[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He hadn’t bothered to laminate it.His assigned number was 210-72-2891.She leaned back in her chair.Something she’d read recently nagged at her.Something about social security numbers being issued in a particular order.Each state had a specific code.On the computer, she located a Website telling her that the first three of Sean’s social security numbers, 210, originated in the state of Pennsylvania, which brought a frown.She’d assumed he was born right here in Sackets Harbor, which would make the first numbers somewhere between 050 and 134.Things were certainly getting interesting.THIRTY-SEVENMost of the gang already gathered under the white tent in the marina parking lot.But something was wrong; the voices were too loud, too forced.Payton nearly turned in her tracks and ran back up the hill.Conflict she didn’t need today, especially when it was delivered by none other than Felicia Featherstone.She stood out from them a bit.Wearing a red top and creased white capris, she pointed a red-lacquered fingernail at the group.“Don’t tell me you’re not all wondering what she’s doing here in Sackets Harbor—”“Felicia, we expect this sort of behavior from Sylvie,” Helen interrupted, “certainly not from you.”Felicia was undaunted.“She doesn’t fit in with this small-town atmosphere—”“Any more than you.”Felicia sputtered a little but kept on.“Didn’t you see the way they acted around each other? You can bet there was something going on.” Still, no one did more than stand open-mouthed.“Don’t any of you think it’s at all strange that she no sooner moves to town and Sean dies?”“Sean was a worm,” Amanda said.“He was bound to be killed sooner or later.”They all spotted Payton about the same time.Most had the grace to blush or look away.She didn’t wait for their embarrassed explanations.She couldn’t grin and bear it as Granny used to recommend when her brothers taunted her.She turned and ran up the hill, past her store.This little piggy went to market.This little piggy ran all the way home.Payton startled Mamie and a customer as she burst in the front door.“I’m not here,” was all she said.She raced upstairs and shut herself in the bedroom.She didn’t fling herself on the bed as she used to back in childhood Virginia.She opened the sliders and went out on the deck, shutting the door to close out sounds of life from below.Face still hot with betrayal, she leaned her elbows on the railing and lowered her head.The cool breeze did nothing to alleviate the pain.She’d thought Felicia had accepted her as one of them.They hadn’t become friends as such.There was that wall they’d each built around themselves.Mamie wasn’t a big enough bouncer to keep the determined Helen away.She came out on the deck as if she owned it, sidled next to Payton and put arm around her waist.“How can she think I killed Sean?”“She doesn’t…not really,” Helen replied.“The police were at her house for a long time yesterday.Brighton walked in while they were discussing Sunset and there was a huge row.She’s feeling a mite overwrought.You should have stayed around to see how Edward blasted her.Brought waves of delight to these old bones, I can tell you that.”Payton spun around, realized her knees were wobbly and leaned against the rail.Helen’s face looked flushed.“Felicia was in tears when I left.”Payton went back to looking at the harbor, now alight with afternoon sunshine.Where had the storm clouds gone? Then she laughed.“I was wondering where the storm clouds went.Then I realized I swallowed them.”Helen laughed too, and all at once they were giggling, unable to catch their breaths.Tears rolled down Payton’s cheeks, her breath came in staccato bursts.“How come no one’s racing?” she finally managed to ask.Helen managed a semblance of seriousness.“I don’t know.”There wasn’t much else to say.They leaned elbows on the railing, watching for activity in the harbor.It wasn’t hard to convince Helen to go home; the woman was itchy for more gossip.Payton tiptoed down to her office.Mamie tapped timidly on the door to say that Amanda had arrived.One by one, the rest of the Sackets Harbor Yacht Club members came—all but Felicia—voicing regret for what happened.Payton half-heartedly accepted all apologies.Once the gallery closed, Payton sat in her love seat with a glass of chardonnay and suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about Sean’s social security number.What difference did it make where he was born?She dialed Helen’s number.“Can I bring you something to eat, dear?”“No thanks, Helen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl matkasanepid.xlx.pl
