Running on Empty by Sandra Balzo Read Free Book Online Page B

to AnnaLise. You don't
     live here any longer, she reminded herself. Still...
    'I just saw Joy and she didn't say anything about this being their last year here.'
     A suspicion crept in. 'Are they going to Asheville instead?'
    Lying southwest off the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville touted its '
arts community, diverse outdoor adventures, a vibrant and inviting downtown, numerous
     historic and architectural attractions, and unique shopping options'.
    Let's just say that if Sutherton and Asheville were siblings, the latter would be
     the one mom liked better.
    'Never.' Sheree was aghast. 'This is Joy and her gang we're talking about.'
    True. Imagine the damage the women could do to the art galleries of Asheville. And
     what it would cost them to make restitution.
    'Joy's planning to stay in Hart's Landing,' Sheree continued. 'Free of charge.'
    AnnaLise found that hard to believe. 'Does her ex know yet?'
    'I doubt it. But Joy usually gets what she wants from Dickens. Makes you wonder what
     she has on him.'
    Echoing what AnnaLise had thought earlier. That didn't stop her, though, from saying,
     'Maybe he still loves Joy.'
    Sheree threw her a look dripping with pity. 'You really are
still five, aren't you?'
    'Because I'm not jaded and cynical?' Or am, but try not to show it?
    'Exactly. Dickens Hart loves Dickens Hart. He created one empire and now he's building
     another, zoning it mixed-use and naming it for himself. Along the way, Hart's destroyed
     plenty of people and will destroy more. And I'm betting Joy knows just which of his
     closets are holding the skeletons.' Sheree sniffed. 'Frat Pack weekend was eighteen
     "room nights" I could always depend on. I just hope this isn't the start of a slippery
     slope.'
    'You've never had a problem with Hotel Lux or the mountain rental properties, have
     you?' Fact was, the 300-room hotel and assorted mountain chalets and cottages were
     essential to Sutherton's tourist business. Joy's thirteen rooms couldn't accommodate
     every one of the area's visitors.
    'That's different. The Lux is mountain, as are the other private rentals. Discriminating
     guests, if they wanted to lodge on the lake itself, had to come here.'
    'Except those who stayed at the White Tail Lodge, back in the day.'
    'I said "discriminating".' Sheree growled. 'Now there are condos — one and two bedrooms,
     with kitchens — right in Hart's Landing. "Where the mountains meet the lake and the
     finest in shopping, dining and entertainment are right outside your door."'
    Sheree said the last as if she was parroting a booming-voiced television announcer.
     Or Dickens Hart. AnnaLise had to see this place for herself. It sounded... well, it
     sounded wonderful.
    She felt like a traitor for even having the thought. If the new development was all
     it was trumpeted to be, Hart's Landing could well sound the death knell for not only
     Sheree's Inn, but all of Main Street.
    Including Torch and Mama Philomena's. 'What kind of rest―'
    But Sheree was preoccupied with the housing. 'Dr. Stanton's already bought three of
     the condos. He's living in one, Tucker in another, and I understand he's renting the
     third to that Ichiro guy.'
    'Bobby Bradenham's business partner?' As if there could be more than one 'Ichiro'
     in a town the size of Sutherton.
    'Yeah.' Sheree slowed down. A good man could do that to a woman. 'You've met him?'
    'Bobby introduced us this morning. Nice guy.'
    'Handsome guy. Those eyes are to kill for.' A thought seemed to strike Sheree. 'Hey,
     speaking of which, did you hear that bastard Rance Smoaks finally got what he deserved?'
    'Speaking of killing, you mean?'
    'Well, yeah.' Sheree slowed down another notch. A dead
man can do that to you, too. 'Though it sounds kind of harsh when you put it that
     way.'
    AnnaLise didn't point out that she
hadn't put it any way. 'It should. There's a difference between wanting someone dead
     and doing it.'
    'Yeah. Courage.'
    At a loss for what to say to that sociopathic