Dead Certain - Mariah Stewart [120]
“He sent me in for the flatware.”
“You know where to find it.” Greer pointed to the drawer next to the sink.
“It was good of you to take me in. I don’t think I really thanked you for making me feel at home.”
“It was my pleasure. I’m glad I was able to help.”
“So am I.” Amanda counted out the forks, knives, teaspoons.
“I can’t imagine what it must have been like to know that someone like that terrible man was after you. You must have been very frightened.”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t. But somehow I knew that Sean would be smarter than Vince was.” Amanda took four napkins from the next drawer. “At least I hoped he would be.”
“Sean wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. He cares too much about you.”
“It’s his job, Greer. I don’t think it mattered who I was.”
Greer looked about ready to say something else when Sean came into the room.
“Greer, that chicken has to be about done by now, because I’m about ready to pass out from hunger.”
“Everything is ready,” she told him. “Now, you two go on in and sit down. Sean, you get Steve away from that damned television and bring him to the table, would you?”
At eight-ten, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Steve placed his napkin on the table next to his plate and pushed back his chair.
“Were you expecting anyone?” Greer asked.
“Beverly mentioned she’d drop off the minutes of last night’s council meeting for me to look over,” he said as he went into the hall.
“Beverly is the borough secretary,” Greer explained to Amanda.
Voices drifted in from the hall. As they moved closer, Sean recognized the new voice as belonging to Ramona. He rubbed a hand across his chin, wondering if Greer had set this up, mildly annoyed at the thought that she might have. He looked over to meet Amanda’s eyes across the table, but she was looking up, ready to greet the newcomer. He felt obligated to do the same.
“Honey,” Steve said as he led Ramona into the room, “you have a visitor.”
“Well, Ramona.” Greer put her fork down on her plate. “This is a surprise.”
“I’m sorry, I’m interrupting your dinner.” Ramona blushed scarlet. “I should have called first. It’s just that . . .”
“Steve, pull that chair over for Ramona. Have you had dinner? I can make you a plate. . . .” Greer started to stand, and Ramona shook her head.
“No, no. I don’t want to be a bother. And I’ve already eaten.”
“Coffee, then?”
“Sure. That’s nice of you. Thank you.” Ramona sat on the edge of the chair Steven brought in for her. She brushed a long strand of red hair back from her face and looked at Sean. “I didn’t know you’d be here. Sorry to intrude, Sean.”
“Guess someone must have stolen my Jeep, then. I left it parked out front.”
“I meant, I didn’t know that you were here until I pulled up in front of the house. I had wanted to talk to Greer before I spoke with you. . . .”
“I can always leave.”
“Sean, would you please sit back down and just stop it.” Greer carried a pot of coffee in one hand and a cup and saucer in the other. She placed both in front of Ramona, then took her own seat.
“I saw you on television this morning,” Ramona said to Sean. “It was amazing, what you did. And you.” She turned to Amanda. “You were so brave.”
“Not so very brave at all. I was hiding in my closet.” Amanda smiled, trying to turn the conversation from Sean, who had made no attempt to hide his feelings at Ramona’s arrival. “And Sean was in the room with a gun, and there was a well-armed FBI agent in the guest room across the hall.”
“I wouldn’t have even been there, if I’d thought that crazy man was going to come into my house with the intention of killing me.” Ramona shivered.
“Okay. We all agree that Amanda is brave.” Sean rested his fork and knife across the top of his dinner plate. “Now why don’t you tell us why you’re here.”
“Sean, you’re being rude,” Greer admonished him.
“No, he’s right.” Ramona looked up at Sean with all the warmth he’d been giving her.
“You two look alike, you know that?” Steve said. “Except for her having red hair. You have the same eyes, the same nose—”
“Steven.” Greer