Now You See Me by Kris Fletcher Page A

I know you’re good for the money. But I have other people to answer to, and they don’t understand—”
    She huffed out her disbelief. “Spare me the song and dance, Ted. Jillian doesn’t want me to buy the building, does she?”
    He tugged at the tie that always seemed out of place around his thick jock neck. “Jillian has nothing to do with bank business.”
    “Really. So it’s just a coincidence that my request was turned down two days after I heard that the potato-chip guy from Brockville was dropping hints about a major donation to the school upgrade fund if he got the building?”
    “You heard that?”
    “Loud and clear.”
    “It’s merely a rumor at this point. And as I said, that has nothing to do with your loan.”
    Like hell it didn’t. Nadine had been a steady source of reliable gossip. She’d dropped a couple of hints over the past few days that Jillian wasn’t happy about the possibility of Lyddie buying the buildings. Her Worship wanted River Joe’s to continue, but she wasn’t averse to a move if it meant stable jobs.
    In all honesty, Lyddie couldn’t blame Jillian. The mayor had to put the good of the town first. But no one else knew what that building meant to her. There were mornings when she could still picture Glenn’s head popping around the door after they stopped in to see his dad, days when she could still see him lounging in the chairs by the fireplace. He lived in that building. Letting it go wasn’t an option.
    “You know, Lyddie, the only problem is the amount of the loan. If you were to ask for less—say, enough to buy just one building that isn’t on the waterfront—I’m sure we could work something out.”
    Of course he could. Jillian would approve of that.
    “No, thanks.”
    “I am sorry about this. You know how much the town appreciates all you’ve done over the years.”
    There it was—the opening she needed. It was impossible to miss the guilt in Ted’s voice. He was being manipulated by Jillian, no doubt, and Lyddie would bet her last dollar that he was looking for an excuse to reverse his decision. Ted wasn’t a bad guy. One mention of Glenn’s name, one tear down her cheek, and the money would be hers.
    Do you really want to tie yourself so permanently to a town where they call you the Young Widow Brewster?
    Enough. She would find another way—one that didn’t involve losing her self-respect.
    “Goodbye, Ted. I’ll see you around.”
    “I...uh... Will you be okay, Lyddie? Can we talk about a smaller loan?”
    “No, thanks. Rumor has it there are other banks. Even some that aren’t in Comeback Cove.”
    * * *
    J.T. TURNED OFF the highway onto the road to the Cove after a long day in Cornwall taking care of assorted business matters. All he wanted was to go home, get something to eat and avoid getting suckered into watching another episode of Downton Abbey with his mother.
    Then he realized what he’d been thinking, and had to laugh. When was the last time he’d thought of this place as home?
    He cranked some classic Guess Who and slowed for the infamous Maple Road Bend in front of the high school, checking twice to make sure no idiots were out to prove their manhood by flying through with their lights—
    “What the hell?”
    He jammed on the brakes, sending the car swerving. Something had just raced across the shadows of the school lawn.
    Probably a deer. But as he switched off the engine and opened the door, he knew there was nothing doe-like about what he’d seen.
    He stood silent with his hands braced on the car roof, peering into the darkness. The sky was clear but moonless—great for stargazing, not so good for picking out activity. He forced himself to be patient, waiting for his eyes to adjust. Soon, he knew, whatever was hiding would move again.
    There! Beside the row of oaks that marked the property line, a burst of movement and an abbreviated gust of laughter gave him his answer. Kids. At least three of them. Given the time of night