Out of Circulation (Hemlock Creek Suspense Book 1) Read Free

under her pillow, Katie dropped fully-clothed into her white canopy bed. What little sleep she had was riddled with nightmares.
     
    ****

2
     
    Ace munched on a flaky, buttery croissant and washed it down with pitch-black espresso. He planned to visit the McClures' home later this morning.
    Today he sported his turquoise polo shirt that always garnered female compliments, as well as several generous sprays of a newly-released cologne called Hedonist . A fragrance counter saleswoman had offered him the used sample bottle after he had sweet-talked her a bit. He hoped Katie McClure was so easy to tempt.
    He had decided to focus on Katie. She seemed more level-headed than her sister. Chances were, Katie would be privy to any secrets the McClures hid. Anyway, he couldn't very well pump both sisters for information under the guise of dating.
    Thinking of Katie's green eyes and serious demeanor, he found himself wishing he could make her laugh. If he could, maybe he could get close enough to accomplish what he was here for.
    This whole job was utterly distasteful. What would his granny have thought? Granny was the one person who had believed he could make something good of himself. She took him to church and told him God made him for a special purpose. He used to believe that, until someone framed him and he wound up thrown into the slammer. When God let him go to prison, he'd decided it was better to trust in himself, not in some God he barely knew.
    Luxuriating in the shiny charcoal Lexus he'd rented with his boss' money, he couldn't deny that crime did seem to pay. Leather seats, sunroof...this was living the life.
    He shook his head, focusing on the task at hand. Today he would take the next step in winning Katie McClure over.
     
    ****
     
    Breakfast was tense, the break-in still fresh in their minds. Mom had made Katie's favorite—French toast—but they both took only a few bites. As Katie sipped her strong coffee, the doorbell rang.
    "I'll get it." She figured it was the police with more questions, and she had nowhere to go. Reba had decided to close the library today.
    Mom nodded and Katie slowly made her way to the door. Her foot was always stiffer early in the morning.
    Opening the door just a crack, she was dumbfounded to find Ace Calhoun standing on their front porch.
    She forgot her manners. "What are you doing here?"
    Ace smiled, and the effect wasn't lost on Katie. She had to admit he looked just as natural in jeans and a T-shirt as he did in his trendy outfit from yesterday. He actually looked like one of the local "good ol' boys".
    "I wanted to check in with you before I left. Your sister gave me your address."
    She shook her head, tightening her lips. Of course Molly had been handing out her home address willy-nilly to good-looking guys. "Thanks. I'm home today because they closed the library."
    "That's probably wise. I'm hoping the police have a lead on those guys?"
    "Not yet." She didn't want to mention the break-in last night, since it was none of his business. "Are you flying out of Lewisburg?"
    "Yes...in one of those tin-cans I flew here in, no doubt. But I need to get back to Manhattan. Bodyguarding waits for no one." He laughed.
    Mom walked up behind Katie and put her hands on her shoulders. "Excuse me, but did I hear you say you're a bodyguard?"
    Oh, no. Surely Mom wouldn't...
    Ace nodded earnestly and produced an I.D. that read Kern Personal Security. Mom flipped it over, pulled it out to examine the back, and seemed satisfied.
    "And you two know each other...how?"
    Katie sighed. This friendly chatter could mean only one thing. Mom was going to invite Ace in.
    "He's the guy from the library. The one who tried to protect me. He's flying out today—"
    Mom placed a hand on her heart and interrupted her. "You don't say! Well, you just come right on in here and have some French toast, young man. It's the least I can offer for your bravery."
    "I just ate, but I'd be happy to have a bite or two. Thank