Hidden Hearts Read Online Free PDF

realizing that the hedges were so tall, the trees so mature and the foliage so dense that she couldn’t see any of the nearby ranch houses that comprised the neighborhood. The four cottages and the brick house were completely closed off from the rest of the world except for the driveway that cut between two of the cottages and disappeared. She followed the blacktop back to the street and a set of locked mailboxes. A sign clearly stated that No Solicitors were allowed. Twelve foot oleanders hid the buildings from the front, and she’d unwittingly driven past the entry. She smiled at the thought of living in an area where access was limited. In the midst of a major metropolis these five homeowners had created their own little community.
    She returned to the interior and noticed a long carport to the side. Only two vehicles were parked underneath the metal awning, a sleek BMW convertible and an ancient pea-green Chevy Nova in mint condition.
    There was no one around. She headed toward the first cottage. A yellow placard with the silhouette of a dog breed she didn’t recognize sat in the corner of the window, and the doormat read A Devoted Dog Lover Lives Here . She rang the bell. Suddenly giant paws crashed through the vertical blinds with a deep bark to match. She sprang back and gasped. He was big and brown with shiny teeth, nothing like the silhouette.
    When no one came to the door she headed to the next cottage, which was an exact replica of the first. Underneath the house numbers was a square limestone sign, the words Harpist Rest chiseled in rich script. She rang the bell and a lilting harp played. Of course. She pressed the bell again just for fun when clearly no one was home. She assumed that at least two people were in residence somewhere, since two vehicles were in the carport and few people used public transportation in Phoenix.
    The front blinds of the third cottage were open. When no one answered the bell, she peered through the window, curious about the layout. A stylish arch separated a small living room from a tiny kitchen, and a doorway led to at least one bedroom. She thought it was adorable, but judging from the stacks of moving boxes and takeout containers that surrounded the few pieces of living room furniture, someone had just moved in.
    As she approached the final cottage she heard laughter and engines revving.
    She rang the bell and a voice yelled, “Whatever you’re sellin,’ we don’t want any! Read the sign at the end of the driveway!”
    She rolled her eyes and pressed the button again.
    “I’m serious! Go away! I’m not joining a religion, subscribing to a magazine or helping you finance your trip to Disneyland. And it’s too late in the year for Girl Scout cookies.”
    Very amusing. She checked her watch. She only had an hour and a half before her next meeting. This time she knocked insistently until the door flew open and she faced the words Life Is Too Short to Smoke Cheap Pot . Her gaze flew up from the black T-shirt to the wearer’s face, a handsome woman with very short curly brown hair. CC imagined her round face was cherubic when she smiled, but she wasn’t smiling now.
    “Hi, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m looking for Vivian Battle?” She pointed at the brick house and added, “The lady who lives over there?”
    “I know who she is. Who are you?”
    “I’m CC Carlson, an attorney.”
    She pulled one of her cards from the side pocket of her briefcase and handed it to her.
    “Uh-huh. So what does CC stand for?”
    She blanched at the question. “Uh, well, that’s not really your business,” she said tersely.
    She chuckled. “That bad, huh?”
    “No,” she said automatically. “Look, I just need to reach Ms. Battle. Do you know where she is?”
    She started to answer until a raspy voice called from inside, “Hey, Penn! Get over here. It’s your turn!”
    Penn turned away and shouted, “Just a sec!” She leaned against the doorway and eyed her shrewdly.