Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

he prayed no one from Chicago would be able to pull her away. The whole world took on a different light when she was beside him, with her on his side he could do anything. His job now was to keep her safe, no one must hurt her. He'd see to that.

After Alec left, Maddy hesitantly looked up and down the deserted street. Tommy worked hard till suppertime and then went home. She was just putting the last few branches on the brush pile when Aunt Polly walked over.

"The yard looks as good as the inside of the house now. How about calling it a day?"

"Yeah, that Tommy is a hard worker. He's going to keep on helping me."

"I'm glad you trimmed up the lilacs, they were about taking over the porch."

"Alec suggested that. He said the overgrown stuff was a good place to hide someone." Maddy gave a shiver and they walked to the porch to rest.

"How are you doing after all the commotion today, my dear?"

"You know, it was funny, like it was happening to someone else, Aunt Polly. I don't know if I could even identify this guy, I only saw him from behind."

"It's plain awful. A body isn't safe in your own home any more." Aunt Polly fussed and pushed the wicker rocker back and forth with her foot.

"I know. I always lock up tight at night, but during the day when I'm around I'm not as careful. Guess things aren't as different from Chicago after all."

"I just can't figure it out. It's too much of a coincidence. Out of all the stuff in my room, they take that tacky old briefcase full of ancient papers. I just wish we'd looked more carefully at them. Maybe they could have told us where the stock certificates are. Now someone else might find them."

“Who would know that?”

Smacking her forehead, Maddy jumped up and began pacing. "Only Leland and Jack Drake know about them besides us. Jeez, I told him about the briefcase, too. Aunt Polly, it had to be him."

"Or someone he hired. Never did trust him, I told you that. You ought to go right over and confront him."

"I can't do that, I don't have any proof." She flopped back down, "Rats. I can't go off half-cocked as Alec would say. It could make things worse. It could be a coincidence." Aunt Polly snorted and looked away.

"Not likely. I see Leland didn't waste any time getting that sign up on your front lawn. When are you going to take that thing down? People have been calling me all morning about it, asking if you were leaving. I told them no."

"I don't think Alec even believed me, that's what made me so mad."

"Oh, he'll settle down, he's high spirited is all, one to get things done right and proper. Lately he's been even more stubborn. I think he's worried about you. I don't know, he can be a hard one to figure sometimes."

A crash of thunder made them both jump and the rain came down in torrents. The wind gusts made Aunt Polly and Maddy scramble for indoors. Shaking off the damp chill, they were making supper when Alec burst in, soaking wet and hungry.

"Hello everyone, it's a hurricane out there tonight."

"You didn't have to come right over," Maddy scolded, noticing his tired eyes. She knew he and Aunt Polly didn't want her to be alone after the break in. As much as she didn't want them to worry, she felt a deeper affection for them both for doing it.

After supper, Alec walked Aunt Polly home while Maddy cleaned up the kitchen and tried to find the key to unlock the mysterious diary.

"Maddy, I still think you should stay somewhere else tonight." Alec had come in the back door so quietly she hadn't even heard him. He shook off the rain and sat down at the kitchen table beside her.

"No, I'll be fine. Besides, who but a duck would be out in weather like this?"

"I know but, and I'm asking as a deputy sheriff, Maddy, to let me stay over. I'll take the couch and be just fine."

"Didn't you just tell us at supper you have to work again early tomorrow morning? Besides, if we should happen to bump into each other during the night, I don't know what would happen."

"That's your fault for kissing so well." He took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"You're not such a bad kisser yourself. But, no, I'm not going to worry about you being overtired just because you think I'm scared."

"What if they come back?" He looked seriously at her.

"They're not likely to, you said so yourself. I've got a phone, a bat under the bed and you’ve got cars cruising by all night. I'll be fine. I don't want you sitting up all night for nothing and that's final."

Sitting in his truck after they said their good-nights, Alec watched and thought about his next move. There was no evidence against anyone at this point. As the rain started again he knew he'd just have to watch and wait. He ran a hand through his hair.

Whether they meant to or not, the thought of anyone trying to hurt Maddy, enraged him. He drove around the block and parked where he could see Maddy's house, but she couldn't see him. He sat patiently with a loving vigilance until the early morning hours.

Chapter 10

After Alec left, Maddy carefully double-checked all the doors and windows. Why is it when it gets dark you’re not nearly as brave as in the daytime, she wondered to herself. Getting a glass of milk and some cookies, she curled up in bed and pulled the diary and letters out.

Even though she didn't like to admit it, at first she was uneasy alone in the house after having a stranger there. When everyone left Aunt Polly had helped her strip the bed and put fresh sheets on. Anywhere the burglar might have touched