All of Me by Leeanna Morgan (book recommendations for teens TXT) 📕

turned to look at the houses around them.

“Over there.” Logan nodded at a house directly across the road from where they were standing.

The single story home had green painted wooden siding, a two-car garage, and a tiled roof. It was a simple family home. Nothing over the top or outrageously amazing.

Logan looked at Tess. “Are you ready?”

She glanced down the road and stepped off the curb. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” She heard the shutter on Molly’s camera click and watched Logan turn around.

“It’s a photo of you and Tess,” Molly said. She sounded annoyed and Logan didn’t look much better.

“What were you thinking,” Logan muttered as they crossed the road.

“We’re a team.”

“So were the Musketeers, but you didn’t see them wearing orange stilts or hiding in the back of cars.”

The strap of Tess’ bag fell off her shoulder and she hoisted it back up. “First off, there were only three musketeers and they were men. Secondly, the only transportation they had were horses and carts. And thirdly, any man who wears a fancy tunic and a big fluffy hat would appreciate the skill that went into creating Sally’s shoes.

“Only if he had a death wish and was color blind.” Logan’s mood didn’t seem to be getting any better.

Tess reached down to open the front gate. “Put on your happy face. After we’ve spoken with the bride-to-be, you won’t need to talk to any of us again.” She ignored the scowl he sent her and walked quickly toward the front door.

She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Logan hadn’t disappeared, then knocked on the door.

No one answered, so she knocked again. “It doesn’t look as though anyone’s home.” She looked through a narrow window beside the door and frowned. “The hallway’s empty.”

“They lost everything in the burglary. They might not have replaced their furniture yet.”

Tess walked across the yard and looked inside the windows. “There’s nothing here.”

“What’s going on?” Sally asked from the sidewalk.

“I don’t think anyone’s living here,” Tess said as she looked in another window. She moved down the side of the house and heard the front gate squeak.

“Excuse me,” someone said from over the fence. “Yoo-hoo. I’m over here.”

Tess walked toward a brown fence and smiled at the elderly lady on the other side. “Hello.”

Twinkling blue eyes looked back at her. “If you’re here about the house, then I’m afraid you’re too late. They rented it last night to a couple from Iowa.”

“Oh, no. We’re not here to rent it. We’re looking for the previous tenants. Do you know where they’ve gone?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you. Who are you?”

“We’re…” Tess looked over her shoulder at Logan, Molly, Sally, and Annie. It looked like a mini army had invaded the front yard. “We’re with the newspaper.”

“All of you?”

“We’re working on a follow-up story about the burglary.” At least Molly’s camera gave them some credibility.

“It was such a terrible thing to happen. It scared all of the neighbors, I can tell you. The burglars took everything away in a truck in the middle of the day. We all thought Connie and Dave must have been moving somewhere else.”

“Did the police find the people who broke into their home?”

“Not that I know of. Who did you say you were again?”

“We’re with the Bozeman Chronicle.” Tess crossed her fingers below the fence. If Logan heard her less than truthful cover story he wouldn’t help her again. She pulled her trusty notebook and pen out of her bag and flipped the cover open. “Can you tell me what Connie and Dave’s last names are?”

“I’m sure the nice man that wrote the article in yesterday’s newspaper must have that information.”

Logan appeared beside Tess and held his hand out. “I’m Logan Allen. I interviewed Connie and Dave last week.” He passed the lady his business card. “They didn’t tell me their last names.”

Tess had a feeling they hadn’t told him their first names either, but she wasn’t going to split hairs. At least Logan was a real reporter.

The elderly neighbor peered at the card. “I remember Connie talking about you. They left not long after you interviewed them. The poor things didn’t have a lot to steal. I still can’t work out why someone would break into their home.”

“Did Connie say where they were moving to?” Logan asked.

The elderly neighbor frowned. “With Connie’s mom so sick they decided to go back home. It’s such a hard time for them. I’m Geraldine. Geraldine Kennedy. As in John F. Kennedy.”

Logan smiled. “Are you related to the President, Mrs. Kennedy?”

Tess could have sworn Geraldine blushed. Logan was such a smooth operator it was almost frightening.

“Kennedy is my husband’s last name. But I expect there’s some distant link to the Kennedy’s from Massachusetts. It’s such a small world.”

Logan took a step forward and almost flattened a bunch of daffodils growing in the garden. Tess didn’t think Mrs. Kennedy would have been impressed if she could have seen where his feet had landed.

Mrs. Kennedy moved closer to the fence. “If you’re writing a story about what’s happened since the burglary, there isn’t a lot to say. Connie and Dave didn’t have insurance. They left so soon afterward that no one had a chance to find out if they were all right.”

“Can you tell us their last names, Mrs. Kennedy? We’ll try and find them and see if the police have found their property.”

“It’s Thompson and Brown. Connie Thompson and Dave Brown. Connie works in a stationery store and Dave is a mechanic. They’re such a nice couple.”

Tess moved beside Logan. “Do you know where they’re getting married, Mrs. Kennedy?”

“Bogert Park. That’s where they met.”

Tess made some notes in her book, then looked at Logan.

“You’ve been very helpful, Mrs. Kennedy. It was a pleasure meeting you.”

“It was very nice meeting you, too, Mr. Allen. Please send my regards to Mr. Dougherty. I worked with your editor-in-chief for a number of years myself.”

Tess blushed like a beet when Geraldine Kennedy’s sharp gaze landed on her.

“I like your walnut, cinnamon, and cherry scones. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get ready for my ballet class.” With a sunny smile, Mrs. Kennedy said goodbye and left them standing in silence at the fence.

“Do you think she wears a leotard?” Tess asked.

Logan blinked a few times. “Being a Kennedy I’d say anything is possible. I’m more worried about the fact that she knows my boss.”

Molly, Sally, and Annie came and stood behind them.

“Where to now?” Sally wobbled as one heel disappeared into the ground. She yanked the offending shoe out of the grass and stood on tippy toes.

Tess looked down at her notepad. “My place to go over the information we’ve got and make a plan.”

“And have coffee,” Annie said. “I didn’t know detective work could be so exhausting.”

Molly snapped another photo and grinned. “I could do a photo essay on the life and times of Bozeman’s latest girl detective agency.”

Logan cleared his throat.

“Present company excluded, of course,” Molly said. “Let’s go.”

Tess took her car keys out of her pocket as they walked across the road. “Did you know the engaged couple’s real names?” she asked Logan.

His mouth tilted into a smile as he unlocked his truck. “No. Enjoy your coffee.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

“I’ve got to be somewhere else. If you need more help, let me know.” He got into his truck, closed the driver’s door and drove down the street.

Tess wondered what was so urgent that he couldn’t have at least had coffee with them. And then she realized it shouldn’t matter. She didn’t like reporters.

Not much, anyway.