Veiled Threat by Alice Loweecey Read Free Book Online Page B

right.”
    “Isn’t that a resort on Raccoon Lake?” Jimmy said.
    “Yes,” Giulia said. “Even though it’s less than half an hour from here, it’s very private. It’s hidden away on a cove, doesn’t advertise or anything. If you have to ask, then it’s not for you, you know?”
    Frank and Jimmy looked at her.
    She huffed. “It’s for gay people only. Technically for lesbians only.”
    Frank whistled. “They must get lots of rubberneckers during trout season.”
    “Will you be serious? I said it was secluded. Captain Reilly, may I use your computer?”
    Jimmy traded chairs with her and she typed the name in a search window, then clicked on the correct link. “See? Ten-foot-high privacy fences all around, private beach, private everything.”
    “People from Akron would come all this way just to stay on Raccoon Lake for a week?” Frank shook his head. “There’ve got to be resorts closer to home.”
    “Not single-sex resorts. Don’t you get it? Didn’t your family ever go to a favorite vacation spot, no matter how far it was?”
    Jimmy said, “My parents drove us to Hershey Park every year when we were in grade school. That was the car ride from hell. We loved the park, though.”
    “Exactly. Trust me, same-sex resorts are rare enough for people to make Odyssean journeys to reach them.” Giulia shuffled the printouts. “The Akron couple was at the Wildflower six months before they got their baby in April of last year. The Erie couple went the week between Christmas and New Year’s last year, and got their daughter this past February.” She reread Laurel’s information. “Laurel and Anya went for Thanksgiving week, but that wasn’t their original plan.”
    Jimmy had pulled the keyboard in front of himself and was typing almost as fast as Giulia talked. “Why did they change?”
    “The baby’s mother had complications from high blood pressure, and they scheduled a C-section two weeks before her due date. Laurel and Anya had already paid for their week and wanted one last romantic getaway, just the two of them, before they became parents. The resort wasn’t full and switched their reservation. I remember, because Laurel had to scramble for coverage at the soup kitchen—it’s always packed on Thanksgiving.”
    “That’s why you turned down my invite for dinner at Mom and Dad’s,” Frank said.
    She nodded. “I worked Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday that week.”
    Jimmy said, still typing, “It has possibilities.” He saved his document and scrolled to the pages on all three reports that mentioned the resort. “Someone could’ve traced their credit card history and pinpointed that as a good place to get to know the three couples.”
    “Wait.” Giulia sagged. “A Bible-spouter isn’t going to stay at a gay resort.”
    Jimmy frowned, forehead wrinkling. “It’s unlikely, I admit. However, if these kidnappers are all about getting the kids, then they might be willing to suck it up and pretend to be a couple.”
    “I don’t want to sound like Frank, but not any extremist I’ve ever met.”
    “Thanks,” Frank said.
    Jimmy grinned. “I like you. You keep his ego in check. About—shut up, Frank—the amusing image of a Bible-thumper in a gay resort: I’ve seen them crash a Gay Pride parade in full Jesus regalia.”
    Frank leaned forward. “Remember the crazy lady who broke up a PFLAG meeting screaming about defending traditional marriage?”
    “The one who’d been divorced four times? She was a prize. Tried to bite me when I cuffed her, if I remember right.”
    “Didn’t you dress up like her for Halloween that year?”
    Frank laughed. “Your face was priceless. Anyway, we’re off track. Why do you think there are two?”
    “Come on,” Jimmy said. “You’ve worked kidnapping cases. Have you ever seen a kidnapper go solo?”
    “I’ll give you that one.”
    Giulia poked her pen through the top paper. “That must be the connection. Should we look for religious actors?