craftfield 01 - secrets untold Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I work here.” She swallowed past her dry throat. “My mom and I own this place.” Oh God, Mom! She couldn’t stop shaking.
    “Sorry, let me have you talk to the sheriff.”
    Sherriff ? He didn’t just send a deputy or something? Nausea hit her stomach in waves that churned and grew. What was going on?
    An elderly man with a wool coat over his uniform approached, his face grim. “Are you Lily Thomas?”
    “Yes. What’s going on? Where’s my mom? Is she okay?” Her gaze kept drifting to the ice cream shop’s windows feet away, but she couldn’t see her mom inside. There was an ambulance; she’d seen it on her way in. Maybe her mom just fainted or something. Lily was freaking out over nothing. Still, the uneasiness skated along her skin and squashed her stomach. She placed her arms over her middle to hold herself together.
    “I’m afraid there’s been an accident.” He drew her to the side, away from the shop’s windows. “Your mom hit her head…. the ambulance tried to revive her but failed. I’m sorry, Lily.”
    Tears blinded herand she couldn’t breathe past a weight sitting on her chest. No ! He was mistaken. He had to be. Her mom was fine and she’d be waking her up any moment. That’s all. Lily pushed past him and ducked under the caution tape. Inside, the familiar bell ring echoed loudly. Resonating through her like the shop was as empty as her heart.
    She froze. A white sheet lay over her mom and all that showed were her mom’s sensible slippers… the ones she always wore in the store. The ones she and Lily had spent half the day searching all over town for. As Lily approached, one cop reached out to stop her, but she brushed his arm aside and went to her mom. The door jangled behind her, but she couldn’t look away. Her mom’s body lay on the vinyl tile. Around her dark hair was blood, pooled around her like a scarlet halo.
    On the floor beside her was the emerald and gold picture frame. The glass was shattered and edges splintered the exact way she’d visualized it the first time she’d seen it in her dream. The one dollar bill, the first payment the shop had received and that her mom was so proud of, was gone. The cash register lay open on its side on the counter. One of the display cases for cakes was broken and smeared with blood. Mom!
    Tears sprung from Lily’s eyes as she fell hard to her knees at her mom’s feet.
    Gentle hands pressed on her shoulders, tugging her back, away from her mom. Forcing her to stand and leave.
    “Let me go,” her hoarse voice scraped her throat. Her mom had to be okay. They were waiting for the paramedics, right? Oh God, there is so much blood. Her sneakers squeaked along the floor. The room spun. Foreign hands led her outside, then a warm blanket was thrown over her shoulders and a steaming mug of coffee pushed into her hands. The liquid inside the paper cup sloshed as she shook.
    “It’ll help, have a sip,” a deputy with a warm smile said.
    How was coffee going to help? How was anything? Because he waited expectantly and watched her, she took a sip. The heat enveloped her mouth, and she swallowed it down before she coughed. “What is this?” There was a kick to the coffee she wasn’t expecting. A hint of extra bitterness.
    “Coffee with ashwagandha.”
    “What’s that?
    “It’s a calming herb.” He motioned for her to take another sip.
    For a moment, she blew the coffee, then drank down a huge gulp, the liquid seeping into her bones. Why did a cop carry around a calming herb? Well, guess it was better than becoming an alcoholic from the work-related stress. She clenched her hand until her nails bit into her flesh and it still didn’t take away the aching spreading inside her chest. She couldn’t breathe.
    “Have some more.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the street light.
    “W-who are you? What h-happened to my mom?” God, why had she left to get that stupid part for the fridge?
    “I’m Jarred Garza. A deputy on this