However now this. The Channel 8 information truck had parked, and a cameraman and reporter have been climbing out of it. It wasn’t the nationwide information, removed from it, only a rinky-dink station from out of Grand Rapids. Nonetheless, they’d made some effort to come back throughout on the ferry. It was too early within the season for any locals-flock-to-the-island feel-good tales; clearly they have been in search of one thing actually juicy.

Hoping his instincts have been incorrect, Mike left his workplace and walked exterior. He noticed a number of folks peeking out from storefronts, and a pair had come exterior to see what was happening.

He crossed the road, maintaining a pleasant expression on his face by sheer drive of will as he approached the information crew. “Afternoon, people, is there one thing I can do for you?”

The reporter nodded. “Sure, we’re looking for an area resident, a Dr. Lindsey Smith?”

He clenched his enamel. “Why is that?”

“We have now info that she’s right here and we’d wish to get her touch upon a information story. Are you able to inform us the way to discover her?”

“Nope. That I can’t do.”

Wouldn’t do. Identical distinction.

He suspected the youthful-looking reporter was a bit savvier than her age would point out. She realized he was hiding one thing and snapped her fingers at her cameraman.

“Are you Chief Santori?”

“I’m. However don’t flip that digicam on me, ma’am. I’m not occupied with any interviews.”

The digicam got here on anyway. The reporter caught the microphone in his face. “Chief Santori, is it true that Dr. Lindsey Smith, inventor of the Thinkgasm methodology, is hiding out right here in your little city?”

He stared at her, not wanting on the digicam, or its operator, simply at her. Hoping she might see precisely what he needed to say—however wouldn’t—he pressured a decent smile, muttered, “No remark,” then spun round and walked away.

He went into his workplace, picked up the cellphone and referred to as the college. The secretary on the entrance desk greeted him cheerfully. When he apologized for calling, she reminded him that as a result of in the present day had been the final day of faculty, the scholars had gotten out early. They’d simply left. Apparently, so had Lindsey.

Thank heaven for small favors. Her job was over, she was not a substitute instructor. If her actual id was found, at the least she wouldn’t need to face that ordeal. He hated to suspect the mother and father or directors would activate her, however you simply by no means knew.

Glancing out the window, he observed the newspeople have been speaking to Angie from the espresso store, and he despatched up a prayer that she was the good-natured, discreet individual he’d at all times suspected her to be. He stepped exterior. Angie caught his consideration from throughout the road, not being apparent about it, and supplied him a sly wink. The reporter, busy fiddling together with her microphone, didn’t discover. Nor did she search for when Angie jerked her thumb towards Mike’s SUV, telling him to go.

He went.

Driving right down to Lindsey’s place, hoping she’d gone straight dwelling after college, he was relieved to seek out her automobile within the driveway. He roared up the drive, pulling in behind her automobile.

Hopping out, he darted up the skin steps and pushed the door open with out knocking. “Lindsey?”

She got here out of the bed room, wide-eyed. “Mike? What are you doing right here?”

“I got here to warn you. It seems Ollie did some digging and put the media in your tail. There’s a information crew from Grand Rapids on the town.”

“Oh, God,” she groaned, throwing herself down on the sofa.

He went over and sat beside her, taking her into his arms. “It’s going to be okay.”

“It’s by no means going to be okay,” she mentioned, sounding exhausted, mentally and bodily. “This nightmare simply doesn’t finish. When are my fifteen minutes of fame going to be over?”

“Look, you may duck the reporters. Even when they discover out the place you have been working, college’s out…there’s nothing for them to assault you with.”

She appeared so hopeful. “Actually?”

“Positively,” he mentioned, positive he was proper.

Not thirty seconds later he heard the automobiles pulling up exterior. And realized he’d been very, very incorrect.

“Keep right here,” he instructed her, going to the entrance window and separating the curtains to gaze out. His coronary heart sank when he acknowledged the Channel 8 information van. However what actually infuriated him was the automobile main the way in which—a squad automobile pushed by Ollie Dickinson.

“That son of a bitch!”

It solely bought worse. As a result of when Ollie parked the automobile and bought out, the passenger-side door opened, as nicely. Mrs. Franklin, wanting each disapproving and totally thrilled, stepped onto the driveway. “I don’t consider this.”

Lindsey joined him on the window. She didn’t cry, didn’t rant, she merely sighed closely, as if this was precisely the second she’d been ready to occur all alongside.

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