“It wasn’t always that small.For some reason, I wanted to lose twenty pounds before I married your dad.I must have tried every crazy diet I found.In the end, all I did was make myself stressed and miserable.”
Barbara looked at Diana.“And the moral of the story is…”
“Don’t eat chocolate cake and candy before you get married,” her sister replied with a grin.“What did our guest say?”
Katie focused on her sisters.“The Johnson’s truck has broken down.They’re stuck on the side of the road about two miles this side of Polson.I said we’d bring them back to the inn.”
Penny looked at her watch.“I can pick them up.”
“Has someone called the rental company?”Barbara asked.
“The Johnsons have already done that.The company will pick up their vehicle and send a new one to our house.”
“Who’s wearing Mom’s dress?”Katie asked.
Penny took her keys out of her pocket.“It’s lovely, but it’s too small for me.”
Everyone looked at Diana.“I’ll try it on, but I’m not promising anything.Ethan and I don’t even know when we’re getting married.”
Barbara hoped her sister liked it enough to wear it.And, if she did, it would be one less thing to organize when they were planning her wedding.
THEO LEANED CLOSERto his computer.After he’d left New York City, he tried to find more evidence to substantiate the claims he’d made in his story.Without physically being there it was impossible to triple check every piece of information he’d received.Out of desperation, he’d called his friend, Tony Donalo, a former private investigator.If anyone could uncover the truth, he could.
“I spoke to a contact in the mayor’s office.The invoices you saw were included in the mayor’s audited accounts.”
“Did you track down the companies who issued the invoices?”
“So far, I’ve spoken to three of the businesses.Another two haven’t replied to any of my emails or messages.I’m driving to Stanhope tomorrow to see if I can find them.They could have moved—”
“Or closed their business after the story was published.”
For a few seconds there was silence on the end of the phone.“Are you sure you want me to keep digging into what happened?No one wants to get on the wrong side of Steve McGibbons.”
There was a reason for that, but Theo still had to prove McGibbons was corrupt.As he stared through the office window, he tried to think of anyone who could give them the information they needed.“What are the chances of anyone telling the truth?”
“About as high as the lawsuit against you being dropped.”
His stomach tightened.Being sued for defamation made it even more important he talk to the one person he knew he could trust.“Have you found Anne Edwards?”
“She hasn’t been back to her apartment.”
Theo ran his hand through his hair.The latest expense fraud wasn’t the first time the mayor claimed personal expenses against his business.Anne was an accountant at the real estate company McGibbons co-owned.When she realized what her boss was doing, she’d tried discussing it with him.When he ignored her advice, she’d called Theo.The day after the story was published, she’d left her job at Harcourts Real Estate.Since then, he hadn’t been able to contact her.
He really hoped she was okay.“I called her a few days ago, but she isn’t returning my messages.What do we do now?”
“Youare doing nothing.I’ll talk to Anne’s family.They might know where she’s gone.”
“I don’t need to tell you how important it is that we find her.”
“I’ll do my best.How’s the radio station?”
Theo sighed.“I’m still looking for funding.Call me if you hear from Anne.”
“I will.And Theo…don’t worry.As soon as we link the invoices to the mayor’s business expenses, your name will be cleared.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
“It is.I’ll be in touch soon.”
