Spellbound Read Free Page A

diner, then thought of Kayla and Paula glancing out to see me hiding in the Jeep. I owed them an explanation—or the best I could manage under the circumstances.
    Adam heard the clunk of my door opening and waited for me. As we walked into the diner together, Lorraine called out a hearty “Hello!” Paula turned first. Her gaze met mine and my heart stopped.
    Paula said something to Kayla. The little girl glanced over her shoulder. I braced myself. She saw me and her thin face broke into a grin. She leapt up as if she was going to hug me, catching herself at the last moment, to stand there, staring up at me with her solemn blue eyes.
    â€œI’m sorry I was mean to you yesterday,” she said. “I made a mistake.”
    I stared at her, thinking, It’s real. This is real. Paula isn’t just out on bail. She’s free.
    The smile disappeared from Kayla’s face and her eyes clouded. Worried that her apology hadn’t been accepted.
    I quickly bent and gave her a hug. “We all made mistakes,” I whispered. “I’m just happy this one has been fixed.”
    Kayla slid into the booth. She looked at the spot next to her, then at me. Any other child would have patted the seat and urged me in. Kayla wasn’t any other child.
    I smiled and sat beside her. Adam took the spot beside Paula. Lorraine brought over coffee for Adam and me, and promised bacon and eggs to follow.
    â€œBreakfast of champions,” she said. “For our champion detective.”
    Paula smiled and reached out, her hands resting on mine. “Thank you, Savannah. I knew you hadn’t done what they said. I wouldn’t blame you if you had, but I knew you hadn’t.”
    â€œSo what happened?” I asked.
    She glanced at Kayla. “Could you run next door to the drugstore, honey? Get us some toothpaste? I think we’re out.”
    â€œWe aren’t.”
    â€œI’d like—”
    â€œI know all about what happened, Grandma. The social worker lady explained it.”
    â€œJust humor me then, okay?” Paula took a five from her purse. “Get some candy for yourself, too. Just nothing hard or sticky.”
    â€œIf I’m getting toothpaste, I don’t need to worry about my teeth.”
    Paula sighed and waved her off. Once the little girl was gone, Paula gave us the short version of events.
    Ginny’s lover, Cody Radu, had been blamed for the murders. All of them. The police had received an anonymous tip, searched his house, and found a discarded suicide note confessing to the murders. They’d also found the gun that killed Ginny and Brandi, plus evidence that Cody had been the one who’d accused Paula. The police theory was that he’d planned to confess and kill himself, then realized he might still be able to get out of it by framing Paula. When things went wrong, he’d killed the guard and homeless man to cover his tracks, before realizing suicide was his only option.
    Was it a perfect theory? No. But it was reasonable and blamed a dead guy that everyone had hated, while freeing a beloved member of the community. Good enough.
    â€œSo they let me go,” Paula said as Kayla returned. “Not only that, but while I was talking to the officer doing my release paperwork, we got to chatting about my days working for Sheriff Bruyn. This officer told me how they’d just lost their cleaning lady. Next thing I know, I’ve got the position.” She smiled. “I bet I’m the first person to walk in there in handcuffs and leave with a new job.”
    â€œThat’s great,” Adam said. “When do you start?”
    â€œNext week. In the meantime, I’m going to look for a new place to live. Get Kayla and me out of Columbus and start fresh, just like I wanted.” Another smile, one that made her look as young as her granddaughter. “I keep pinching myself, thinking I’m going to wake up back in that cell.