.He hadn’t bothered to laminate it.His assigned number was 210-72-2891.She leaned back in her chair.Something she’d read recently nagged at her.Something about social security numbers being issued in a particular order.Each state had a specific code.On the computer, she located a Website telling her that the first three of Sean’s social security numbers, 210, originated in the state of Pennsylvania, which brought a frown.She’d assumed he was born right here in Sackets Harbor, which would make the first numbers somewhere between 050 and 134.Things were certainly getting interesting.THIRTY-SEVENMost of the gang already gathered under the white tent in the marina parking lot.But something was wrong; the voices were too loud, too forced.Payton nearly turned in her tracks and ran back up the hill.Conflict she didn’t need today, especially when it was delivered by none other than Felicia Featherstone.She stood out from them a bit.Wearing a red top and creased white capris, she pointed a red-lacquered fingernail at the group.“Don’t tell me you’re not all wondering what she’s doing here in Sackets Harbor—”“Felicia, we expect this sort of behavior from Sylvie,” Helen interrupted, “certainly not from you.”Felicia was undaunted.“She doesn’t fit in with this small-town atmosphere—”“Any more than you.”Felicia sputtered a little but kept on.“Didn’t you see the way they acted around each other? You can bet there was something going on.” Still, no one did more than stand open-mouthed.“Don’t any of you think it’s at all strange that she no sooner moves to town and Sean dies?”“Sean was a worm,” Amanda said.“He was bound to be killed sooner or later.”They all spotted Payton about the same time.Most had the grace to blush or look away.She didn’t wait for their embarrassed explanations.She couldn’t grin and bear it as Granny used to recommend when her brothers taunted her.She turned and ran up the hill, past her store.This little piggy went to market.This little piggy ran all the way home.Payton startled Mamie and a customer as she burst in the front door.“I’m not here,” was all she said.She raced upstairs and shut herself in the bedroom.She didn’t fling herself on the bed as she used to back in childhood Virginia.She opened the sliders and went out on the deck, shutting the door to close out sounds of life from below.Face still hot with betrayal, she leaned her elbows on the railing and lowered her head.The cool breeze did nothing to alleviate the pain.She’d thought Felicia had accepted her as one of them.They hadn’t become friends as such.There was that wall they’d each built around themselves.Mamie wasn’t a big enough bouncer to keep the determined Helen away.She came out on the deck as if she owned it, sidled next to Payton and put arm around her waist.“How can she think I killed Sean?”“She doesn’t…not really,” Helen replied.“The police were at her house for a long time yesterday.Brighton walked in while they were discussing Sunset and there was a huge row.She’s feeling a mite overwrought.You should have stayed around to see how Edward blasted her.Brought waves of delight to these old bones, I can tell you that.”Payton spun around, realized her knees were wobbly and leaned against the rail.Helen’s face looked flushed.“Felicia was in tears when I left.”Payton went back to looking at the harbor, now alight with afternoon sunshine.Where had the storm clouds gone? Then she laughed.“I was wondering where the storm clouds went.Then I realized I swallowed them.”Helen laughed too, and all at once they were giggling, unable to catch their breaths.Tears rolled down Payton’s cheeks, her breath came in staccato bursts.“How come no one’s racing?” she finally managed to ask.Helen managed a semblance of seriousness.“I don’t know.”There wasn’t much else to say.They leaned elbows on the railing, watching for activity in the harbor.It wasn’t hard to convince Helen to go home; the woman was itchy for more gossip.Payton tiptoed down to her office.Mamie tapped timidly on the door to say that Amanda had arrived.One by one, the rest of the Sackets Harbor Yacht Club members came—all but Felicia—voicing regret for what happened.Payton half-heartedly accepted all apologies.Once the gallery closed, Payton sat in her love seat with a glass of chardonnay and suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about Sean’s social security number.What difference did it make where he was born?She dialed Helen’s number.“Can I bring you something to eat, dear?”“No thanks, Helen [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]