Secret Hollows by Terri Reid Page B

pulled out a water bottle, twisted it open and drank the entire twelve ounces without stopping. “Yeah,” she breathed heavily. “Tomorrow. That will be great.”

Chapter Fifteen
    An hour later Mary was showered and sitting at her office desk. She was on her second can of Diet Pepsi, wondering how many cans she could drink in a morning without considering herself addicted, when she glanced at the clock and saw that it was after nine.
    She put the can down and grabbed her coat and purse. Slipping on her coat, she left the office and headed the two blocks to the County Courthouse to have a conversation with her friend, Linda Lincoln.
    “Mary, it’s so good to see you,” Linda said, when Mary walked through the County Clerk’s doorway. “I was going to call you.”
    “What’s up?” Mary asked.
    Linda shook her head. “No, you first,” she said. “What do you need?”
    “I’m looking into a case that involved the murder of five little boys about twenty years ago,” she said.
    “The one in Lena?” Linda asked. “Where the school bus driver was the killer?”
    Mary nodded. “Yeah, that’s the one,” she said. “I need to see whatever you have from the trial and anything else you think might be helpful.”
    “Okay, well I’m going to have to order it from storage,” Linda said. “But I can have it here tomorrow. I’ll just make a copy of the file and see if we have anything else that might be interesting.”
    “Perfect, thanks,” Mary replied. “Now, it’s your turn.”
    “Well, it’s about …,” she paused and blushed.
    “Yes?” Mary asked, intrigued.
    “Bob and I are getting married,” she blurted out.
    “Oh, Linda, that is so wonderful,” Mary said. “I’m so happy for you.”
    “Well, we’re not doing anything big,” she explained, “actually, just a few family members and friends are invited. But, we’d really like you and Bradley to be there.”
    “Oh, of course,” Mary said. “When?”
    Linda bit her lower lip. “Well, it’s kind of short notice,” she said. “Saturday after next.”
    Mary shrugged. “Perfect,” she said. “We’re both free that day.”
    “Since you can make it, I have another favor to ask,” she said.
    “Anything,” Mary replied.
    “Will you be my maid-of-honor?”
    Mary was speechless for a moment. She placed her hand over her heart. “Really?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.
    Nodding, Linda wiped a few tears from her eyes. “We couldn’t think of anyone we wanted more than the person who brought us together.”
    “I would be honored,” Mary said. “More than honored. I’d be thrilled.”
    She hugged Linda tightly. “So, what should I wear?” she asked, stepping back.
    “Oh,” Linda replied. “I hadn’t really thought of that. You’re the only attendant, so I guess whatever you’d like to wear.”
    “What are you wearing?” Mary asked.
    “I have no idea,” she admitted. “We just decided over the weekend and I have to admit, planning a wedding, even a small one, is harder than I thought.”
    “Is your mom able to help?” Mary asked.
    Shrugging, Linda shook her head. “Mom has a lot on her plate just dealing with my dad,” she admitted. “She…she just doesn’t have the time.”
    “Well, I just happen to know a woman who is an expert in weddings and she’s in the midst of shopping for her own,” Mary said. “I think we all need a shopping party to find dresses and accessories.”
    “We all?” Linda asked.
    Mary extended her hand and showed Linda her engagement ring. “Bradley and I are engaged, too.”
    Linda threw her arms around Mary. “Oh, that’s so wonderful. I just knew you two were made for each other.”
    “So, can I call Rosie and set up a shopping night?” Mary asked.
    “That would be wonderful,” Linda said.
    “I’ll call Rosie and get back to you this afternoon,” Mary promised.
    Mary pulled her phone out of her purse as she walked down Stephenson Street towards City Hall and