Stolen in the Night Read Online Free PDF

arm.
    “Oh, this is my wife, Sally.”
    “How do you do?” said Julie warmly, smiling at the delicate woman. “I’ve heard about
     you. It’s nice to finally meet you. My husband’s the one who painted your house this
     summer.”
    The woman’s smile transformed her pained-looking features. “Oh yes. Of course. How
     is Jake?”
    “Fine. We’re both fine,” said Julie, nodding enthusiastically. “What are you folks
     doing here?”
    “We’re here to pick up the governor,” said Chan. “He’s coming straight from a party
     meeting in St. Louis. We knew each other in college so I invited him to stay with
     us tonight.”
    “Oh,” said Julie. “Chan, Sally, I want you both to meet my sister-in-law, Tess DeGraff.
     She and her son came so they could be here for the announcement tomorrow, too. Tess,
     this is Channing Morris. He’s the owner of the Stone Hill Record where the press conference will take place. And this is his wife.”
    Tess cringed inwardly, but she smiled at them. “We’ve met,” said Tess.
    “Well, not officially,” said Chan. “I didn’t realize you were…involved in this whole
     thing. It must be a terrible ordeal for your family. If it’s any consolation to you,
     most of us think Edith Abbott is kind of a crackpot. Don’t quote me,” he said, smiling.
    “Thanks,” said Tess. “Frankly, I’ll be glad when it’s over.”
    “I’m sure you will be. Hey, if you’re going to be around a little while,” he said
     eagerly, “I’d love to sit down with you and talk about all this for the paper.”
    Tess forced herself to smile politely. Despite his disarming smile, Chan Morris was
     a journalist with a newspaper to sell and hers was a meaty story. Even Wade Maitland,
     her dear friend and the executive producer of her crew, had tried hard to convince
     her that they should accompany her to New Hampshire and shoot footage for a possible
     documentary about the controversial death penalty case. Tess had refused in no uncertain
     terms. To her, it was not a story, but her family’s never-ending nightmare. “Well,
     maybe, after it’s over,” said Tess. “Today we’re all a little on edge.”
    “Of course you are,” said Chan. He glanced at his watch. “The governor’s flight should
     be arriving any minute. My wife has been so keyed-up about this visit,” he said, looking
     indulgently at the pretty woman on his arm. “She’s been fussing over the house and
     the food for days.”
    Sally colored slightly. “Well, he’s an important guest,” she said.
    “I’m sure it’ll be lovely. You have such a beautiful home,” said Julie.
    Sally looked confused. “Have you visited us?”
    “No, no. Not for years. But everybody knows the Whitman farm…” said Julie.
    “Julie, speaking of that,” said Chan, the friendly tone of his voice turning decidedly
     brisker, “can you ask Jake when he’s going to finish painting the trim on the third-floor
     windows? The house looks…unfinished. Frankly it’s a little embarrassing with the governor
     coming. I’ve left him half a dozen messages, but…”
    Julie’s face turned pink. “He still hasn’t finished the trim? I’m sorry, Chan. I don’t
     know what he was thinking.”
    “Once I paid him, he seemed to disappear,” said Chan.
    “I’ll tell him,” Julie promised. “I feel terrible about this.”
    “Not your fault,” said Chan, although he clearly wasn’t saying the same about Jake.
     “Well, we’d better be getting to the gate. Nice to meet you, Tess. I’m sure everything
     will turn out…as we expect it to tomorrow.”
    “Thanks. Nice to meet you both,” said Tess as the couple smiled and turned away.
    Julie was shaking her head. “What am I going to do with him?” she said.
    “Who?” Tess asked.
    “Your brother. He never finishes his jobs. He painted their house this summer. It’s
     the end of October and he still hasn’t done all the trim. I don’t know what to do.
     If I say anything