Slim To None (Cedar Tree #1) Read Online Free Page B

here."
    "What's going on, Frank?" Emma interrupted while looking between the sheriff and the stranger.
    "Seems someone broke into your house, Emma. Need you to come in with us and have a look around to see what's missing."
    Slowly shaking her head, Emma was trying to make sense of what he was saying.
    "Wait, I don't get it. I don't own anything worth anything. Break in? How? And what are you doing here?" She turned to Mr. Hot Stuff, taking him in properly for the first time. Tall... so very, very tall. Of course, against her short stature, everyone pretty much seemed tall, but this guy towered over everyone there; even Arlene, who was taller than a lot of guys. He was wearing an old brown cord jacket over a white Henley shirt. His jeans were worn, and he had on light brown boots that'd seen better days. As her eyes traveled back up − way up to meet his − she noticed his dark lashes first. The dark, long fringe framed his deep brown eyes, and right now, they were surprisingly warm. Damn. Those eyes made her squirmy in an inappropriate way, given the circumstances. Holy hell...was that a hot flash? She quickly turned her attention back to Frank before she completely embarrassed herself and started drooling on him, or humping his leg.
    "Who is this, Frank?"
    "Name's Gus Flemming," he rumbled from behind her. "I was the one who called in the sheriff."
    "Oh yeah?" Emma whipped her head back to him, "And how did you come to find out my house was broken into? What brought you out here anyway? Who are you?"
    "Now settle down, Emma." Frank tried to calm an obviously agitated situation down a bit, especially with the overprotective − and highly vocal – Arlene, who was not too far behind in putting her two cents in. "Gus here is working with Montezuma County on a case and happened to see a truck tearing out of your drive, so he came out to check. When he found the blinds to your office dangling outside of the window, he suspected something amiss, so he put two and two together, and gave us a call. Now Ralph is almost done in there, and then we can get on in and find out what is what. Why don't we sit down on the porch for a spot, you look ready to drop."
    Arlene grabbed her arm and almost hoisted her onto the porch.
    "When the heck are you gonna get that ramp installed, Ems? Thought you said you had some contractor lined up to come look and quote you?"
    Emma slowly turned her head to Arlene and gave her an incredulous look.
    "Seriously? You’re picking now to scold me over a ramp I haven't had installed yet? Need I knock something over your head to clear the obvious fog that resides there so you might realize I have other priorities right now? I can't even think straight."
    Dropping her head in her hands, her fingers scratched her curls into an even bigger frenzy. She lifted her head and speared Gus with a glare.
    "Wait a minute! Gus, right? Are you a cop? What case? I'm the only one who lives here, so does this have to do with me? Were you looking for –”
    Throwing his hands up, Gus interrupted, "Whoa. Hold on with the fifty questions. I'll explain as best as I can, but let's do things in order, okay? Let’s deal with this break in first."
    "Were you spying on me?" Emma narrowed her eyes at him. "At the diner? Were you there because of me?"
    "Can't say I won't be next time I show up, but today, no. I was simply having a coffee after a long drive."
    "Hey there, Emma. Arlene." Ralph appeared on the porch carrying some bags and a case. "Sheriff! All done in there, so it's all yours."
    "Thanks, Ralph. Come on folks, let's see what we have."
    *****
    N ot a very pleasant experience to say the least, knowing that someone has gone through your stuff; been in your house, in your space...your sanctuary. It feels like a violation of some kind.
    Emma left the walker outside and took her cane out of the clip as she followed the sheriff into the hallway. At the far end, she could already see the disaster that had been her relatively neat