Love Inspired Suspense June 2015 #1 Read Free Page A

plants and boxwoods. The tulips were in full bloom, adding a brilliant splash among the greenery. Max came to a halt near the cluster of white furniture under a large magnolia tree and barked.
    Nicholas checked the area, wondering if Miss Chick had sat here sometime recently. He moved behind two white chairs and inspected the bushes, plunging his hand into the middle. When he grasped a feathery material, glimpsing yellow, he tugged it free.
    Miss Chick’s costume—discarded.
    â€œGood boy.” He gave Max a treat.
    He placed a call to Dan. “I found the costume in the Rose Garden minus Miss Chick. Are you still with Selena?”
    â€œYes. Do you want to talk to her?”
    â€œYes.” When Selena came on, Nicholas asked, “Who’s Miss Chick?”
    â€œJust a minute. I’ll have to look on my list of employees.” A moment late, she answered, “Tara Wilkins.”
    â€œWhen she bumped into you earlier, could you tell if it was Tara Wilkins?”
    A long pause—he could imagine her forehead creasing with a frown while her blue eyes darkened—then Selena said, “No, not for sure. Her voice was low and husky, but I’m pretty sure it was a woman.”
    â€œWhen was the last time you saw Tara Wilkins without the headpiece on?”
    â€œWhen I talked with the costumed characters in the East Wing entrance before the event started. That was seven this morning.”
    â€œWhat do you know about Tara Wilkins? Is she trustworthy? Could she have given the costume to someone so the person could break into your office after the morning briefing?”
    â€œShe was Miss Chick last year and did a good job. The Secret Service vetted her as they do for all the people I use as costumed characters for this event, but I suppose it’s possible.”
    â€œI’ll have the police check her residence.” He didn’t have a good feeling about this.
    â€œI don’t see her putting her reputation on the line like that.” Selena’s worry came through the line.
    â€œOne good thing is that all the people who are here are on a list. You don’t get in here without going through checkpoints.”
    â€œPlease let me know what’s happening. I’m responsible for the employees I hired for this event.”
    â€œI will. Anything missing from your office?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œLet me talk with Dan again.”
    When Dan came back on the phone, he said, “I’ll let Security know what’s developing.”
    â€œTara Wilkins needs to be found. Her residence checked. We don’t have any idea what’s going on. I’m not even sure it was Tara Wilkins in the costume, but I’m going to see if Max can follow the scent from the clothing. I’ll let you know what I find.”
    â€œGood. In the meantime, I’m escorting Miss Barrow to the doctor’s office.”
    Nicholas heard a protest coming from the background, and he smiled. Dan was going to have his hands full getting her to go. “Have fun. I’ll check in later.”
    â€œChicken,” Dan whispered. “You left me with the toughest job. Anyone can follow a dog around.”
    Nicholas chuckled and disconnected the call, then let Max smell the yellow feathery costume. “Find.”
    As Max sniffed the air, Nicholas couldn’t get the sound of Selena’s voice out of his mind. What he had seen of her around the White House only reinforced the image of a woman dedicated to doing a good job. Did she think she had failed at her job by hiring Tara Wilkins?
    As Nicholas followed Max through several areas of the Easter Egg Roll, he scanned his surroundings, wondering if the person who had discarded Miss Chick’s costume was still here. If so, Max would find her—or possibly him. He had a photo on his phone of the volunteer who was supposed to be Miss Chick. If she wasn’t the one who ran into Selena, then where was she?
    Passing