Free Scrapbook of the Dead by Mollie Cox Bryan Page A

through.”
    He kissed her on the cheek and she beamed. Her Sam.
    â€œHey Annie, did you put the last load of clothes in the dryer?” Mike said, walking into the kitchen.
    â€œYep,” Annie said, getting up from the kitchen table and heading to the sink to rinse a few dishes.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” Mike asked after a few minutes of silence.
    â€œI found out there are gangs in Cumberland Creek. I was over at those new apartments on Druid today and was threatened. I was surprised by it and went to the police and found out about big problems over there.”
    Mike leaned up against the sink and crossed his arms. “Does this have anything to do with the Martelino sisters?”
    Annie shrugged. “I bet it does. I’m hoping to get some research done tonight.”
    â€œHow big a problem is it?” Mike asked.
    â€œIt can’t get any bigger than murder,” she said, reaching for a towel to dry her hands. “But what bothers me is that I didn’t know anything about it, you know? They are keeping it hush-hush. I’m a reporter and I’m a mother. I need to pay more attention to my community.”
    Mike reached for her and wrapped his arms around her. “I think you’re doing fine. You’re the best mom I know.”
    She relaxed into her husband’s arms and placed her head on his shoulder. “I was scared today. I didn’t expect to be threatened. It was a shock. I mean, I’m sure I can handle the story. I just need to be more careful, like I used to be.”
    Mike brushed a long, curly strand of hair out of her face and kissed her lips. “Annie, you’ve been in some tight situations, but you are a mom, now.” He sighed. “I’m glad this is the last story. I don’t want to raise these boys alone.”
    A shiver traveled up Annie’s spine and she pulled away from her husband. “Don’t worry. You won’t.” She smiled. “At least not if I have anything to say about it.”
    A few years ago, the conversation might have ended differently. But something had shifted in Annie. She didn’t crave the danger anymore. She was still curious and still liked writing and finding some semblance of justice, but after being tied up and almost killed at the B and B and witnessing Jon and Elsie being shot, images of her children being without their mother taunted her. She had chosen to be a mom. They had worked at becoming parents. It was what she wanted. She wanted to be there for her kids. It was more important than anything.
    Dreams shifted. Life changed.
    And gangs were invading Cumberland Creek.
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    â€œGangs?” Randy said, the next day at the scrapbooking crop. “Here?”
    Annie nodded and sipped her beer.
    They had decided to meet at DeeAnn’s. She couldn’t leave the house and Sheila thought it would cheer her up to have the croppers at her place. They had set up card tables and chairs around DeeAnn and her couch. DeeAnn was scrapbooking on her new laptop.
    â€œNever thought I’d see the day,” Vera said after a minute. “This is my hometown, and I’ve never been frightened for my safety until the last few years. It’s just sad.”
    â€œDo they think that’s who killed the Martelinos?” Paige asked.
    â€œI don’t know,” Annie replied. “But I’ve been researching them. The sisters have been here about eighteen months. They came together. Marina has been working for Pamela ever since she came here.”
    â€œI wonder why the other sister didn’t go to work for her,” DeeAnn said.
    â€œIt’s tough to get a job there,” Randy said. “Unless it’s as a dishwasher, you have to be qualified. I don’t think people realize that Pamela’s hired some highly qualified professionals.”
    â€œWell, we know that you are,” Paige said. “But are there others like