Suspicions Read Free Page B

Stone's front porch. A late model red car
was just pulling into Jason and Stacey's driveway.
    “I wonder what she's doing here,” Stacey
said, stepping off the porch.
    Jason followed her gaze as a tall, slender
woman stepped out of the car. She was in her mid thirties although
she looked much younger. Wearing a dark blue tailored business suit
and spiked heels, her blond hair was perfectly coifed and her
make-up was flawless.
    Jason and the children followed Stacey as she
crossed the street to their house.
    “Hi, Patricia,” Stacey said, trying to sound
happy to see her Beautiful You director. “What can I do for
you?”
    Patricia glanced at Stacey then looked over
at Jason. “Hi, how are you?”
    “Fine,” he said, a tight smile on his lips.
He turned to Stacey. “I'll just take the kids inside. Let me know
if you hear anything.”
    “Hear anything about what?” Patricia asked,
watching Jason go into the house.
    “My neighbor's son hasn't come home from
school.”
    “Oh. Well, I'm sure he'll turn up. Kids are
always running off, aren't they?”
    “Yeah, I guess they are.” Stacey wondered how
Patricia would have a clue about children since she didn't have any
of her own. She glanced toward Amanda's house then over to
Patricia. “I really have to get back there. What was it you
needed?”
    “I was in the neighborhood and I wanted to
stop by and talk to you about your sales. How are they going?”
    “Sales have been great. In fact I have a
party tonight,” Stacey said, trying to end the conversation as
quickly as possible. Besides wanting to get back to Amanda's house,
Stacey's director made her feel uncomfortable. Next to Patricia's
fabulous wardrobe and polished appearance, Stacey felt plain in her
jeans and t-shirt.
    “I'm glad to hear it,” Patricia said. “We
also need to have one of our lunches soon, okay?”
    “Sure, just give me a call,” Stacey said,
heading across the street.
    Stacey paused on Amanda's porch, watching
Patricia climb into her bright red car. Stacey waited for her to
start the engine. She could see her applying lipstick and touching
up her hair. Finally, she turned on the car and backed out of the
Hunters' driveway. She waved to Stacey as she drove off.
     
     
     

Chapter Three
     
     
     
    The unnatural silence of Amanda's house
struck Stacey as she re-entered. Usually when she and Robby came
over the boys took over the place. They would throw a ball around,
running up and down the stairs until Amanda made them go play
outside. She pushed the thought away and went into the kitchen
where she found Amanda staring at the phone in her hand.
    “Did they find Mark?”
    Amanda shook her head. “They said he must
have left already. I think it's time to call the police.
    Stacey nodded, her mind beginning to confront
the unthinkable. She looked around at the bright, sunny room as
Amanda told someone on the other end of the phone her child was
missing.
    Still not wanting to believe what was
happening, Stacey tried to block out the conversation by
concentrating on Amanda's decor.
    Two walls were painted a soft shade of
yellow, the other two were papered in a small floral print and a
lace valance hung over the large window above the sink. The bay
window in the breakfast nook looked out onto a dark green lawn
trimmed by camellia bushes.
    It was hard to imagine anything bad happening
to a family who lived in such a beautiful home.
    As she continued to focus on the decor,
Stacey thought about her own home. This lovely room was a sharp
contrast to the controlled chaos of her kitchen. Her counters were
usually cluttered with school papers and leftover breakfast dishes,
old newspapers and library books. Her walls were plain white,
accented with sticky fingerprints. And her backyard had several
brown spots with plenty of weeds to go with them.
    At the thought of her home, relief washed
over her that her own children were safe.
    Amanda turned to her. “The police are on
their way over.”