Blind Trust Read Online Free PDF

pick up Verna’s special tea. He said you’d have it ready.”
    At the mention of the Nagys, Tom gave the petite woman a discreet once over. She wore a pale blue, uniform-style dressand carried a fabric shopping bag. Her dark hair was pinned into a bun that made her look older than the faint lines on her face would suggest.
    Beth leaned down and retrieved a small paper bag from beneath the counter. “Right here. That’ll be four dollars.”
    As the woman pulled out a bill, she nervously glanced his way. “Oh, wait.” She stuffed the ten back in her purse and laid a five on the counter instead.
    Coincidence? Or had she been about to pay for her package with a phony ten-dollar bill?
    She grabbed the bag and hurried out. The plaid-shirt guy left right behind her.
    Beth’s chuckle drew Tom’s attention back to the counter. “What?”
    Beth pointed to his weapon, visible beneath his open sport coat. “I think you scared her.”
    Yeah, he’d noticed. He fastened his button.
    â€œWhere she comes from, the police can’t be trusted any more than the criminals. Maybe less.”
    â€œWho is she?” And why was that guy following her?
    â€œLucetta. She’s Verna Nagy’s housekeeper.”
    Tom’s interest piqued even more at the direct connection to Kate’s neighbor. “And she does Verna’s shopping?” He angled his body to keep Lucetta and plaid guy in view through the large front windows.
    â€œVerna’s son usually picks up the tea blend.”
    â€œWhat’s in it?”
    Her gaze darted to the crowd still hovering around the newspaper editor. “I probably shouldn’t say.”
    Tom didn’t like the way she hesitated. “It’s important.”
    She leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “It hasherbs that enhance mental acuity. Brian’s concerned his mother’s succumbing to dementia.”
    Huh. Nagy’s efforts to help his mother were impressive.
    Lucetta entered the shop across the street.
    â€œI’ve got to go.” Given the woman’s change of heart on paying with a ten-dollar bill, Tom wasn’t ready to let her out of his sight.
    Outside, Tom squinted under the late afternoon sun, looking for plaid guy. Keeping the door Lucetta went through in his peripheral, Tom glanced in the neighboring stores and down side streets, but the guy had disappeared.
    Tom’s cell phone beeped. He checked caller ID. The chief.
    Letting out a groan, Tom leaned against a nearby lamppost to wait for Lucetta and hit the Talk button. “Yeah.”
    â€œYou got any leads?”
    â€œA few.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œAnd I’ll let you know if any of them pan out.”
    â€œIf?” The distinct sound of a desktop being slapped punctuated the question. “The mayor is breathing down my neck on this. Bad press could change GPC’s mind about expanding to Port Aster.”
    â€œMore likely he’s worried about jinxing the healthy raise he’s counting on if the town doubles its tax base.”
    Lucetta exited the specialty shop and, with a furtive glance over her shoulder, hurried down the sidewalk away from him.
    â€œI gotta go,” he said, cutting off whatever the chief had been saying, and trailed her at an inconspicuous distance.
    â€œDon’t let that woman affect your judgment again. We can’t afford any insinuation she’s getting special treatment from the police.”
    â€œUnderstood.” Tom disconnected before he said something he’d regret. One date. One! That could hardly be construed as special treatment. But it was too easy to treat Hank like his former school chum instead of his boss. A boss who could crush his career like a coffee cup.
    His cell phone rang again—the bell drop ringtone reserved for his sister. “Tess, I’m kind of busy.” He jogged across the street to catch up to Lucetta. “What’s