Buried (Twisted Cedars Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

a devastating illness—one that medical science knew far too little about.
    It was just five minutes to closing now. Abigail, the full time library assistant, had left at four-thirty, and since then the library had been deserted. Charlotte doubted any new customers would be arriving now, so she began powering down the computers and turning out lights, preparing to close for the night.
    Her boyfriend, Sheriff Wade MacKay would be by shortly to pick her up. She hoped he wouldn’t be late. This was her least favorite time of the day.
    There was something spooky about the library when the lights went out, even in the summer. A shiver went up her spine as she imagined a man hiding in the stacks, waiting until she was all alone and vulnerable...
    She knew the fear was irrational. Unfortunately, irrational fears were her specialty. Her mother put it down to the period of her life before she’d been adopted.
    Of course, Charlotte couldn’t remember that far back. All she knew was that she was afraid to go into her own basement at night. Afraid of big cities and afraid of flying, too. Her parents had taken her and Daisy on a trip to Disneyland once that had sent her into a full-blown anxiety attack.
    College in Portland had been a challenge, requiring daily phone calls home to her mother. Since then, she hadn’t strayed far from Twisted Cedars. The occasional shopping trip to Portland, or attendance at the Oregon Library Association’s annual conference, was the most she could manage.
    Thinking of the conference reminded her she had to reply to the email from Libby Gardner. Libby was the current president of the OLA’s Executive Board, and had been a great friend of Charlotte’s mother. She had invited Charlotte to make a presentation at this year’s conference. “Revitalizing the Small Town Library,” or something to that effect.
    Charlotte went to her desk and opened up the message. “I’ll think about it, Libby,” she typed, then hit “send.”
    But she wouldn’t. She’d wait a week or two, then send her regrets. Out-of-town trips were tough enough without compounding them with public speaking commitments.
    A chime sounded from the main door, and Wade Mackay walked in, his large frame and clean-cut good looks a familiar and welcome sight.
    He’d first asked her out about a week after Kyle Quinpool and Jamie Lachlan announced their engagement. The timing had not been a coincidence, she suspected. Which made her second choice. But she didn’t mind.
    She really liked Wade. Sweet and kind and trustworthy—he was a good friend, and if things continued to go well between them, she knew he’d make a dependable husband, too. They hadn’t yet made love. So whether sex was going to happen, and whether it would be any good, was still a question mark. But the kisses were nice. That was a positive sign.
    One thing was for sure. Her parents would have approved of the match. What better suitor for their fearful daughter than the local Sheriff?
    “Ready for our big night out in Twisted Cedars?” Wade teased.
    “I suppose I can tear myself away from my books for a few hours.”
    They kissed—just a light peck, a form of hello—then he took the key from her and locked the door, testing the handle before returning the key. Wade was meticulous about matters of security, which she appreciated. He was chivalrous, too. He took her arm in his, considerately matching his longer stride to hers as they headed for the Linger Longer.
    They didn’t need to discuss their plans, since every Friday was the same. It was sort of comforting, knowing exactly what the evening ahead would hold.
    A pub meal followed by a few beers and a game of pool. He’d walk her home and kiss her again at the front door.
    Another woman would probably want more passion, but not Charlotte. Just like adventures and mysteries, Charlotte suspected that romance was safest when contained between book covers.

chapter three
     
    after four long days of driving,