Passion, Power, and Intrigue in An Enduring Family Drama

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Early Christmas Shopping?

"Hi, Carrie. Have you seen Claudine?"

Carrie looked up from the sofa she was almost through cleaning and smiled at Brad Schuyler sympathetically. He really did seem like a nice guy and he never failed to thank her for anything she did for him at the Schuyler home. Why he was engaged to someone like Claudine was beyond Carrie. "She was in the kitchen the last time I saw her."

"The kitchen?"  Brad's face lit up. "Is she baking her special wheat bread that she makes out of all organic products? She hasn't made that since she came here."

"Um, no. She's not baking. The last time I saw her she was...resting." No way was Carrie going to tell Brad that the last time she had seen his fiancee Claudine was sprawled across the kitchen floor in a dead faint because of some good looking guy who had dropped by to see her. Brad would find that out soon enough.

"Resting? In the kitchen?"

Carrie shrugged and returned to the sofa. It wasn't her job to explain everything to these people. Besides, she had the feeling that Claudine was pretty expert at explaining herself out of any situation.

"Thanks, Carrie," Brad said before disappearing down the hallway. Carrie stared after him, her lips pursed. Honestly, Brad Schuyler deserved better than Claudine Whatever Her Last Name Was. It was none of her business but Carrie hoped that the man who had appeared on the doorstep a little while ago, the one who had obvious ties to Claudine such as being her common law husband, would put an end to Brad and Claudine's engagement. Maybe then Claudine would move out and Carrie would have one less bathtub to scrub out every morning.

Brad went into the kitchen but it was empty. Glancing out the bay window behind the breakfast nook, he saw Claudine hurrying toward the white Mustang that he had given to her for an engagement present. Where could she be going? Well, there was only one way to find out. Heading out the back door, Brad decided that he'd surprise his fiancee by following her. He was sure she wouldn't mind. After all, they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.

Brad tailed Claudine to Center Avenue. He was a little behind her but managed to watch her park in front of Helander's sporting goods store. Puzzled, Brad parked too. Maybe Claudine was doing a little early Christmas shopping. He was positive that she wouldn't be buying anything for herself at Helander's. Claudine loathed athletics. Maybe he shouldn't follow her into the store. Maybe she was getting something for him.

Brad stayed in his car, squinting as he watched his fiancee move throughout the store. His eyes widened when she reached the counter and pointed at something behind the clerk's head. His eyes got even bigger when the clerk handed Claudine what she'd been pointing at. It was a handgun. A small, black, extremely lethal looking handgun.

Who the heck could Claudine be buying that for?

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