Candy-Coated Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page B

you?”
    I would like to think it was because of my attractiveness. Now, I felt dirty. Mortified. Astounded. Angry. Ethan’s stunned silence on the phone made sense. Obviously, he and Joe had had a good laugh at my expense, and they both had a lot of explaining to do. I bolted to my feet and stalked into the building, Sally’s gasps of laughter following.
    Washington had already unloaded the fresh appliance and strapped the armadillo’s General Electric coffin to the dolly. Joe stood next to Eddy Foreman, laughing at something the greasy little pervert said. I glared at Foreman then grabbed Joe’s arm and pulled him to a vacant corner of the building.
    “Had a good laugh at my expense, didn’t you?”
    “What?”
    “You, Ethan, and Foreman.” I spit Eddie’s last name. “I just found out what Millie’s ‘unofficial’ job was. You’re the sheriff. How could you let this sort of thing go on?”
    “Summer, that’s why I was headed out here the day you babysat that elephant. I’d heard rumors the carnival ran a side business of prostitution and came here to shut it down. Turns out, someone else did.”
    My antennae shot up. “So you don’t think it was suicide!”
    “Shhh.” He shoved me out of the building. “Stop putting your nose where it doesn’t belong. Ethan will be home Saturday. I’d like you to still be breathing. Then you’ll be his problem.”
    “I haven’t done anything. I promise. Someone in a gorilla suit followed me yesterday. I mentioned it to Foreman. I thought maybe a bear, but Foreman said it wasn’t likely Samson, who’s a bear, could get loose. I am fairly certain it wasn’t a bear.” Please, God, don’t let it be. I’d watched the Discovery Channel. I knew what bears were capable of.
    Joe rubbed his chin. “Now a dead armadillo.”
    “Want to know what I think?”
    “Not really.”
    I leaned closer. “I think something is going on here, and someone is afraid I’ll find out. The newspaper had a huge write-up on my involvement with the diamond theft and murder last summer. My face is recognizable.”
    “You aren’t famous, my dear cousin. And if you think a quarter of a page in the middle of the Gazette is a huge write-up, then you go ahead and suffer your delusions.” Joe chucked me under the chin. “Take care of your candy. I’ll follow you home.”
    “Don’t you have to call April or something?” I marched ahead of him. Upon reaching my table, I opened the box and discovered unmelted chocolate. At least my work, if not my time, hadn’t been a waste.
    I paused as I reached to open the refrigerator, then I smiled over my shoulder at Joe and opened it. Blessedly empty. To keep it that way, I’d have Washington install a lock.
    Fifteen minutes later, lock installed, I drove down the highway toward home. Joe followed. He wouldn’t be able to convince me someone wasn’t afraid of my digging up information. My gut feeling told me I was onto something. I just needed to find out what that something was.
    Joe honked as I pulled into my driveway, and then sped past the house. The welcome glow of lights through the windows greeted me. Truly’s head poked above the windowsill, her triangular ears perked. Coming home always sent a warm rush through me. What would it feel like when Ethan and I were married and we came home to each other?
    Aunt Eunice exited the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. “You’ve been gone quite a while. Did you decide to stop by the store?”
    “Let me get a soda, and I’ll fill you in.” I brushed past her. “How’d you get home?”
    “Caught a ride with Ruby.” She pursed her lips. “You were right. I shouldn’t let a thing like pickles come between friends.”
    The ice clinked into my glass, and I prepared for the lecture sure to come. The soda’s carbonation tickled my throat. I placed the drink on the table and pulled up a chair.
    Aunt Eunice frowned, tossed the towel on the counter, and joined me. “What did you do