A Stranger in Wynnedower Read Online Free PDF Page B

probably
nothing more than lint on her eyelashes. She spun around to return to her room
and bumped into a solid wall of warm body. Hands grabbed her arms.
    “How hard was it to
respect my one request? That you stay in your room? Believe it or not, it’s for
your own safety.”
    He released her arms.
She rubbed them.
    She asked, “How did you
get over here behind me?”
    “What are you talking
about?”
    “I saw you go into the
alcove. I saw someone in white.” Rachel pointed at his white t-shirt. He was
wearing the same jeans as earlier.
    “You saw someone?”
    “Just a shape.”
    He shook his head.
“You’re lucky. It could’ve been an intruder.”
    “I was hoping my
brother had returned.”
    “Go.” He waved in the
direction of her room.
    A couple of steps
along, she stopped and turned back. “Jack?”
    She could tell by the shift
of his shoulders and his sudden stillness otherwise, that she’d startled him.
“You said to call you Jack.”
    “That’s fine.”
    “Why is Jeremy’s door
unlocked? Every other door in this place is locked tight.”
    “Rachel. May I call you
Rachel?” He stepped closer.
    The hallway was small.
Claustrophobia touched her. Her stomach did a little jump.
    His voice dropped, low
and tightly controlled, “Rachel, your brother left without notice and took the
key with him. I won’t bore you with the details of the key situation here, but
until I find one that fits, it will remain unlocked. Any more questions?”
    She scooted back to her
room. She looked back. He was standing there watching.
    “Goodnight,” she said.
    He barely acknowledged
the ‘goodnight’ and headed down the stairs, apparently in pursuit of whomever
or whatever she’d seen. Rachel closed her door and turned the key, this time
reassured by the sound of the internal mechanism as it slid closed. She hoped
it was enough to guarantee a safe night’s sleep.
    Rachel wondered…if Jack
thought she’d nearly run into a looter, wouldn’t he rush off to catch him
instead of staying to lecture her?
    The elusive scent. The
blur of someone disappearing into the alcove…someone feminine?
    Perhaps Jack had
another guest at Wynnedower—one he hadn’t chosen to mention.
    One who was none of her
business.

Chapter Three
     
    Rachel stood at the
bedroom window willing the tow truck to appear, hoping to spot the dusty plumes
it would throw up as it traveled the dirt road to Wynnedower. Nine a.m. It
should be here anytime now. While she waited, she rehearsed the call to Martin
Ballew.
    She visualized him at
his desk. His day would just be getting started. He’d be doing interesting
museum stuff, not thinking about their interview scheduled for eleven a.m.
    The job was at a small
museum, and didn’t pay much, but it was in the Richmond museum district and
connected to a much larger museum. This job could be a stepping stone to a
better future.
    It was important to
strike the right blend of professionalism and courtesy. Rachel carried her
phone as she went downstairs. With her newly short, but neatly groomed
fingernails, she was as good as new. No red suit, but that wouldn’t have been
appropriate for the interview, anyway.
    Today she wore a dark
blue slacks and blazer outfit with a cute but elegant pleated dress shirt. The
blazer was cut loose and gathered. It had large interior pockets especially
nice for carrying stuff.
    She saw no one on the
way out and left via the unlocked front door. She wandered down the steps and
across the yard, speaking aloud as if Mr. Ballew strolled alongside.
    The morning was
beautiful; the grounds were dismal. The grass was peppered with tufts of tall weeds,
and littered with sticks, pine cones and gum balls. As she walked, Rachel
explained to Mr. Ballew that she arrived in town yesterday and was looking
forward to the interview, but had some car trouble and was hoping they could
meet later in the day. He was very receptive—in Rachel’s head. She was
successfully wrapping up the