AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That sounds likely.” Mandy wasn’t sure why she suddenly felt tense. No one was looking her way, so why did unease skitter up her spine? “I can’t make out the writing on the side of those cars. Can you?”
“No.” Joe leaned closer to the window. “Okay now, relax, sweet cheeks, because here comes your bear.”
Chapter 32
Mandy tried not to stiffen as Ted, who was walking down Main Street, stopped in front of the bookshop window. He saw her and Joe, his eyes held hers briefly, and then he turned to take in the news van, Cadillacs, and photographer.
As Mandy was watching him, she saw his reaction. He took a step back, which had him colliding with the window. The look on his face could only be termed panic.
“Okay, that reaction tells me he may know what’s going on with that news crew and who is in those cars.”
“What?”
Before Joe could speak again, Ted was inside the shop. He’d moved so fast she hadn’t even realized what he was doing until he stood before her.
“What’s happening?” Joe said, looking out the window and then back to Ted.
Shooting Mandy another look, Ted took a step backward.
“What’s going on, Ted?” Mandy asked him.
“Nothing.” He retreated deeper into the shop.
“That news van has stopped outside Mildens Pharmacy, and the two Cadillacs,” Joe said in a conversational tone. “The closer those cars get, the more those signs look like campaign slogans to me. Anything you want to share with us, Teddy Bear?”
“That’s the same photographer you told me was taking photos of the lodge the other day,” Mandy added.
She’d seen him in throes of passion, angry, and happy, but never nervous before. That was definitely the look he wore now.
“Ted?” She dragged his eyes from the window and focused on him. “What aren’t you telling us?”
“Nothing.” His eyes went to the window.Really Nervous, she thought.
“Come on, Ted. We’re friends, remember,” Joe said.
Mandy bit back the words she wanted to throw at him. The anger over his high-handed behavior with the bank. She’d say something, but now wasn’t that time.
“That news crew is getting closer.” Joe moved to stand at Mandy’s side.
“This place has a rear entrance, right?” Ted took another step back.
“You’re running, and that’s not the man I know,” Joe said. “Tell us what’s going on, bud, it’ll make you feel better.”
“No, it won’t.”
Mandy felt suddenly uneasy. And not just because Ted was standing before her.
“You make a move for the door, I’ll tackle you,” Joe said.
“Christ.” The word hissed out of Ted’s mouth. “Okay, you’re going to find out anyway, so I guess it’s better coming from me. But I need you to know that this is part of my life I wanted to keep separate.”
“From your life here?”
Ted nodded at Joe’s words, but he was focused on Mandy.
“So, you remember how you wanted to know about my past?”
Her throat was suddenly dry, but she managed to rasp out a “Yes, like you wanted to know about mine. I thought we’d mutually decided not to share details.”
