Repressed (Deadly Secrets) Read Free Page A

the adjacent orchard and freshly turned earth greeted his senses. As he approached the building, he forced a smile at a teenage girl eyeing him cautiously from her spot on the stoop. She shifted out of his way, leaned close to the boy decked out in goth black sitting at her side, and whispered something Ethan couldn’t hear.
    Friendly.
    Frowning, he pulled the heavy door open. Old wood, industrial cleaners, and ink scents greeted him as he stepped into the building. A long display cabinet filled with trophies graced the left side of the lobby. He scanned the display, reading names on plaques. When his gaze landed on a picture of the state championship basketball team, he tensed.
    “Can I help you?”
    Ethan glanced toward the office door to his right where a gray-haired woman stood eyeing him as if he were about to steal something. A pathetic smile toyed with the edge of his lips. One even he knew looked forced. “Yeah. Ethan McClane. I have an appointment with Principal Burke.”
    The secretary pushed her red-rimmed reading glasses back up her nose. “Ah yes. You’re the psychologist.” Disdain dripped from her words as she turned, gesturing for him to follow. “Have a seat here and wait. Mr. Burke is in a meeting.”
    Extra friendly . There had to be something in the water.
    Muttering “Thanks,” Ethan followed the secretary into the cramped outer office. A high counter occupied the middle of the space. To his right, three chairs were pushed up against the wall.
    Since the secretary sat and went back to work on her computer, not the least bit interested in chatting, he dropped his bag on the chair and studied a bulletin board with news and announcements about upcoming activities at the school. The door behind him opened before he finished reading about the winter musical.
    “I don’t know how you expect me to do my job with the measly budget you’ve allocated for expendable supplies,” a female voice complained.
    “This isn’t the private sector,” a man answered. “And I don’t have time to argue with you right now. I’ve got another appointment.”
    Footsteps sounded, then a man appeared in the open office doorway, frustration lines clearly evident on his face. He was average height, late forties, with dark hair slightly gray at the temples and a full beard, and he looked toward Ethan as if he were the one who wanted to run screaming from the building, not the other way around. “You must be Dr. McClane. David Burke. Come on in.”
    Gladly . Ethan grabbed his bag.
    “When will you have time to argue with me?” the woman asked from inside. “I’d like to put it on your calendar so you can prepare your canned rebuttal.”
    The principal sighed. “How about tomorrow? I’ll even come in early so you have plenty of time to rant. Does that work for you?”
    The woman didn’t immediately answer, and as Ethan moved into the office, her gaze snapped his way.
    She was younger than he’d expected from the sound of her voice—late twenties maybe. Her dark, curly hair was pulled back and clipped at the base of her neck. Her cheeks were high, her nose straight, and she wore very little makeup that did nothing to hide the dark circles under her eyes. But even with the scowl and obvious exhaustion, she was a looker. And those eyes . . . they were mesmerizing. Like warm, melted chocolate sprinkled with honey. Eyes that screamed look at me , even though she’d obviously tried to downplay her appearance by wearing the ugliest gray pantsuit Ethan had ever seen.
    Ethan smiled—really smiled—and for the first time since agreeing to this case, thought coming here might not have been such a bad decision. Not if this was the view he could look forward to each day.
    The woman’s gaze narrowed, and curiosity sparked in those spellbinding eyes. But instead of asking the questions Ethan knew were circling in her mind, she refocused on Principal Burke. “If you suddenly forget a meeting or conveniently fall ill,