Dangerous Secrets by L. L. Bartlett, Kelly McClymer, Shirley Hailstock, C. B. Pratt Read Free Book Online Page A

mine.″
    ‶ Did you do it?″
    ‶ Me and about twenty other kids.
Susan lied to give me an alibi. If she hadn′t, they wouldn′t have
let me go to the graduation ceremony. My parents would′ve killed
me.″
    ‶ Did Susan help with the
prank?″
    ‶ She planned it.″ Maggie
sighed. ‶ You′d
think at my age I′d be over all those high school insecurities. I
desperately wanted to be popular, like Susan, and have all the boys trailing
after me.″
    ‶ Instead you turned out terrific
and she′s a bitch. Why compare yourself?″
    ‶ Because maybe I′m as bad
as she is.″ She lowered her gaze again. ‶ When Susan dangled this free
weekend in front of me—in exchange for the magazine article—she reminded me of
my debt to her. But I knew I could sell the article. Getting a picture-spread
in even a magazine with crappy distribution would still be great for my resume.
It might even help me sell my book on decorating. Only being here hasn′t
worked out like I thought.″
    I leaned over to kiss her. ‶ You′re
being too hard on yourself. You′re the best thing that ever happened to
me.″
    She shook her head as though puzzled, but I
soaked up her feelings of gratitude and affection. ‶ Did I ever tell you
how much I love you?″ she said.
    ‶ Not in the past few
hours.″ Then she was in my arms. One kiss led to another, and soon my
fatigue vanished.
    Two hours later we emerged from our room,
groomed, dressed and ready to find one of the village′s less expensive
restaurants.
    We passed that deserted stretch of road between
the inn and the village and that feeling of foreboding returned with a
vengeance. Once or twice was coincidence—three times was a warning, something I
couldn′t afford to overlook. I knew if I didn′t consciously think
about it, some idea—or reason—for that feeling would come to me. And I knew
Maggie wasn′t going to like it.
    I′d gotten pretty adept at keeping these
flashes of insight from her, but I′d have to introduce the subject during
dinner. I had to make a decision about what to do before we went back to the
inn.
    We pulled into the parking lot of a little
Tex-Mex restaurant and headed in. Tastefully decorated with serapes and
sombreros on the walls, a saddle draped over a rail, and a mini cactus on every
table, it was blessedly unlike most franchise Mexican restaurants.
    The place was busy and we waited in the
entryway for almost ten minutes before being seated. I looked longingly at the
bar and the Corona bottles with fresh lime slices poking out the top. With our
tight finances, we′d have to be content with either Maggie′s bottle
of gin back in the room or the complimentary sherry Zack and Susan offered.
    Once seated, we studied the menus for a few
minutes before ordering. Maggie waited until the waitress left before she
leaned forward and spoke. ‶ Okay, what′s bothering you?″
    I met her gaze. ‶ I thought I′d hidden it
pretty well.″
    ‶ You can′t keep much from
me, buster. No, spill it.″
    I pursed my lips in momentary indecision. ‶ I′m
going to call Richard. I want him to come here.″
    Her eyes narrowed. ‶ What for?
We′re going home in three days.″
    ‶ I′m not so sure about
that. If we have to wait until Monday to photograph the rest of the
bedrooms—″
    She ignored my explanation. ‶ Why
does Richard have to come to Stowe?″
    I shrugged and took a sip of water.
    ‶ What will you tell him?″
    ‶ I don′t know. I never
know how to explain these things. But I trust these feelings. I can′t
ignore them.″
    ‶ What feelings?″
    ‶ I just feel anxious. Like he
needs to be here.″
    ‶ Does this have to do with the
murder you asked Susan about?″
    ‶ I′m not sure.″
    ‶ What if he won′t
come?″ Her voice was sharp.
    ‶ Then we should leave.
Tonight.″
    ‶ But what about the article?
What about the pictures?″ She sounded panicked.
    ‶ I know. This is one hell of an
opportunity for both of us. If the photos turn