Witness Read Online Free PDF Page A

her, and several times Petra felt Joe’s gaze on her. She hoped Keilah didn’t notice. She didn’t want to attract a man her sister favored. Maybe when she left tomorrow, Joe would focus his sights on Keilah.
    Petra didn’t consider herself to be prettier than her sisters, although some people seemed mesmerized by her vivid green eyes. Still, they hadn’t helped her find the man she could spend her life with. Almost doesn’t count, she told herself. In horseshoes and hand grenades, sure, but not with Danny Carson. She winced and buried that memory yet again. Keilah was the one Joe should be looking at. Keilah was so sweet and fun to be around, but she claimed she’d never been in love. She deserved some excitement in her life. A romance would be just the thing.
    But as she glanced from Joe to her younger sister, Petra could see that Keilah wasn’t thinking in that direction at all. After all, Keilah had purposely brought Joe to the shop while she was there, and had even declared she’d brought Joe to meet Petra.
    Her sisters must have planned this, probably from the moment she’d called last night. They were trying to set her up with Joe Tarleton, the rumpled-but-attractive gumshoe next door.
    Petra wasn’t sure she minded, which in itself amazed her. She usually bridled at matchmaking attempts, not wanting to get into another complicated relationship. Still, it had been a long time since her engagement, which began with great promise but ended so badly. Another wave of heat surged across her cheeks. She pushed her chair back.
    “Well, we’d better get back to work, or you won’t be ready to open on Memorial Day.”
    Joe stood. “Yeah, and I’ve got some phone calls to make.”
    “Hot case?” Bethany asked.
    He met the question with another heart-stopping smile. “Well, lukewarm, anyway, thanks to that message you took for me yesterday. Thanks for the food. It was a pleasure.”
    His gaze met Petra’s once more, his brown eyes assessing her. It was silly, but for the first time in ages, she felt a spark. What would it be like to have someone like Joe to confide in? She wished she dared tell him about Thursday night. About Rex Harwood throttling that woman. About the awful moment when she’d slumped to the floor. About the terror that had chased Petra up here last evening, her shaking hands on the steering wheel. The bitter fear in her throat.
    “Nice meeting you,” Joe said.
    Petra nodded, her outward calmness surprising her. “You, too.”
     
    They went back to work on the store, and Petra put her body on autopilot, opening cartons Keilah brought her and shelving the merchandise under Bethany’s direction. By noon nearly half the shelves were filled.
    “Let’s eat out,” Petra suggested. She took Mason out for a brief walk, then she and her sisters drove to a seafood restaurant.
    Keilah sipped her sugar-free iced tea. “Petra, you really should quit your job and come up here to stay with us. Bethany and I rattle around in that huge house.”
    Petra smiled, but shook her head. “Do you really think the gift shop will bring in enough to support the two of you, let alone three of us?”
    Bethany sat forward, her eyes bright. “We did a lot of market research and income projections. We truly believe we’re going to make it. And if we had you, everything would be perfect.”
    Petra reached across the small table and squeezed her hand. “Thanks. But I think it’s a two-person operation.”
    “Don’t you get lonely in Portland?” Keilah asked.
    Petra nodded slowly. “Yeah, I do. I was thrilled when you two told me you were moving back to Maine. I hope we’ll see a lot of each other, but—”
    “But you don’t want to give up your secure job.” Keilah nodded. “We understand.”
    The waitress brought their fried clams, and they all sat back while she served them. Petra reached for her fork.
    “Let’s ask the blessing,” Bethany said.
    Petra quickly let go of the fork and bowed her head,