All That Is Secret by Patricia Raybon

Author:Patricia Raybon [Raybon, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Suspense, FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths
ISBN: 9781496458407
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Published: 2021-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

The crash was spectacular.

And deafening.

The dinner party screeched to a halt.

“What was that?” Elizabeth shrieked.

Chairs fell back from the table. The party scrambled to the front door, pushed outdoors. Screams and groans.

“Oh, Hunter.” The girlfriend. “Your car. Your fancy new one.”

Then Elizabeth. “Somebody did this.”

“Somebody will pay for it.” Hunter Castle stomped outside, cursing.

Bernita looked across the kitchen at Annalee, turned back to the sink, picked up another plate to wash, not saying a word. Except one.

“Diversion.”

Annalee stayed silent, realizing Eddie had disobeyed. Worse, she forgot to lock the blasted car. Or did she? Either way, would she take advantage of the chaos she’d created? She knew it was wrong, hated it was wrong. But she rushed past Bernita, bolted up the winding stairs to the second floor, pushed open bedroom doors, looking for . . . Elizabeth’s room? This one? Too masculine. That’s Sidney Castle’s. Annalee set her jaw. At a door across the plush hall, she pushed. Yes, this one. Elizabeth’s impressive suite.

Annalee eased the door open wider, let light from the hallway reveal frilly bed getups. Big canopy. A riot of ecru lace smothered everything. Bedspread, windows, armoire, nightstands, a rolltop desk. A lace-covered negligee and robe waited on a fancy chair.

What would be hidden here by Hunter’s indulgent mother? The adoring Elizabeth. So nervous over Olivia’s private talk with Annalee. So closemouthed with her husband.

Annalee licked her lips, eyed the massive floor-to-ceiling cabinet. Dark, heavy, foreboding, looking out of place, with a dozen drawers at least. What in the world was locked in all those drawers?

Annalee yanked the ribbon from around her neck, ran to the bedroom door, listened to the group still gaggling outside. Neighbors joined them from around the street, clogging the pavement. Police cars raced up, lights flashing, officers yelling.

Annalee tried her father’s key. Dresser. Nightstand. Bookcase. Armoire. Knew she wasn’t getting anywhere. Knew time was running out. They’d be back inside any minute. She started on the dark cabinet, bottom drawer.

Nothing.

Tried the next drawer. And the next. Still nothing.

She’d have to try later.

She scampered out the door, slung the key around her neck, pushed it inside her uniform. She scrambled down the stairs, gulping deep breaths, hit the bottom step.

And ran right into Sidney Castle.

He looked up the stairwell behind her. Looked her up and down.

She smiled barely. “Is everything all right? Sir?”

“No.” He narrowed his eyes. “But you already know that.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“Miss Spain, your uniform is a sight.”

She looked down. Her white apron was streaked with mud and grass.

He whirled away, heading back outside.

“What about the cake?” she called after him.

He spoke evenly, not bothering to turn back in her direction. Instead, he pushed open the front door.

“The party is over. Send it back.”

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