Annie's Rainbow - Fern Michaels [29]
“Elmo has such big plans. Are we up to this, Annie?”
“We’re up to it, Tom. Trust me on this. I am going to miss Jane, though.”
“You can hire someone to sit at an easel and paint postcards. A young art student will jump at the chance.”
Arm in arm, brother and sister walked up the steps.
“I’m glad you’re here, Tom.”
“Me too, Annie. Thanks for giving me the chance.”
“My pleasure. Thanks for giving me this dog. Did I thank you before?”
“At least five hundred times. That was my pleasure.”
“Night, Tom.”
“Night, Annie.”
In her room, with Rosie settled on her own little blanket, Annie withdrew the note Jane had passed her early in the evening. Her heart pounded inside her chest when she thought about why her friend hadn’t taken her aside to tell her whatever was in the note. Why would Jane write her a note? She knows.
Annie sat down on the bed and unfolded the note.
Dear Annie,
I knew tonight would be hectic, and I wouldn’t be able to get you alone. Also, I didn’t want to spoil the evening. Hence the note. I am so worried about Peter Newman. He’s been dogging Bob at the office. I know in my heart of hearts he thinks my car was the one where the money bag was tossed. Maybe by moving to San Francisco, I can get him out of my hair. I don’t know why he’s homed in on me like he has. He’s scaring me and Bob as well. I’m just sorry I don’t have your guts when it comes to dealing with that creep. He actually came right out and said I might have had a blanket or something on the floor and then thrown it away. This man is not going to go away. Not ever. I’m just so happy I can’t stand the thought of that jerk spoiling my happiness. I haven’t had a really good day since that creep invaded our lives, and I know you haven’t either, for all your bravado.
Annie, you will always have a special place in my heart, and I want you to be the godmother to my first child. I want us to promise each other we will never let our friendship dwindle away to the point where we just send Christmas cards. You are the sister I never had. The best friend in the whole world. I hope your life turns out to be as wonderful as I hope mine will be.
Much love and affection.
Jane
Annie folded the note and placed it in her night-table drawer. That does it. The day after Christmas, I’m mailing back the money. She felt so dizzy and light-headed, she ran to the bathroom and stuck her head under the cold-water faucet. Then she started to cry. She knows. The note is Jane’s way of telling me she knows and would keep the secret. She couldn’t face me. She doesn’t want to be around me for fear she’ll slip and say something or that something will show on her face. I know it as sure as I’m sitting here on this bed.
If Jane thinks it’s me, and Newman thinks it’s her, where does that leave me? If I send the money back and Jane moves to San Francisco, will he pursue her? What can he do? He needs proof. He doesn’t have proof. The bag went up in flames. The clasp was hacked to pieces and tossed all over the state of North Carolina. He has no proof. Money has fingerprints on it. Well, I can put it in a pillowcase and run it through the wash cycle in the washing machine. I never touched the bearer bonds. I’ll wear gloves to pack it up. I can drive to Atlanta and mail it from there. If not Atlanta, then Alabama. Or, I could drive all the way to Virginia or Washington, DC. I’ll tell Tom and Elmo I want to scout an area for some new locations. Then I’ll go in the opposite direction. I can do it all in one day. I know I can do it.
If I mail it back and Jane finds out, she’ll know for certain her note worked, and it was me all along. Can I live with that?
Maybe I should tell Tom. Tom would know what to do. No, better not to involve anyone. Elmo. God, no.
Annie curled up next to the little dog and hugged her. “We’ll think about this tomorrow, Rosie. I’ll do the right thing. I really will.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Annie waited until she was sure Tom was sound asleep before