Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) Read Online Free
Author: Freya Barker
counter, manning the coffeepot and the register. Mr. Hot Guy had left with a smirk and a nod after finishing up his pie. Although Emma felt a bit disappointed her eye candy had left, she was a lot less self-conscious moving around the diner without wondering if he was looking. Shaking her head at herself, she had to smile, what an idiot . What was she thinking, as if he would give her a second, or even a first look. He wasn't necessarily a “baby”, but she was pretty sure she had at least a few years on him, and besides, he was pretty gorgeous, and she was... well... not.
Her legs and back killing her from spending way too much time on her feet for one day, Emma was about ready to go home when Arlene called her to the phone.
"Yeah, hey Frank... what's up?"
"Problem at your house, Emma. Need you to come here." Sheriff Frank Cooper said gruffly over the phone.
"What do you mean, problem at my house? What kind of problem? What's going on?" Her eyebrows shot up as she turned to Arlene, who had walked up beside her... Emma had a feeling her quiet life in Cedar Tree may have just come to an end.
Chapter 3
H e had thought about starting a conversation with her, but figured it was probably not the smartest idea to make himself stand out any more than he already had, especially given that he hadn't even had a chance to get a proper lay of the land, so to speak... Job first. That prick, Corbin, had been on the loose for too long already, and given that he hadn't been able to run him down in Albuquerque, he would need to pick up his game to try and get ahead of him. First course of action was to find the person behind the online bookkeeping service. He had wondered over the past few weeks what the woman he had accidentally called would look like. He'd assumed the business was hers, but who was to know. He'd find out soon enough since he was on his way to the address now.
Driving down the dirt road towards the small bungalow at the end, he was surprised when a big new model, black Ford F150 went peeling around the far side of the house and almost side swiped him on the narrow road. Trying to get a tag number proved to be difficult since the license plate was covered in mud. Pretty odd, since the region hadn't seen rain in a few days. Pulling up in front, Gus got out and walked up to knock on the door, noting that there seemed to be no other vehicles around; pretty secluded here. After waiting a minute or two, he tried knocking again, but when no one answered, he got down off the porch and decided to walk around to the back, and that's when he spotted the open window with the torn blinds dangling out. Sliding his hand to the small of his back where he kept his gun safely tucked, he edged up to the window, trying to get a look inside. All he could see was what looked like an office area that had been completely turned inside out; drawers pulled out, furniture upended, files and papers everywhere. Someone obviously had been looking for something, and he had a nasty feeling about it. Afraid he might have been too late once again, he was worried about what else he might find inside. Pulling his cell, he quickly dialed Joe.
"Do me a favor? I'm outside the bookkeeper's house in Cedar Tree, and it looks like someone may have broken in. I may have just passed the guy on the road coming in, so alert the locals and tell them I'm on scene so they don't shoot me by accident."
"Stay outside, Gus. Don't go messing around with a potential crime scene!" Joe snapped.
"Easy for you to say. What if someone is in there bleeding? I’m just gonna have a peek, so make sure you tell the locals." He hung up and carefully lifted himself through the open window, moving carefully, trying to not to disturb any evidence. After checking the entire house, there didn't seem to be anyone there, but the thief had done a thorough job; the place was a mess. With most of the damage done in the office, the intruder had done a bang up job of the single bedroom, as
Her legs and back killing her from spending way too much time on her feet for one day, Emma was about ready to go home when Arlene called her to the phone.
"Yeah, hey Frank... what's up?"
"Problem at your house, Emma. Need you to come here." Sheriff Frank Cooper said gruffly over the phone.
"What do you mean, problem at my house? What kind of problem? What's going on?" Her eyebrows shot up as she turned to Arlene, who had walked up beside her... Emma had a feeling her quiet life in Cedar Tree may have just come to an end.
Chapter 3
H e had thought about starting a conversation with her, but figured it was probably not the smartest idea to make himself stand out any more than he already had, especially given that he hadn't even had a chance to get a proper lay of the land, so to speak... Job first. That prick, Corbin, had been on the loose for too long already, and given that he hadn't been able to run him down in Albuquerque, he would need to pick up his game to try and get ahead of him. First course of action was to find the person behind the online bookkeeping service. He had wondered over the past few weeks what the woman he had accidentally called would look like. He'd assumed the business was hers, but who was to know. He'd find out soon enough since he was on his way to the address now.
Driving down the dirt road towards the small bungalow at the end, he was surprised when a big new model, black Ford F150 went peeling around the far side of the house and almost side swiped him on the narrow road. Trying to get a tag number proved to be difficult since the license plate was covered in mud. Pretty odd, since the region hadn't seen rain in a few days. Pulling up in front, Gus got out and walked up to knock on the door, noting that there seemed to be no other vehicles around; pretty secluded here. After waiting a minute or two, he tried knocking again, but when no one answered, he got down off the porch and decided to walk around to the back, and that's when he spotted the open window with the torn blinds dangling out. Sliding his hand to the small of his back where he kept his gun safely tucked, he edged up to the window, trying to get a look inside. All he could see was what looked like an office area that had been completely turned inside out; drawers pulled out, furniture upended, files and papers everywhere. Someone obviously had been looking for something, and he had a nasty feeling about it. Afraid he might have been too late once again, he was worried about what else he might find inside. Pulling his cell, he quickly dialed Joe.
"Do me a favor? I'm outside the bookkeeper's house in Cedar Tree, and it looks like someone may have broken in. I may have just passed the guy on the road coming in, so alert the locals and tell them I'm on scene so they don't shoot me by accident."
"Stay outside, Gus. Don't go messing around with a potential crime scene!" Joe snapped.
"Easy for you to say. What if someone is in there bleeding? I’m just gonna have a peek, so make sure you tell the locals." He hung up and carefully lifted himself through the open window, moving carefully, trying to not to disturb any evidence. After checking the entire house, there didn't seem to be anyone there, but the thief had done a thorough job; the place was a mess. With most of the damage done in the office, the intruder had done a bang up job of the single bedroom, as
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