Whisper Cape Read Online Free PDF Page A

don’t know.” Not since her nightmares, she thought. She wasn’t sure she could trust a man enough to let him know about them, especially here in this small town. None of the guys she'd met attracted her anyway, and the ones who were just visiting, passing through, didn't appeal to her because Addie didn't want a meaningless fling. If the right man were to come along she might be tempted, but she couldn’t allow herself that luxury just yet, not until she found out what happened to her father. Maybe the nightmares would stop after that.
    “Yeah, now that’s unhealthy,” Darcy said.
    “Please, let’s not go there.”
    Gerry returned from the kitchen and started counting out the cash drawer. “Addie, when you’re finished eating would you mind cleaning the mirror for me? I splattered a wee bit of cream all over it earlier and I need to get this money in the bank.”
    “No problem.” Gerry liked a clean and sparkly bar, always bragging about how far it had come since he’d purchased it a little over a year ago from an elderly couple who’d had trouble maintaining it. Gerry renovated the old run-down building and expanded the eating area to seat more customers. Adding a deck for an outside eating area overlooking the ocean, he turned the restaurant into a great local hangout as well as a popular tourist attraction.
    “So why were the chief and his new lieutenant here this morning anyway?” Addie asked.
    “Oh, shit, you didn’t hear. They found a dead woman this morning on the outer edge of the old Tully farm. Her body was so mangled they couldn’t even identify her. Scary, huh?”
    Addie nodded and thought of her father's death. “Yes, scary. Did they say what killed her?”
    “They’re not sure but they think it could have been a mountain lion or some other animal, but they won’t know anything until after the autopsy.”
    “A mountain lion?” Addie thought about that, then remembered the mysterious man, and wondered if he’d had anything to do with it.
    “Maybe we shouldn’t go to the beach tomorrow night,” Addie said.
    “We’ll be okay. Besides, mountain lions don’t like fire and they won’t come near the water.”
    “What if it wasn’t a mountain lion?”
    “Not to worry, we’ll have men to protect us and keep us warm.”
    Addie frowned.
    Darcy smiled, scooped up another spoonful of soup, and motioned to the door leading outside. “Hey, speaking of warm, I can’t wait until those heaters for the deck arrive. Any word on when they’ll get here?”
    “Gerry said sometime this week, if we’re lucky.” Addie, grateful for the change in subject, added, “Let’s eat out there as soon as they come, okay?”
    They looked forward to using the new deck; it extended off the dining room and curved around the back, overlooking the best location around for whale watching. Gerry had installed a barrier of Plexiglas standing eight feet high that surrounded the entire deck, protecting the area against the strong coastal winds, but heaters were definitely a necessity.
    “Absolutely. So, what are you planning to wear tomorrow night? You can borrow my new pink blouse if you’d like. Do you want me to help you with your makeup?” Darcy smirked as she reached over and started to fuss with Addie’s hair, pulling it up in back to see what she might be able to do with it.
    Addie swatted Darcy’s hand away. “Cut it out! There’s no way in hell you’re touching my face or my hair, and what is this incessant desire of yours to always want to dress me?”
    “I just think you should explore some colors other than black all the time. The Goth look is okay for awhile, but don’t you think it’s time for a change?”
    “The Goth look?” Addie asked with a half-laugh.
    “Yeah, you know, all dark and spooky.” Darcy wiggled her fingers in the air trying to look scary.
    “Thanks,” Addie choked out, suddenly self-conscience about her appearance.
    “Oh, come on, Addie, you know what I mean. You