Family Secrets by Suzanne Floyd

Author:Suzanne Floyd [Floyd, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

New Haven had been in the news a lot over the past couple of years, and not all of the publicity had been good. After someone leaked the details of my near abduction to the press, connecting that with my father’s murder in Peoria, a few reporters decided to see what all the fuss was about. The saying ‘Any publicity is good publicity,’ didn’t feel so good to me.

Security was keeping the reporters from coming in the hospital, but that didn’t stop them from milling around waiting for something worthy of printing. “Was she after drugs?” They all began shouting as I left work. “Why did she try to kidnap you?” “Did you know her?” They shoved microphones in my face.

Ignoring them, I kept walking. If they followed me, I couldn’t go to the winery. I wouldn’t do that to Skylar, or Mom.

“Hello, folks, welcome to New Haven.” Mayor Brady took advantage of every opportunity to promote the town. If there were reporters around, he didn’t care what story they were after, he had his own agenda. “How are you this fine evening?” He gave a small nod in my direction, but kept up the prattle with the reporters.

“I hope you’re here to sample some of the fine wines our area has to offer.” He had been trying to put New Haven and the wineries on the map for several years. I didn’t stick around to see what else he had to say.

The temperatures had dipped into the sixties, with a sharp wind blowing. Several reporters and their camera crews were shivering. They hadn’t come prepared to spend the day and part of the evening standing around outside. No matter what kind of story they were looking for, they were bound to be disappointed.

As I pulled out of the hospital parking lot, an old car fell in behind me. My heart skipped a beat. It was too dark to see who was driving. Instead of heading for the winery, I pulled into the parking lot at Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant, a favorite of locals and tourists alike. I didn’t want the reporters knowing where I was staying. But more important, I didn’t want to take the chance that Melissa was in that beat-up car. I would be taking her right to Mom.

Watching the rearview mirror, I released the breath I’d been holding when the car continue going straight. It was probably just a coincidence that someone left the hospital at the same time I did.

As long as I was here, I decided to get something to eat. Heading inside, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. I needed to let Mom know I would be later than usual. After Melissa’s attempt to kidnap me, she worried if I was even a few minutes late.

Even this late in the evening, there was a fair-sized crowd waiting to be seated. “Hola, Bonnie,” the restaurant owner and namesake greeted me with a smile. “Just you tonight?” He looked around for Pattiann. When we had been on the same shift, we would stop on our way home once or twice a week.

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