Read Whisper of Revenge (A Cape Trouble Novel Book 4) for Free Online Page B

puppy, who seized the shoulder strap of
Ian’s small pack and started a tug-of-war game.  Maybe she had more than she
needed right here, thanks to the faceless man whose next move had her lying
awake nights, chest heavy with dread.
     
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    The surveillance camera was supposed to be installed today,
thank goodness.  Hannah knew it wouldn’t be a complete solution, but at least
she could quit worrying about what she’d find on her alley doorstep.  Nobody in
their right mind would expect to get away unnoticed with leaving anything out
front; Cape Trouble might not have a very active nightlife, but restaurants and
a brew pub on Schooner Street kept it busy until ten or later.  Hannah knew the
chef at the Sea Watch Café across the street arrived as early as five in the
morning to start baking for the day and to be ready to serve breakfast.  The
police patrolled regularly because the town’s high-end shops were all located
on Schooner Street, including a jeweler and several art galleries.
    As she turned down the alley, it did cross her mind that her
secret admirer might not be in his right mind.  But behaving strangely
didn’t mean he was crazy, for heaven’s sake!  A little strange wasn’t the same
thing at all.  The camera being installed here would surely send a message.
    Air whooshed out of her when she saw the bare concrete
steps.  Nothing again today.  She hadn’t even known she was holding her breath.
    It had been four days since she had talked to Chief Colburn
at Elias’s instigation.  Maybe that had sent a message.  Over a week since the
puppy with the big blue bow.
    Why hadn’t whoever was doing this to her identified himself?
    She unclenched her jaw and got out, unlocking the back door
as usual before starting to unload the trays of fudge and truffles.  Sales had
been especially good this week, either because tourist season was picking up or
because locals were intrigued by the gossip and stopping by more often.  Buying
something gave them an approved excuse for being there.
    “Morning, Hannah.”
    The man’s voice had her jerking around, even though she’d
identified it within seconds.  Garn Ketchum owned the sporting goods store on
her block.  Garn was around her age, but married, which ruled him out.  Didn’t
it?
    Rumor had it that Garn, who had grown up in Cape Trouble,
had played minor league baseball but, to his everlasting regret, was never
called up to the majors.  Even making it that far gave him star status locally,
though.  Still lean and athletic, he coached baseball at the high school.
    Garn had come by in the last week to buy a cup of coffee and
give her advice on obedience training her new puppy.  At least he’d tried to be
helpful.
    “Morning, Garn,” she called in return, and turned sideways
to maneuver her latest tray in the door.  The last.  She went back to lock her
Highlander and finally the back door.
    As she filled in the empty places in the display cases, she
caught herself glancing through the windows at the street.  Blurred by fog, headlights
appeared and disappeared, with it hard to make out the shape of the cars
themselves.  No one was parked right in front of Sweet Ideas yet.  A few
walkers passed in front of the store, all wearing hooded coats against the
chill and damp.  Tourists who came in June expecting only sunshine were
destined for disappointment.
    Hannah knew she was watching for Elias.  He’d stopped by
twice since he had walked her out to her car that day, but his visits had been
during open hours.  The most personal he’d gotten was to ask whether she was
following his advice about not closing by herself.  Which she’d done all but
one day.
    At two minutes to nine, she gave up hope of seeing him and
went to her office to stow her purse, which she had earlier dropped on a table
inside the bookstore.  With no window in the cramped office, she had to turn on
the overheard fluorescent light.
    A book was propped