Read The Lost Women of Lost Lake for Free Online Page B

can help out, like I always do. I can even do more now that I’ve got my driver’s license.”
    â€œ You’ve got your driver’s license?” said Tessa, clutching her hands to her throat. “Oh, my God, no. No one will ever be safe again.”
    â€œCut it out,” said Jonah, clearly annoyed by her attempt at humor. “I promise. I’ll be as quiet as a mouse. I’ll do everything you ask.”
    Tessa snorted. “That’ll be a day.”
    â€œNo, I mean it,” he said. “I just—” He turned to plead with Jill. “I need you both to be on my side, to talk to Mom and Dad and get them to agree. I could stay in the basement room next to the garage. I’ve stayed there before. The couch is plenty comfortable.”
    Jill gestured to his clothes. “Go take that shower. I’ll build a fire.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œYou need to give Tessa and me some time to think about it. Are you hungry?”
    â€œI’m always hungry.”
    â€œWhen you’re cleaned up, I’ll fix you a plate of food.”
    He took a quick sip from the coffee mug. Handing it back to Jill, he said, “Think fast, okay?”
    After he’d retreated to the bedroom, Cordelia sauntered out from behind the counter and draped herself over one of the living room chairs. “Kinda stinks that he had to move away. Senior year is a big deal.”
    â€œI don’t blame him for wanting to stay,” said Tessa. “I think we should let him.”
    â€œThank you!” shouted Jonah, as he zipped, shirtless, from the bedroom to the bathroom.
    â€œWe’re still considering,” called Jill. “Get in that shower.” When the water came on, she said, more quietly this time, “My brother and his wife have had marital problems for years. Sometimes Jonah gets lost in the shuffle.”
    â€œHe’s like our own kid,” said Tessa, grimacing as she changed her position. “I vote yes.”
    â€œBut would it be fair to my brother and his wife?”
    â€œWas leaving Lost Lake last summer fair to Jonah?”
    Jill crouched down next to the fireplace and busied herself with the newspaper and kindling. “I need more time to think about it.”
    â€œOh, hell,” said Tessa. “Fine. Think away. Cordelia, let’s talk about tomorrow night. There are some papers in my study that I’ll need if we’re going to have a substantive conversation.”
    Jane was still in the kitchen, so she offered to run get them.
    â€œShould be on my desk,” called Tessa. “In a manila folder marked Relatively Speaking . Or it could be in the right bottom drawer. Just look around.”
    Jane closed up the dishwasher and switched it on before heading back to the study. The only light in the room came from a green-glass banker’s lamp perched on a bookshelf above the desk. To the right of the desk were two good-sized double-hung windows partially covered by gauzy white curtains fluttering in the evening breeze.
    As she bent over to examine the papers on the desk, she noticed that water had rained in on the hardwood floor. Crossing quickly into the bathroom, she came back with a roll of paper towels. She crouched down and sopped up the water, wiping the floor until it was completely dry. She didn’t want the wood to warp. As she straightened up, she came face to face with the dark visage of a man standing outside one of the windows.
    â€œWho the hell are you?” she demanded.
    The man backed away and jumped over the deck railing, disappearing into the darkness.
    She stood for a few seconds, eyeing the French doors, her curiosity and her better judgment fighting over whether or not she should chase after him. The longer she considered it, the less the the idea of chasing him appealed. Forgetting about the file she’d been sent to find, she returned to the living room.
    â€œThe folder?” asked Cordelia,