Not Guilty Read Online Free PDF Page A

Ambler?” Keely asked.
    “Susan,” she said, holding the door open. “Come in.”
    “I’m Keely, and this is Dylan.”
    “Come and sit down. Jake,” she called out.
    A short, sandy-haired kid with a buzz cut came into the living room and stood awkwardly looking at them.
    “Hey,” said Dylan.
    “Hey,” said Jake in return.
    “Dylan,” Keely prodded.
    Dylan stared down in the vicinity of Jake’s shoes. “I have to get my bike back because I’m not allowed to sell it. I brought you your money back.”
    “And . . .” said Keely.
    “Sorry,” Dylan mumbled. He held out the wad of bills, and Jake reluctantly, after a warning glance from his mother, took them.
    “Your bike’s in the garage,” he said. “My mom told me I wouldn’t be able to keep it anyway.” Jake did not seem overly distressed by the loss of the bike.
    We all know when a deal is too good to be true, Keely thought.
    “Right. Whatever,” said Dylan.
    Keely and Susan exchanged a knowing glance. “Jake, go out and show Dylan where the bike is.”
    “Okay,” said Jake. The two boys started for the front door. “Do you want to shoot some hoops?” Jake asked.
    Before Dylan had a chance to reply, Keely interjected, “Not tonight, Jake. Dylan hasn’t done his homework. Why don’t you do it another day,” she said, trying to make it clear that it wasn’t their spending time together that she disapproved of. She just didn’t want Dylan to lose sight of why they’d come. “Dylan, I want you to get on your bike and go directly home.”
    “You too, Jake,” Susan called after her son as the two boys went out the front door. “Homework.”
    Keely turned back to Susan. “Thank you for calling me,” she said. “I’m sorry about all this.”
    Susan made a dismissive gesture. “Believe me, I’m just so glad he didn’t steal the bike. Lately, I never know what to think.”
    Keely recognized the troubled look in the other woman’s eyes. “I know what you mean,” she said. “Dylan has been pretty impossible lately.”
    The other woman’s frown deepened. “Jake’s been . . . acting out. His father and I are . . . getting divorced.”
    “Oh,” said Keely nodding. “Yeah. That’s tough on . . . everybody.”
    “So, when he came home with this bike, I just assumed the worst.” It was almost as if Susan was trying to explain it to herself.
    “Oh, believe me, I understand,” said Keely. She hesitated, and then she added, “The bike was a gift to Dylan from his stepfather.”
    The other woman’s troubled gaze cleared slightly, and she nodded. “Oh,” she said. “You do understand.”
    “Oh, yes,” said Keely. “I sure do. Well, I’d better not keep you.”
    Susan walked her to the door. Keely looked out and saw Dylan get on his bike and start down the driveway. “I’m sorry about all this,” said Keely.
    “That’s okay,” said Susan. “And listen, Dylan is welcome to come over anytime. He seems like a good kid.”
    “Thank you,” said Keely, meaning it. “He could use a friend.”
    Keely walked down Susan’s driveway and got into the Bronco. Despite Mark’s insistence that she take her time, Keely felt as if she should head back. She was thinking of Abby’s bath and Dylan’s homework. But she was also reluctant to go right back home. It was a rarity for her to be out of the house without Abby. The stores were open late, and she knew Mark would have a nice gift for her for their anniversary. He was thoughtful that way. Reminding herself that Mark had urged her to go, she turned the car around in Susan Ambler’s driveway and headed to the mall.

    A FTER AN HOUR, during which she tried in vain to figure out Mark’s criteria for picking out his ties and to remember which of the jazz albums were or were not part of his collection, Keely felt frustrated with herself. You should know these things, she thought. She had been so distracted lately with all the decisions about the house and caring for a baby. It had