Forever Hers Walters, Ednah (best novels for teenagers .TXT) 📖

closer to her. When he spoke, he did slowly as though measuring his words. “You know something else about psychotic people? No one believes what they say. They make unreliable witnesses. Nolan did this to you, so no one would ever take anything you say seriously. But you know what? It’s not going to come to that. We’re going to nail him.”

Amy believed him. When he went back to studying live feed from Rod, Amy opened her laptop and checked her e-mail.

There was a long e-mail from her mother. It was filled with apologies and regret, which told Amy they might actually have a chance at healing as a family. It might take years, but they could do it. Her mother wanted them to talk.

Amy responded to the e-mail her, told her mother she’d be in town, then closed the laptop.

CHAPTER 21

Eddie paced outside the bathroom where his sister was helping Amy get ready. As soon as they’d arrived at the hotel, the two of them had gone shopping at the pedestrian mall, which was adjacent to their hotel. It was almost eight.

They’d eaten on the plane and Raelynn was on the floor with her latest toys, courtesy of the hotel. Not only had the front desk manager offered them a backpack full of toys, books for her during their stay and a list of activities for kids. They’d even sent milk and cookies up to their suite. Trust his sister to pick a kid-friendly hotel.

He punched in Rod’s number. “Has he left the house?”

“Yes. I’m on his tail. Their reservation is at eight and Ms. Kincaid’s at 8:15.”

“We haven’t left, but we’ll be there as soon as we can. Is Hailey in place?”

“And hating every minute of it,” Rod said and chuckled.

Eddie was still amazed Ken had paired the ultra-macho Rod with the moody Goth girl. But then again Rod’s specialty wasn’t computers and security.

The door opened and Lori stepped out, eyes flashing with mischief. “Ready for the transformation?”

Eddie rolled his eyes. He still didn’t understand why it had taken them half an hour to put on a simple dress and a wig. “This is no time for games, Lori. We have to go.”

Amy stepped out and air froze in his chest. Draping down from one shoulder, the blue and black striped sheath dress hugged her curves and stopped at her mid-thighs where her black boots came to just above her knees, she was breathtaking. The wheat-colored hair tumbled past her shoulders and framed her face. Parted on the left, the full bangs were swept to one side and partially covered her right eye. She peered at him with seductive, smoky blue eyes framed with thick lashes and electric blue eye shadow. Bright red lipstick enhanced and drew attention to her naturally pouty lips.

An image of her from last night flashed through his mind. His seductress was back. He couldn’t wait for this to be over, so he could propose to her.

“Is there a cloak or coat to cover up the dress?” he asked irritably.

Amy laughed. “And spoil the effect?”

“Don’t listen to him,” Lori retorted. “You look gorgeous.”

“She doesn’t need to be dolled up to look gorgeous,” he snapped.

“Oh, thank you, sweetie.” She walked across the room to kiss Raelynn and Eddie’s gaze followed her.

“Mommy, you look beautiful. Where are we going?”

“Swimming,” Lori answered and moved to Raelynn’s side, two hangers with bikinis dangling on her fingers. “Look at what I got for us. New swimsuits. You and I are going to change and head downstairs to the pool for a dip. We’ll also make an appointment for mani-pedis because tomorrow, we’re going to have princess spa treatment.”

“What are mani-pedis?” Raelynn asked, touching her new swim suit.

“I’ll show you the pictures.” Lori looked at them and mouthed, “Go.”

“She’s something else, isn’t she?” Amy said as they waited for the elevator.

“If you’re talking about my sister, then you might revise that once she turns Raelynn into a carbon copy of herself. Here, take a look at this.” He gave her the stapled printouts when they entered the elevator and it was just the two of them. “You were right. Penelope looks a little like you.”

Amy frowned as she studied the colored picture. “A little? We could be twins.”

Penelope Digger, Nolan’s true love, did resemble Amy a lot more than his present girlfriend. “Sly sent it this evening. Most high schools didn’t have online records of year book pictures ten years ago, so it took a lot of digging to find the picture. William Burgess, or should I say Jeremy Blackwell, is also the co-owner of ABC rentals with Caldecott and Aldridge in Sandpoint. Reither must have known of your location nearly two months ago and orchestrated the burglaries before Blackwell’s arrival.”

Amy just shook her head and flipped over the picture and read the second page.

“Funny, Nolan tried to convince me to go into nursing when I went back to school to finish college. I was perfectly happy with my English major, but he kept saying nursing is a noble job, like being a cop. Now it all makes sense. Penelope was a nurse.”

She folded the papers and shoved them in the purse he hadn’t noticed her carry, then removed a compact mirror and checked her makeup, which was perfect. Not that she needed it. She shot him a look from the corner of her eye, caught him watching her and gave him a small smile.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

“No. You?”

“A little. Nolan isn’t stupid and I’m afraid he might pull a fast one on us.”

“Don’t be. We’ll all be there. Hailey is waitressing in the restaurant. You’ll recognize her right away. She has black hair, a nose ring and tattoos, and doesn’t smile much. She’s our ears and eyes on the inside. Rod and I will be outside. We’ll be in communication the entire time, so Nolan won’t do anything without us knowing.”

The walk from the elevator through the seven-story atrium to the entrance of