Tessa's Treasures by Callie Hutton Read Free Book Online

she saw him, hands on his hips, surveying the store before he walked slowly toward the kitchen before disappearing from view.
    The back door opened. With his cell phone pressed to his ear, he waved at her to join him. Heart pounding, she got out of the Jeep. When she neared Lucas he took her hand and squeezed. The conversation from her end sounded like he spoke to the police.
    She took a deep breath, and allowed him to lead her into the kitchen, which looked fine.
    Lucas tilted his brow, looking at her uncertainly. “Tessa’s Treasures, corner of Main and Sixth.” He glanced around the room. “Doesn’t seem to be.” He squeezed her hand again. “Okay, we’ll be here.”
    She stepped through the kitchen door to the store, and gasped.

Chapter Five
    Dean Phillips slammed his suitcase on the bed. In the glare of the flashing neon sign outside the motel window, the cheap furniture glowed a garish red, then shadowy black. He snapped the switch on the wall and dragged the drape over the window, blocking out Lawton, Oklahoma. Only years of burning anger, and a need to teach his bitch of a wife a lesson, made him come to this godforsaken wasteland.
    A copy of a contract with the hired pilot was tucked securely in his front pocket. Once he took care of business, he’d be on a plane to South America to live like a king with the money he’d socked away while he was still on the job. Selling confiscated drugs had been a lucrative trade. One that had made him a wealthy man. And one he intended to continue with his partners in Colombia.
    He flopped down on the musty smelling mattress, linking his fingers behind his head. Maybe he’d order a pizza and get some porn flicks to pass the time. Or go to the sleazy bar he’d passed on the way in, and find some badge bunny to take care of him. The wobbly ceiling fan barely created a breeze big enough to matter. He grinned.
    Watch out, sweet little Tessa, I’m on my way.
    ****
    Every table lamp in the store sat on the floor, burning brightly. All the items on one wall of shelves now sat in neat rows on the counter.
    Lucas flipped his cell phone closed. “The police are on the way.”
    Her gaze roamed the room before she turned to him. “I don’t understand. What happened?”
    “I’m willing to bet kids broke in to cause trouble.”
    She let go of his hand and headed to the counter.
    “No, honey, don’t touch anything.” Lucas rested his arm around her shoulders and tucked her alongside him. “The police need to see exactly what happened.”
    Without the support of his arm, she would have slid to the floor. “I don’t feel so well.”
    He led her into the kitchen and pulled out a chair. Once she sat, he eased her head between her knees. “Take deep breaths.” He hunkered down alongside her, rubbing circles on her back. In the distance the wail of police sirens pierced the air.
    Someone had been in her store. Touched her things. Waves of revulsion washed over her in a high tide of fear. Would she never have a safe place? Tessa raised her head, tears tracking down her cheeks. “Why would someone do this? It doesn’t make sense.”
    “That’s why I think it was kids messing around, but let the police handle it.” He handed her a handkerchief from his pocket. Lucas' warm hand on her back helped calm her. For the first time in her adult life, she had someone to lean on. Being alone, making her own decisions, facing problems by herself had become a habit.
    If only she was brave enough to let someone in.
    “I’m going to talk to the police. Stay here until you feel better.”
    She eased out of the chair and followed. “I’m okay. I want to talk to them too.”
    A tall, slender police officer stood in the center of the store, hands on his hips. After gazing around the room, he let out a low whistle. “Hey Tessa, what’s goin’ on?”
    She blinked through watery eyes. “Hi, Wally. I don’t know what happened. Isn’t this weird?”
    Wally shook his head in bewilderment