Cliffhanger (The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries, Book One) by Amy Saunders Read Free Book Online Page A

think."
    They both tried
to shrink into the shadows as much as possible as Lily left. She didn't even
glance around, putting on her sunglasses and strutting off down the street,
looking pleased about something. Jarrett left a minute later, walking in the
opposite direction of Lily. Belinda glanced at Victoria. Odd. But first things
first. Belinda had to unravel the mystery that was Bennett Tate. And she was
formulating a plan.

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 6
     
     
    After
contemplating how her family name might help her in her quest for the real
Bennett Tate, Belinda just took the boring route and searched for him online.
The only real glimmer of hope was in Tate Security, but with no photos of the
owner, she couldn't be sure it was him. So Belinda had Victoria make an
appointment under a false name. It might have been more of a ruse than
necessary, but it was much more exciting than just calling Stellan.
    Belinda turned in
slow circles around the blank canvas of a bedroom in the upstairs of Victoria's house. Or, rather, the future nursery of Baby Hart. Victoria and Belinda had
painted several strips of different colors side by side on the wall. With no
shades on the windows, the sun hit the room at full force, practically blinding
her.
    "I know the
color swatches are a little early." Victoria patted her still-flat tummy.
"But I just couldn't wait."
    She handed
Belinda a glass of water and examined the rainbow of selections. On her bare
feet, Victoria barely came up to Belinda's shoulders. Would their child be
short and petite like her mother? Or tall and wiry like his dad?
    "Does Dan
have a color preference? I mean, despite the gender."
    "He hates
green, but that's all he's saying for the moment." Victoria leaned against
the wall. "Just wait, though. As soon as it's time to buy the paint, he'll
suddenly hate the color I've chosen. It never fails."
    "I thought
he had no opinions on these matters?"
    Victoria laughed.
"It's a myth, my dear. A total myth."
    After doing all
the damage they could in the nursery, they switched headquarters to the office
on the first floor. Victoria scrolled through the items on Belinda's cousin's
wedding registry online, zooming in on pieces here and there as she or Belinda
pointed to things. As they got towards the end, both of them developed lemon
faces.
    "This is the
saddest wedding registry I've ever laid eyes on," Victoria said.
"Candle holders? Really?"
    "I
procrastinated and now all the good gifts are taken."
    "Do they
actually want a bread maker? I mean, does anyone actually use those
things?"
    Belinda slanted
her eyes. "Don't you have a bread maker?"
    "Yes, one of
our wedding presents, and guess where it is?"
    "The
attic?"
    "The attic.
We used it once—maybe twice—right after we got married when we were excited to
cook and clean and make fresh bread. But we would always remember that we could
make bread when it was time to eat and then it was too late, so we finally gave
up and heaved it into storage with the other rejected wedding gifts."
    "The cappuccino
maker would be fun."
    "Belinda, I
am not spending two-hundred dollars so the princess can have café-style cappuccino
without changing out of her PJs."
    Belinda sighed.
"So what then? The forty-dollar iced tea pitcher?"
    "We could
buy them an ice pick."
    "And you're
complaining that nobody uses a bread maker?"
    "Hey, there
is more than one use for an ice pick." Victoria grinned. "Could come
in handy past the honeymoon period."
    "Yes, let's
buy the happy couple their future murder weapon."
    The doorbell
rang, making them both jump. Victoria snickered and skipped out of the room,
winking as she partially closed the office door. Showtime. Belinda could hear
talking from the front room and tiptoed to peek through the crack in the door.
    Victoria shook
hands with a tall guy with dark brown hair in a sweater over a collared shirt
and jeans. Well, that proved it. Bennett Tate owned Tate Security. Now what?
Belinda frowned. She hadn't thought this