Morning Glory Circle Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother. She argued with me about it. I thought she just didn’t understand how my business worked, but before she left she said something that, upon reflection, sounded almost like a threat of some sort.”
    Scott just nodded and waited.
    “It was probably nothing,” Tony said. “I feel stupid even repeating it. I may have misunderstood.”
    Scott listened patiently but said nothing.
    “She said I should think about my decision and get back to her. I said there was nothing to think about, it was a business decision. She said I should give it some more thought. Then she said she hoped my mother’s heart wasn’t broken by the kind of life I was leading.”
    Scott’s curiosity was definitely piqued but he let the silence do its work.
    “At the time I thought she meant my mother would be ashamed of me for not helping her out. I told her there was no way I would personally underwrite a policy on her mother and she left in a huff. When I look back on it now, though, I wonder if she wasn’t trying to blackmail me into underwriting a policy and that if I refused she would tell my mother something about me that I wouldn’t want her to know.”
    “And is there something?”
    Tony’s face flushed, and he seemed agitated, but even after a long, uncomfortable silence he wouldn’t say more. Scott realized he was going to have to help him over the next hurdle.
    “I’m a police officer, Tony, but you and I have known each other our whole lives. If it’s just something embarrassing and not criminal I can be counted on to be discreet. If it’s criminal you need to tell a lawyer, a priest, or both.”
    “It’s not criminal and I’m not embarrassed about it, it’s just nobody’s business but my own,” Tony said.
    “Whatever it is, how could Margie know about it? You said you switched mail deliveries so she didn’t have access to your mail.”
    “She walks around late at night. You know that, right?”
    “I’ve heard that, but I’ve never run into her.”
    “She probably hides from you. I think she must do a lot of hiding and watching.”
    “So you think she saw you doing something?”
    “I think she saw me with someone, and speculated about what was going on.”
    “You’re right, that’s nobody else’s business,” Scott said. “Consenting adults and so forth.”
    “Exactly.”
    “Well, I appreciate your confidence in me, and it will go no further. I’m not a bit surprised, by the way, that she would threaten to blackmail you to get what she wanted. She’s a real piece of work.”
    “This town,” Tony said. “If it isn’t busybodies using police scanners to listen in on your phone calls, it’s nosy parkers roaming the streets after dark looking for ways to blackmail you.”
    “And people think I have an easy job,” Scott said.
    “Not me,” Tony said. “I don’t know how you do it. Between the small town politics and the freelance critics we’ve got in this town…”
    “I appreciate your sympathy,” Scott said, and rose to leave.
    “Anytime,” Tony said, and shook Scott’s hand.
    “When did this happen?” Scott asked him, as they walked toward the door. “When was Margie here?”
    “Last week. I’m pretty sure it was Wednesday.”
    “Have you seen her since?”
    “No,” Tony said. “I haven’t been out late at night, though, since I realized she might be following me.”
    “If you do see her give me a call,” Scott said. “I’d like to catch her in the act and give her a good scare.”
    “Will do,” Tony promised, and Scott left with a wave.
     
     
    Scott walked back up Pine Mountain Road past the newspaper office to Fitzpatrick’s Bakery, where owner Bonnie Fitzpatrick was waiting on a long line of customers crowding the counter. Ed’s number one fan, Mandy, was ringing up their orders. In the back, Scott could see Alice Fitzpatrick, Bonnie’s sister-in-law, taking multiple trays of flaky golden brown turnovers out of one of the commercial ovens.
    Maggie’s mother