To Love and Protect by Muriel Jensen

Author:Muriel Jensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming
Published: 2015-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

“WHAT’S SHE WEARING?” Chris asked, his gaze focused on Bianca’s sparkling diamonds.

Ben leaned his elbows on the table and joined his hands together against his forehead, uttering a small sound of anguish.

“The girls have all kinds of play jewelry,” Corie replied, relieved that her voice sounded normal. She felt as though she’d fallen into a well. She didn’t particularly want out, either.

Bianca ran toward them, ponytail bouncing. “See what I found?” she boasted, putting a little hand to the necklace.

“Wow, that’s really pretty,” Chris said. “Can I see?”

Bianca ran around the table to him, happy to show it off. “I found it over there.” She pointed to the spot under the slide where Ben had left it.

Corie watched the officer study the necklace. A breath that seemed to have four corners to it was lodged in her chest.

“That’s really pretty,” he said, looking it over. Then he glanced from Corie to Ben and asked Bianca with a smile, “Would it be all right if I looked at it for a little while longer?”

Bianca pouted just a little. “It belongs to somebody, doesn’t it?”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “It might. But if it doesn’t, I’ll give it back to you. Okay?”

“Okay.” Bianca went to Corie and turned her back to her, holding up her ponytail so Corie could work the clasp. Bianca placed her purse on the table and dug out the little gauze bag Corie had put the necklace in the night it had appeared on her pillow. Then she ran back to the slide as one of her sisters joined her.

Corie was grateful for the easy-come, easy-go attitude of childhood.

Teresa appeared near the back door and shouted at the children to come with her for a ride. There was a communal groan until she promised to stop for ice cream.

Norton draped the necklace across his hands. “I don’t know fine jewelry, but this looks like the real thing.” Again, he glanced from Corie to Ben, his blue eyes sharp, as though somehow detecting their collaboration. “Do you have any idea how this happened to be under the slide in the backyard?”

Corie glanced at Ben with apology in her eyes. She was about to confess and hated to involve him. Even though the fact that Bianca had been wearing the necklace was all his fault.

Ben put a hand to Corie’s knee to stop her from speaking. He met Norton’s eyes and thought he saw a good man, though he guessed the police officer was only in his middle twenties. It was worth a try.

“Office Norton,” he said, “we have a lot to tell you that will probably surprise you and make you want to put both of us in jail.”

Norton arched an eyebrow but waited for him to go on.

“We’re going to tell you the truth, and we’re not going to rabbit, but if you listen to us with an open mind, we may be able to help each other.”

Looking skeptical, Norton leaned an elbow on the table.

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