by AR DeClerck
They said their good nights and Franny stopped to check on her father before she and Sherman went back to his car. He stopped her in the parking lot and held out his arms.
“What are you doing?”
“Our dance was interrupted. Dance with me.” His grin was hard to say no to.
Franny slipped into his arms and their bodies fit together perfectly as they swayed to the sounds of the midwestern Indian summer. Fireflies lit up all around them, and Franny finally had a moment to enjoy being with Sherman Jump.
“So, when are you going to tell me about everything that happened in France?” he whispered into her ear.
“No offense, but I don’t think you’re ready to hear most of it.” She laughed at his look. “But I’m happy to share. Just not tonight.”
“I’ll take you home. We’ll have an early day of it at the station answering questions for the men from the government.”
She walked with him to the car and got in, all the excitement finally catching up with her. She sat up in surprise a bit later when he pulled up in front of his house. “I thought you said you were taking me home?”
“That’s what I said.” He got out and went around to open her door. “Last I knew, this is where you were staying.”
She got out and looked at him, surprised. “Don’t you think it will be the talk of the town if we spend the night together in the same house?”
“You care about the gossip?”
“No.” She followed him to the porch as he unlocked the door. “But my Papa might.”
He paused. “Should I take you home?”
She moved closer, staring into his eyes. “You better not even think about it.”
Chapter Seven: Juleps and G-Men
Franny sat straight, with her hands in her lap. The man across the table was stern and imposing, his face impossible to read.
“Thank you for your time, Ms. Calico.” He held out his hand and she shook with him, holding her breath. Was he finally done asking questions?
He closed his folder and she knew that if she wanted answers, now was the time to get them.
“What was really in that black book?”
He paused and then folded his hands on top of the folder. “What do you think it was?”
“Positions and call signs for US submarines.”
“And where did you get that information?”
Franny knew that the men were well aware of where the information had come from, but she answered anyway. “Tom.”
“I see.”
“What I don’t understand is what the Russians were doing here in Prudence with the book. Why meet here?”
“It is our understanding that the book came to Prudence before the Russians, via a citizen of the town.”
“Gordon Rogers.”
The man’s eyebrow went up a little. “Where did you hear that name?”
“I know his wife. She actually believes Gordon was murdered.” Franny sat forward, everything falling into place. “He was, wasn’t he? He was murdered for the book.”
“He was part of a chain of people across the US who passed the book via the postal service in exchange for money. When Mr. Gordon was killed, the book was already in transit to its next location in California.”
“That’s where the Russians got it.”
“You’re very intuitive, Ms. Calico.”
She ignored the compliment. “It all makes sense. Gordon sent the book to California before the pin-stripes could get ahold of it, and they killed him to get the name of the next stop. So, they hired the Russians to intercept it in California and bring it back here.”
“The men you refer to are members of a right-wing socialist party who support the Axis movement in Europe. They were looking to sabotage US fleet movements by providing the information in the book to their contacts overseas.” The agent tilted his head. “I gather you worked that out already?”
“Mostly. Why kill Iliana, though?”
“She was having second thoughts about turning the book over.”
Franny nodded. “Spies in Prudence. Who’d have thought!”
“We appreciate your help in apprehending these men, Ms. Calico.” The agent stood. “The United States government is in your debt.”
Franny was grinning when the agents left Prudence in a procession of black sedans, the book safely in their protection again.
She found Tom and Sherman in the Sheriff’s office. “Are those juleps?” She stared at the highball glasses filled to the brim with glass, clear liquid and sprigs of mint. Sherman put one in her hand and clinked his glass with hers.
“What better way to celebrate a victory than an ice-cold beverage?”
Franny sipped and sighed at the minty flavor. “I will say one thing, Prudence, Illinois is not as boring as I remember!”
Tom and Sherman laughed, and Franny perched on the edge of Sherman’s desk to finish her refreshment. “Thank you,” she said to both men. “Without you, my sister could have been hurt or even killed.”
Tom stood and put his old hat on his head. “I reckon you’ll be coming up on Sunday for lemonade and lunch?” He eyed the both of them. “I’ll set two extra plates.”
“See you, then.” Franny kissed his cheek and watched the old man make his way out the front door of the police station.
“I never thought I’d see the day when Tom O’Leary invited people to supper.” Sherman shook his head in wonder. “You really do have a way with people, Franny Calico.”
She rolled her eyes and chuckled before she grew serious and put down her glass. “So, what does this mean for us?”
“Us?” Sherman came around to her side of the desk and put his arms around her. “I suppose I should ask you to go steady with me.”
“This isn’t grammar school, Sherman.”
“How about we have pasta, and see where we go from there?”
She leaned back and looked into his eyes, shocked to finally admit that she was glad she was back home. “Pasta it is.”
THE END
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About the Author
AR DeClerck is a wife, mother, romance writer and all-around goofball. Reading ninja, food assassin and self-proclaimed nerd. AR writes romance from the comfort of her couch in her little house on the Mighty Mississippi. She hopes her readers remember what it's like to fall in love. Connect with AR DeClerck on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authoramydecerckand sign up for her newsletter at http://www.eepurl.com/cecnzL
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