Hurricane Force (A Miss Fortune Mystery Book 7) Read Online Free PDF

blew away in the storm?” I asked. “That would suck on all kinds of levels.”
    “Nothing we can do about it now,” Carter said. “I’ll get a trash can from one of the Sunday school rooms. Let’s pick this up and hide it. If people catch sight of it, they’ll be running out into the storm, swearing God was sending them money.”
    We gathered up the wet money and crammed it in a trash can that Carter promptly stuck in a closet in one of the rooms off the back of the church. I shoved one of the bills into my pocket for closer inspection later on. The whole idea of money blowing around in a storm had my instincts on high alert. Something felt off. More off than normal Sinful oddities. And unfortunately, my “off meter” hadn’t been wrong since I’d set foot in the town.
    “I wonder how much more is out there,” I said.  
    Carter shook his head. “I just hope no one else catches sight of it.”  
    We made our way back to the pews, and I sank down in between Ida Belle and Gertie. I glanced back to make sure Carter and Walter weren’t anywhere close before pulling the bill out and using my phone to illuminate it.  
    “There’s money blowing around in the storm,” I whispered. “A bunch of it flew in when that last blast hit.”
    Gertie grabbed my hand and pulled it over toward her face. “This is a hundred-dollar bill. You’re telling me there’s a hurricane of hunskis out there?”
    “Don’t get any ideas,” Ida Belle said. “It could be a hurricane of gold bricks and it wouldn’t be worth going out into that storm.”
    “Maybe not right now,” Gertie said, “but bet your butt, I’m going to be the first out that door when the storm breaks. God’s making it rain!”
    A little girl, probably six, a couple pews in front of us turned around and nodded. “Of course God’s making it rain, Ms. Gertie. Who else would it be?”
    “Lower your voice,” Ida Belle said, “or we’ll have a stampede of idiots running outside.”
    I pulled the bill out of Gertie’s hand and took a closer look at it. It looked legit and the paper felt right, but something about it still bothered me.  
    “You’ve got that look,” Ida Belle said. “What’s wrong?”
    I shook my head. “Nothing that I can point to, but something doesn’t feel right. I know that’s a weak basis for concern…”
    “I wouldn’t say that,” Ida Belle said. “I’d say someone with your abilities and training are attuned to things that aren’t quite what they appear to be. If you think something’s off, then I have no doubt something is.”
    “This is Sinful,” Gertie said. “How would we know what’s off and what’s off , if you know what I mean?”
    I shoved the bill back in my pocket. “She’s right. Nothing in this town is what I’d consider normal, and I’ve been feeling nervous about the storm. That’s not my norm, so my instincts are probably skewed.”
    Ida Belle nodded but didn’t look convinced. I didn’t blame her. I wasn’t convinced either. My cell phone vibrated and I pulled it out of my jeans pocket, surprised I had any signal at all. I checked the display.  
    Harrison!
    My CIA partner was the only person besides Director Morrow who knew where I was and how to reach me. His usual method of keeping me in the loop was email, cleverly disguised as discussions about weather, crops, and his dad. He never risked calling unless it was dire.  
    No way could I take the call here. I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing me. I switched to text mode.
    Can’t answer at the moment. We’re having a hurricane.
    A couple seconds later, his reply came back.
    Put the damn drink down and answer the phone.
    I sighed.
    Not a drink. A REAL hurricane. I’m holed up in a church with a bunch of people. Check the news.
    I pressed Send and waited. I didn’t have to wait long.
    WTF Redding. Find a closet or confessional or something where you can talk.
    My back tightened. Something was wrong. Harrison wouldn’t insist unless