Baby Girl Doe (Stephanie Chalice Thrillers Book 5) Read Online Free Page B

it were—ninety pounds of sunshine in a print sundress. “I saw your car as I was driving home from church and had to pull right over. I’m so excited. This place has been empty for so long.”
    I was so out of it—she made me feel like a proverbial barfly who had just awakened from an alcoholic stupor. “You went to church?” I said through squinty little slits. Already? How can anyone possibly be so energetic at this ungodly hour?
    “I’m Kaley.” Little Miss Sunshine was practically bouncing up and down as she offered her hand. “Did you just move in?” she asked optimistically. Kaley pointed to a chimneystack just visible through a clearing in the trees. “That’s me, over there. That’s my place.”
    “So we’re neighbors.”
    “Yes!” she blurted exuberantly.
    “But only for two weeks; we’re just renters.”
    Kaley’s smile faded, and the corners of her mouth turned downward. She looked so despondent that I wanted to buy her a pony just to see her smile again.
    “I’m Stephanie. Sorry. You seem like someone I’d really like to have for a next door neighbor.”
    “Who’s there?” Gus said.
    I turned and saw him coming down the steps with Max in his arms. My tired I-can’t-bear-the-light-of-day expression gave way to a smile when I saw my boys.
    “Let’s say hello.” Gus said to Max.
    Max was laughing and cooing. Sure, go ahead and mock me, you lovable little shrimp—I’d be laughing my ass off too if I just slept a solid nine hours.
    I turned back to Kaley just in time to see her smile rise once again. It looked like her internal generator had just rumbled to life and was cranking a million gigawatts of electricity. “Who is this ?” she said with unbridled enthusiasm. “Who is this adorable little guy?”
    Gus came to the door. “Hi, I’m Gus,” he said, “and this is Max.”
    “ He’s gorgeous,” Kaley said. “Oh my God, he’s so cute. Can I hold him? I love babies.”
    The mother in me said, “What? You want to hold my baby?” The cop in me wanted to check her rap sheet. But then I looked at that sweet young girl—she was almost trembling with excitement. “Do you want to come in?” I glanced at Gus for approval.
    He nodded.
    Kaley was so animated that I thought she might swoon.
    “I wish I could offer you something, but we just got here late last night,” I said. “All we have is baby food and tap water.”
    “Oh, I’m fine. We had refreshments at church. I just want to hold Max.” Kaley floated into the living room. She was a lithe little thing who didn’t seem to be encumbered by the forces of gravity . . . or a bra. Okay, she was pretty small up top, but she deserved top marks for being firm.
    I saw that Gus had noticed as well. In fact, it looked as if he was guesstimating her perky little cup size.
    She sat down and extended her arms. Max smiled as he settled into her delicate little lap. “Oh this is heaven.” She giggled. “I’m so happy,” she said looking positively embarrassed. “You know if you ever need someone to babysit this little guy . . .”
    “That’s good to know, but as I said, we’re only here for a couple of weeks.”
    “I know,” Kaley said. “I wish you could stay forever.”
    Aw! She’s so precious—can we adopt her? I told Gus, “Kaley’s our neighbor. She lives on the other side of the clearing.”
    “You and your family?” Gus asked.
    “No. The place is mine now. My parents retired to Florida and left it to me. I’m here finishing school.”
    “School?” Gus asked.
    “Yeah, I’m going into my last year at Stony Brook this coming fall.” She stroked Max’s cheek with her finger. “You don’t go to school yet, do you?” she said in a baby-pleasing voice. Max gushed. “You’re so lucky. Yes you are. Yes you are.”
    A cell phone rang. Fortunately it wasn’t mine. It was taking all I had just to absorb Ms. Energetic’s endless stream of enthusiasm. Gus picked up the phone and answered,