Sweet Caroline's Keeper Read Online Free PDF

ears and a belly button ring. But within five minutes of talking to Roz that day, Caroline had realized that to counter the negative effect of her wild-child appearance, Roz possessed a flamboyant, exuberant personality that could charm the birds from the trees.
    They had become fast friends and Roz was, without a doubt, the best assistant in the world. She had a way with adults and children alike. And although she tried to hide her softer side, the woman had a heart of pure gold. Almost everyone recognized that fact and appreciated Roz for the wonderful person she was—everyone except Lyle, who was put off by everything Roz said and did. In the beginning, Caroline had tried to bridge the vast gap between her cousin and her assistant, but had finally given up any hope that the two would ever be friends.
    Roz's stomach growled. "Isn't it getting to be lunch-time?"
    Caroline pulled her wristwatch from the pocket of her faded jeans to check the time. "It's only eleven. Lunch is at noon. Mrs. Mabry brought two big picnic baskets overflowing with food. Just hang on another hour and we'll have a feast."
    Caroline surveyed her tall friend's slender curves. How was it possible for someone to eat like a stevedore and keep a model-thin figure? Every extra bite that went into Caroline's mouth wound up on her hips and thighs.
    "Caroline!" Allison Sims cried as she rushed into the room. "Steve just called out to me from downstairs and said to come get you. They've found something in the basement they think you should see."
    For a brief moment Caroline's heart stopped beating as an odd thought flashed through her mind. Had they found a dead body? Don't be silly, she told herself. You're letting being in this house spook you. Your imagination is working overtime.
    "What did they find? A treasure chest filled with diamonds and rubies?" Roz asked, her large, brown, Bette Davis eyes widening with speculation.
    "He didn't say," Allison replied. "But he said for us to hurry."
    Roz and Caroline joined Allison and the three met Mrs. Mabry on the landing, where she waited for them.
    Steve stood at the bottom of the backstairs and motioned for them to come down, which they did. "Caroline, you're not going to believe this, but when we tore out that back wall in the wine cellar we found a. . .well, we think it's a secret passageway of some sort."
    "You're kidding." Caroline's heart fluttered.
    "And that's not all," Steve said.
    "What do you mean, that's not all?" Roz asked.
    "The guys are waiting for you." Steve grabbed Caroline's wrist. "You'll have to see this for yourself."
    The image of Preston Shaw's body sprawled out on the study floor appeared in Caroline's mind, but she brushed it aside, telling herself not to be ridiculous. If there was a dead body downstairs, a skeleton hidden away for years, Steve wouldn't be acting so excited, now would he?
    Since their plans included working on the house from early morning to late into the night every Saturday, Caroline had arranged to have the electricity turned on, as well as the water. The stairs leading down into the belly of the old house were well lit, plainly revealing several steps with rotting edges and a wall covered in an accumulation of spiderwebs . Steve brought her to a halt at the bottom of the stairs. The other five men, including Lyle, stood circling something as they gazed down toward the floor.
    "She's here," Steve informed them.
    Five heads popped up and five pair of eyes focused on Caroline, who stood frozen beside Steve.
    Roz gave her a shove. "Go on. Fm dying to find out what they've discovered."
    As Caroline moved toward the circle, the men separated and one by one moved away from the object resting on the concrete floor. She stared at the metal box, approximately twenty inches square, and immediately recognized it as some sort of small safe.
    "Diamonds and rubies," Roz said.
    "Or perhaps some stocks and bonds," Steve suggested.
    "Could be cash money," Marty Johnson said.
    "Might