see a thing. I wonder how your admirer knew you were here, Jennifer.”
    â€œI do have some overly enthusiastic fans. It comes with the territory,” Jennifer said calmly.
    â€œThey stalk her. They’re obsessed. They crawl out of the woodwork. They leave these scary notes on her fan page.” Alicia shivered with a chill.
    â€œI think we should call the police. At least report the incident. They can take the flowers away and examine them,” Maggie added.
    She doubted the roses were rigged to cause the star harm. But what did she know about passionate, besotted fans?
    â€œOh no . . . don’t do that. Nick will have a fit.” She sounded more worried about her husband’s reaction than about the stalker, Maggie noticed. “I slipped away from the inn tonight without telling him. He thinks I turned in early.”
    Maggie wondered where Nick Pullman was. Not in the hotel room he shared with his wife? Or did that mean they were staying in separate rooms?
    â€œHe hates negative publicity,” Alicia added. “We’ll tell Victor,” she added, mentioning the security guard again. “He knows what to do.”
    Maggie nodded. It did make sense. The movie people had their