Color Me Love by Tonya Kappes Read Free Book Online Page B

back of the Color Me Love building. I parked just
past the back door of The Surplus.
    Vive’s
car was the only one back there, and I didn’t want her to see me.
    Quietly,
I tip toed to the back door of Color Me Love. I pushed the button on the side
of my hat to illuminate the bill flashlight. It worked like a charm
    I
tried a couple different tools in the lock, and viola! The lock clicked and I
was in.
    It
was 8:00 PM. I had plenty of time to get in and get what I needed.
    I
went straight to the office where I knew Erin kept her files.
    The
new hat worked like a charm. I could see the entire office.
    I
jumped when I heard the buzzing of the printer. I had told Erin to turn it off
every night to save electricity. I made a mental note to flip the switch on my
way out.
    I
opened the files and thumbed through them. Joel was written on a tab and
I pulled it out.
    “Joel
Shelton.” His named rolled off my tongue. “Shelton.”
    It
had never dawned on me that I didn’t know his last name.
    I
opened the file and saw confirmation that he lived at Heifer’s and Ho’s Dude
Ranch.
    I
definitely had the right file. I noticed how thick it was.
    “Gosh,
Erin. How much paperwork do your potential suitors have to fill out?” I turned
page after page, not really reading anything on it.
    There
was no way I was going to be able to jot down all the information I wanted to.
    The
humming printer made me pause and look over at it. I looked back at the file
and a lightbulb went off. I undid the prongs in the file, and took out all of
Joel’s papers.
    I
loaded the printer with his file and pressed the green print button. One page at
a time, Joel’s history was fed into the printer, and zoomed out the bottom.
    Within
seconds I had Joel’s file put back together and in the cabinet, safe and sound.
    I
grabbed my copy, flipped the printer off, and turned off my hat.
    It
was time to go home for some great reading.

 
    Ten
     
     
    I
opened the back door and pushed the lock button so the door would lock behind
me.
    “Stop!
Arms up! Police!” The voice boomed out of the loudspeaker of the lights
flashing police car.
    “Or
I will spray you!” Vive yelled out from behind the police car pointing the mace
gun at me.
    “I
said hands up!” The voice boomed out again, and a flashlight blinded me.
    I
threw my hands in the air sending Joel’s file into the night sky and floating
down to the ground.
    “Do
you want me to spray?” Vive asked the officer.
    “No.
Put that down.” I heard the officer whisper. “I’ve got this under control.”
    “Are
you sure?” Vive asked. “I’m pretty good with this new mace gun.”
    I
had to smile, even in this situation Vive was funny.
    “I’m
sure you can. You can go back to your shop.” The officer assured her.
    I
kept my eyes closed. I knew she didn’t recognize me under this hat. A sick
feeling hit my stomach. Even though I knew I was going to be okay, I also knew
I was going to have to explain to Erin why I was there.
    A
car came screeching from around the corner of the building and stopped.
    I
glanced under the bill of the hat and noticed it was Michael’s car. Erin and
Michael were running up to the police car.
    “I
want him arrested.” Erin screamed out.
    Him?
She didn’t recognize me either. I wanted to call back to her, but didn’t want
the officer to shoot me if I made a wrong move or give Vive reason to use her
fancy new mace gun.
    “Slowly
turn around and put your hands on the building!” The officer screamed.
    I
did exactly what he asked. I heard footsteps behind me.
    “Excuse
me,” I said politely before he reached me.
    “Wait!
Olivia?” Erin asked.
    “Ummm.
. .yes.” I confirmed, too scared to turn around.
    “Olivia
Davis?” The police officer asked.
    “The
one and only.” I kept my hands in the air as I turned around to face them.
“Joel? Why are you in a police uniform?”
    “My
new job.” He put the flashlight away. “Why did you break in to Color Me