A Penny for Your Thoughts Read Online Free PDF

at Brad who shook his head and rested large hands on his holstered hips.
    “I know, Chief. Can you believe it?”
    “So, what? The guy didn’t even have a gun?”
    Brad clicked his teeth. “Doesn’t look like it.”
    Matt straightened. “Is this the bag from the bank? Did the bank manager identify it?”
    Brad scratched his head. “Yeah, he said that’s the one the teller filled. I guess the perp must have transferred the money into something else.”
    Matt straightened up and looked around. He signaled for a technician who took pictures, retrieved the toy gun and bag and placed them in evidence bags. Penny ogled Matt as he casually directed the scene. Her hero worship increased twofold.
    “Okay, what else?” Matt turned back to Brad and moved toward the entrance of the bank. Penny hesitated, uncertain whether she should follow. Matt turned back and signaled her forward.
    Just outside the glass doors, a tall, slender man in his middle fifties walked up and slapped Matt on the back.
    “Hey, Matt, this is something else, isn’t it? I can’t even remember the last time we had a bank hit here in Gulf Shores.” His pleasantly pitched voice held a note of excitement. Brad moved away to reenter the building.
    Penny peered at the back of the newcomer’s jacket which read “FBI.”
    “Hey, Cliff. I wondered when you guys were going to show up.”
    Cliff, tanned and outdoorsy with striking salt and pepper hair, chuckled.
    “We’ve been here. Where have you been?”
    Matt grinned. “Back at the station. I had some stuff to take care of.” He nodded in the direction of the bank. “Does this fit any patterns?”
    Cliff turned to face the bank and shook his head. “No, I don’t think we’ve seen this guy before. He doesn’t sound familiar, but with the ski mask on, who knows?” He shoved his hands in his pockets and shrugged.
    Penny clasped her hands behind her back and stared down at the sidewalk in what she hoped was a disappearing pose. Cliff had already sent several curious looks her way.
    “Cliff, this is a friend of mine. Penny Brown.”
    Cliff, in the act of extending a slender browned hand to Penny, stilled. Penny stuck her hand in his, belatedly aware that he hadn’t actually reached for hers. An awkward handshake disconnect. She blushed. He seemed to recover and gave her hand a polite squeeze.
    “Penny Brown... How do you do? It’s nice to meet you.” The narrowed crease between his eyes seemed at odds with his words. He gave her a hard stare for a moment before his face lightened and he smiled widely. “Any friend of Matt’s...”
    Penny returned his smile though she wondered at his initial hesitation. Had Matt ever mentioned her to him? Her heart sped up for a moment. Had Matt spoken of her to someone else? Perhaps he hadn’t forgotten her after all.
    “Watch out for this guy, Penny,” Matt said with a grin. “So, we don’t have any other evidence right now, do we? No footprints. No getaway car. A plastic gun. You knew about that, right? The dogs haven’t even picked up a trail.”
    Cliff shook his head. “No, nothing. We’ve got the film from the security camera, but it doesn’t really tell us much...just a tall guy with a dark mask over his face. Maybe this will be one of those times a family member or friend gives the guy up.”
    Matt nodded. “That would be nice.” 
    “Well, I’m gonna take off, got to get my beauty sleep. I’ll let your guys handle the rest tonight.” He turned to Penny. “It was nice to meet you, Penny. I don’t think you’re a local by your accent. Are you visiting?”
    “Yes, for a few months.”
    Cliff eyed her speculatively for a moment. Penny squirmed until he grinned and nodded. “Well, then I hope to see you again soon.”
    Penny nodded jerkily and gave him a crooked smile. Did he know about Matt and her? Their past? He wasn’t looking at her as a suspect, was he? She’d been too busy with her own trauma on the beach.
    “See you in the