Free The Price of Trust by Amanda Stephan Page A

already here. I was just going to look when you called. All right, I'll tell him. See you later." She turned her back toward Joe and said quietly, "I love you too." She hung up the receiver and went to the filing cabinet, her face pink.
    "Here we go," she said, coming back to the desk with a manila folder. "We have two people with BMWs staying here. Do you know the license plate number?"
    "No, I didn't get a glimpse of it." Joe stopped as a customer came to the desk to complain of not enough towels.
    "I'll send some right up, sir," Kelly answered, smiling. The man turned and walked away gruffly.
    "He's been grumpy since he arrived." Kelly shook her head and sighed. "I just can't seem to make him happy with anything."
    "Can you tell me where the people that own the BMWs are from?" Joe was whispering now.
    "One is from South Dakota, and the other is a rental from Billings. I'd guess they rented it from the airport. Is there anything else?" Kelly answered quickly and efficiently.
    "Did you check them in?" Joe asked.
    "Yes, one was tall and thin, and the other man was short and really ugly. They were both very well dressed. You know, the city-slicker type. The tall, thin man bossed the other one around a lot, and they both had Southern accents."
    "Do they have any particular habits that you noticed?" Joe was getting excited now. He felt that he was onto something.
    "Well, when one is in, the other is out. The tall, thin man is a photographer, I think. He carries a camera bag with him everywhere he goes. I don't really think the short, ugly one does anything but sightsee. He never takes anything with him. That's about all I know," Kelly said apologetically. "Todd asked me to let you know that your mom needs some bread and cheese from the store."
    "Thanks, Kelly. I appreciate it. Have a good night," he called, going toward the door. Changing his mind, he turned and walked back to her. "Would you do something for me?" he asked, thoughtfully.
    "Sure. What is it?" Kelly was interested. Joe never seemed to need anyone to do anything for him.
    "Would you talk to Carly? Kind of buddy up with her and keep her company a little bit? I don't trust"—he hesitated—"Billy. She's all alone over at that store, and she's vulnerable. Would you mind?" He thought that if she just had a good friend it would help her to stay.
    "Of course I will! I think she's just great! Especially how she keeps you on your toes." Kelly grinned mischievously.
    Joe just smiled and walked out. He drove back to the hardware store, hoping to see Carly.
    "Hey, Sam. Carly off break yet?" Joe called as he walked inside.
    "Oh yeah. She's back, but you won't find her here. Sue called and needed her help at the house for a while. I told her you came in earlier," Sam said, peering over his gold-rimmed glasses. " Carly's been jumpy as a cat today. She couldn't seem to settle down and was real nervous like."
    "Jumpy? Why would she be jumpy?" Joe puzzled. "We had a great dinner, and I thought she really enjoyed herself."
    "I know she enjoyed herself, 'cause she told me all about it. Her face positively lit up like a candle talking about it. I don't know why she's so jumpy today. There have been a few crank calls, but I don't see why a few pranks would work somebody up like that."
    Joe's curiosity was piqued. "Phone calls? What kind of phone calls?"
    "Oh there were about four prank phone calls that she answered today. They didn't say anything, they would just breathe, and then after awhile, they'd hang up. I think it's just Billy tormenting her."
    "Did you answer any of them?"
    "Yes, I did. But when I answered someone would just say, 'Sorry, wrong number' and hang up. Carly quit answering the phone, and they just stopped after I started to answer. You leaving?" Sam asked as Joe started toward the door.
    "Yeah, I've still got to get some bread and cheese from the store for Mom. Have a good evening, Sam," Joe called over his shoulder.
    He was sure now that someone was purposely