Halos Read Online Free PDF Page A

went back inside.
    Dave had joined Ben at the table. Steve’s coffee was cold. He dumped it in the sink and brewed a fresh pot. As he waited for the carafe to fill, he leaned on the counter. “So what’s the plan?”
    Ben and Dave looked at him.
    Steve spread his hands. “What?”
    “We can’t just turn her out.”
    “Meaning …” He switched the carafe with his mug, filled it, and switched them back.
    Dave said, “She’s got no family. Everything she owned was in her car.”
    “Wait a minute.” Steve returned his hips to the counter. “I thought you said she was driving a cherry Mustang.”
    “It was a cherry all right.” Ben nodded. “Red convertible, leather seats. Very sweet.”
    “Hardly sounds like some indigent waif.” He drank the strong brew, which hadn’t quite mellowed to a full pot flavor.
    Dave said, “She told Cooper her uncle gave her the car.”
    Steve frowned. “More likely she took it and ran.” That explained her strangeness. He’d probably never see his coat again.
    Dave scratched his head. “It had her name on the license plate. L-E-S-S. She said they called her Less.”
    Steve said, “Less, not Alessi. How do you know it wasn’t her uncle’s name? Lester or Leslie.” It was hard to imagine two men more gullible than Dave and Ben. This woman had them totally snowed.
    Ben stood up. “That would be one s , I think.” He carried his mug to the sink. “I’m going to open the station.”
    Steve turned. “We haven’t decided anything.”
    “Like what?”
    Were they intentionally obtuse? “Like where I’m sleeping tonight.”
    “I guess I’ll get after that Toyota.” Dave squeezed in and rinsed his mug. “When did Pete want it by?”
    Steve spread his hands. “What is this?”
    Ben shrugged. “If you want her out, you’ll have to tell her so yourself.”
    “Excuse me, but I’m an equal partner here. I pay you a third of the mortgage, last I looked.”
    “That’s true.” Dave nodded. “I guess we could rotate, each of us give up our room for a night until she finds her car.”
    “She’s not going to find her car.” Steve slammed his mug, sloshing the coffee over the rim. “And both of you know it.”
    Dave and Ben exchanged a glance.
    Finally he’d gotten through. “How many missing things have been found lately?”
    Ben cleared his throat, but Steve didn’t give him time to comment. “None. Not one. And I for one am not going to sleep in a cot until Cooper comes up with a good excuse to send Miss Alessi on her way.”
    “I don’t expect you to.”
    He spun, feeling the chill from her eyes more than the wind from the open door. She took off his coat and held it out. He took it, feeling like a heel. “What I mean is …”
    “Don’t worry about it.” She turned to Ben. “I talked to Sheriff Roehr. He’s working on it. I was wondering … Would you need some help at the station? I asked at Moll’s. She was doing a brisk breakfast business, but she didn’t need anyone. You don’t either. I can tell. Well …”
    “What about you, Steve?” Dave tapped his elbow. “You could use help at the store while you value and post all that new inventory.”
    Steve glared. “I’m sure I can break away for the two or three people who might walk in needing books this week.”
    “It takes you days to catch up when you’ve done an acquisition.”
    “That’s all right.” Alessi pushed her hair back. “Do you think I could take a shower? I might have better luck if I’m not so rumpled.”
    “Sure. Of course.” Dave and Ben all but fell over themselves.
    “Thanks.”
    Steve watched her head to the bathroom, where he had planned to shower. The door closed behind her, and he turned to his companions. “Listen, guys, we need a plan here.” He did not like the looks in their eyes. “She’s suckered you. She’s a … sociopath.” Anyone who could be that sweet and innocent and cheerful in these circumstances had something going.
    Ben shook his head.