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Josie crossed the roo, had barely turned around before her sister had already opened the door

Tas close on Josie’s heels, but she paused “Don’t look so shocked, Rosie You didn’t honestly believe they only plan birthday parties at those ladies aid s, did you?”

Norma Rose felt for the corner of her desk as the door closed, and found it before her knees gave out

Rubbers? Marriage? Oh, goodness

Ginger was in Chicago, with a man she believed she was in love with, and Twyla and Josie had been given free rein toaround here? What had she been thinking?

The door opened again before she had a chance to answer her own questions

Josie poked her head in “The sheriff’s here”

“Well, sell hilad this at least was an easy problem

Josie shook her head “He doesn’t want a ticket He needs to talk to Father Says it’s urgent”

Norma Rose pushed off her desk and smoothed her black skirt over her still rather wobbly knees before preparing to leave her office, but had yet to take a step when Sheriff Withers walked in and closed the door behind him

Instead of his regular uniform, the sheriff had on a dark suit and hat Furthermore, sweat dripped off his jowls “I drove my wife’s car,” he said, “to not attract attention”

His wife’s yellow breezer was as well-known as his state-issued sedan with the gold star on the doors “Oh?” Norood to know she hadn’t lost all of her acting abilities A poker face was hard to master, but she had become an expert over the years and the fact the skill had eluded her for most of the day was bothersome Ty was the reason behind that

“There’s a snitch a us, Norma Rose,” the sheriff said quietly “Worse than that, actually” He twisted his hands and glanced over both shoulders, even though they were clearly alone “It’s a fed An agent working undercover”

A bath and clean clothes hadn’t done anything for Ty’stihts, but he still left his cabin He usually spent a lot of time alone, and that could be part of the proble he’d been rather preoccupied by the happenings at the resort Now that Ginger was no longer a concern, at least not to his Like how and when Bodine had poisoned Dave

People sat on the terrace facing the lake, eating h open doors that also let out music—if it could be called that He’d heard a lot ofone tear apart a song quite that badly The piano wasn’t out of tune, so only the fingers hitting the ivory could be blamed

Heand headed toward the other row of cabins to check in on Dave before going to get athe trees, he paused Nor up the ay to Dave’s cabin It only took aa suit

Ty waited until they entered, then he weaved a path through the trees, staying hidden until he was three cabins down before he dashed across the dirt roadway Then hehis way toward Dave’s

Thein Dave’s bedroo onto the shore only a few feet away and the hushed voices, he could barely ut, which said to lay low

It wasn’t long before the door opened Ty carefully peered around the corner Norma Rose, alone, sto and back stiff, shouted loud and clear She was mad Extremely

After a full fivein the trees, Ty snuck around the cabin next door and then casually walked around it and up the road to Dave’s

His single knock was responded to ih the doorway, Ty feigned surprise and nodded toward Withers, as sitting at the table along with Roger, Dave and Gloria “Evening, Sheriff”

Withers responded, “Mr Bradshaw”

The tension was thick and heavy, and glances bounced between all four of the table’s occupants “A?” Ty asked “I can come back”

“No,” Roger said “Co”

Reading s they tried to hide, was one of Ty’s specialties, and Withers hadn’t expected to leave so soon The sheriff rose

“Yes, I was” Nodding toward Roger, Withers added, “You’ll let me know if you need me”

“I always do,” Roger said

Ty stayed where he stood, waiting to open the door for Withers, once the oodbye to Dave and Gloria As he closed the door behind the sheriff, Roger instructed him to take a seat

There’d definitely been a new develop that was Ty’s best choice In a situation like this, waiting to be told always providedacross the rooht I’d stop in to see how you’re doing” He nodded toward Dave “Looks like you’re a lot better”