Garden of Secrets by Barbara Freethy Read Free Book Online Page B

isn’t it? Funny that you would be the first person I would see in Angel’s Bay. You remember me, don’t you?”
    How could she have forgotten the girl who had stolen Andrew from her and been picked in their high school yearbook as “Most Likely to Have a Spread in
Playboy
”?
    “Pamela.”
    “That’s right. We meet again. You’re living here now?”
    “Yes,” Charlotte said. “I am.” She felt awkward and tongue-tied, the way she had when she and Pamela were teenagers. No one had ever gotten under her skin like this girl. With most people, she was outgoing, talkative, and confident, but somehow Pamela always made her feel foolish.
    Pamela’s attention drifted to Joe. “And you are?” she asked, her predatory gaze making a bold run down Joe’s body.
    Charlotte frowned, fighting a ridiculous urge to stand in front of Joe and tell Pamela that she couldn’t have him.
    “I’m Joe Silveira, the chief of police,” he said.
    “Just the man I wanted to see. I’m Pamela Baines, Theresa Monroe’s sister. My brother-in-law didn’t tell me much, except that Theresa had been assaulted and her jewelry stolen. What are you planning to do about it?”
    “I’d be happy to fill you in on our investigation, perhaps after you’ve had a chance to see yoursister,” he suggested. “Her room is just down the hall.”
    “Thank you.” Pamela cast Charlotte a speculative look and then left them alone.
    “So that’s your old nemesis,” Joe said.
    “That’s her,” she said, watching Pamela’s sexy swagger. She hadn’t changed a bit.
    “Are you all right?”
    She shook off her feeling of dread. “I’m fine. So what if Pamela is back? She’s here to see her sister. It’s perfectly natural. Not at all a big deal.”
    “Are you done?” he asked when she ran out of steam.
    “I don’t like her. She annoys the hell out of me.”
    “Really? Because you hide it quite well.”
    Her mouth curved into a reluctant smile. “Sorry. It’s been a dozen years, but she still makes me crazy. And she doesn’t appear to have changed at all. She still has that hair, that smirky smile, those skinny legs, and those boobs. God! She flaunted those from the day she got them, and I’m betting they’re even bigger now. It’s not funny,” she added as Joe’s grin broadened.
    “I’ve never seen you so worked up.”
    “You’re right. I need to calm down. We’re all adults, and I should start acting like one.” She pressed the button for the elevator. “But a word of warning: when you talk to Pamela, keep your guard up. Don’t trust her. She always had an agenda, and I’m betting that hasn’t changed.”
    * * *
     
    Joe thought about Charlotte’s warning as he walked down the hall. She normally had good instincts about people, but she might be too caught up in the past to see Pamela clearly now. He wouldn’t have that problem.
    “Morning, Chief,” the guard greeted him.
    “Everything been quiet?” he asked.
    “Only visitors have been the mayor and the sister. I didn’t let the sister in until the mayor gave the okay.”
    Bart didn’t mention that Charlotte had been inside. “I’d also like you to keep track of the hospital personnel going and out of these doors,” Joe said.
    “Sure, Chief. Dr. Adams was by and Dr. Coulter. A couple of nurses have been in and out. I knew all of ’em by sight. No strangers have gotten past me.”
    “Thanks.” He gave Bart a brief smile and headed into the ICU.
    The nurse sent him a quick glance, then returned her attention to her computer.
    Pausing in the doorway to Theresa’s room, he watched Pamela and Robert conversing in hushed tones. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but their discussion seemed rather heated. He’d need to learn more about Pamela’s relationship with both her sister and her brother-in-law.
    When Robert saw Joe, he quickly ended his conversation and joined him in the outer room. Pamelaremained where she was, but her attention was on them and