Point of Attraction by Margaret Van Der Wolf Read Free Book Online Page B

was something familiar about the tall form, that long easy
stride.
    Whispers spread through the waiting
clientele, and those already being worked on, as they turned to get
a good look at the rare happening... a police officer in Dare To
Care Salon. There had never been an occasion warranting the
services of a police officer on duty.
    “I’ll see you later,” Jeffrey said,
handing her a twenty and a five instead of writing his usual check,
but Jeffrey’s words were far away murmurs as the officer came
closer, past the glare of the morning sun behind him.
    It was Mason.
    If she thought he looked good in a
blue turtleneck sweater and leather jacket last night, seeing him
in full dress black uniform complete with weaponry... she bit her
lower lip to keep her mouth from dropping open. No one had the
right to look that good.
    “Is that...”
    “Yes, it is,” Georgie told
Jeffrey.
    “Miss Georgina Gainsworth?” Mason said,
opening his little notebook. “I’m Officer Montgomery. I understand
you had a theft last night.”
    “What?” Jeffrey stared at her.
“Georgina!”
    “Jeffrey, calm down,” she said,
somewhat taken back by Mason’s formality, yet respecting it. As he
said, he was a police officer on duty, not M&M, nor BADGE 747
from her writing class.
    The whispers among the clientele were
now loud murmurs. Georgie could see both Emmee and Brandy trying to
explain to their clients while working on their hair, yet not
wanting to miss what was going on.
    “When?” Jeffrey asked. “How much did
they take?” When she didn’t answer, his voice rose.
“Georgina?”
    “Jeffrey, please!” Once he stopped to
take a breath, Georgie said, “Raggs was taken...”
    “Raggs? That old thing? Why would
anyone take that?”
    “Jeffrey, be quiet!” Now she was
embarrassed and pressed her hand to her forehead. It wasn’t often
she lost control at work. Why did she have to lose it now, in front
of Mason... Officer Montgomery?
    “Maybe I should go then...” Jeffrey
offered.
    “No. Just be quiet a
moment,” Georgie said, putting a hand to his arm in apology. A deep
breath helped clear her head. “That old thing was mine,” she managed to
say, her voice now calm. “And if I knew why someone would take her,
I’d know who took her.”
    She finally looked up into Mason’s
face and found his gray eyes on her. Their gray hue was more to the
blue this morning. Perhaps it was the black uniform.
    “ It happened last night,”
she said, “after I left for my writing class.”
    “But I was here last night,” Jeffrey
explained, “and Raggs was here, wasn’t she?”
    “And your name?” Mason
asked.
    “I’m sure you know my name,” Jeffrey
said through clenched teeth.
    Georgie was shocked not only at
Jeffrey’s terse remark, but also at the blatant visual sweep he was
giving Mason. All words died in her throat. All she could do was
stare. This was a side of Jeffrey she couldn’t remember ever
seeing.
    “If you please, for the record, sir,”
Mason said. “I need your name?”
    “I’m Jeffrey Sanders, Mrs. Gainsworth’s
accountant, client, and very close friend.”
    “And your address?”
    “What for?”
    “For my report,” Mason said, and the
patience in his tone was worthy.
    Georgie just wanted the floor to open
up so she could dive in. Oh, Sam, why aren’t you here to fix all
this? Then thought, no. She leaned on Sam for twenty years. It was
time to let him rest.
    “I need your address in case we need to
talk to you,” Mason said, his face showing no emotion, but Georgie
thought there was a hint of humor somewhere behind his set mouth.
“You know, incase we need to verify the time,” he added.
    “My office is right here in The Center,
four units over. Sanders Accounting. You can find me there any day
of the week. My home address is in the phone book. I have to go
open my office.”
    Jeffrey turned to her with a hand on
her shoulder. “I didn’t take Raggs, Georgina. She must have still
been here