Page 10 of Forbidden Secrets
“Well, good luck.”She edged past and left him to his efforts to scare shoppers into heart attacks.
She wasn’t the only one out enjoying the day.Touristy types strolled by, checking out window displays and wandering into shops.
Melanie pushed open the bank’s double glass doors and stepped into the lobby.After talking with the receptionist, she was directed to a seating area and asked to wait for a customer service representative.
She nearly walked out the door when she saw the woman calling her name.Rhonda Sherman stood with a fake smile and fake eyelashes and the same snooty look she’d had in high school.Melanie had known running into unpleasant people from her past was a risk of moving back to Sisters.But she was stronger now and could deal with whatever came her way.At least that’s what she told herself.
Now she had the opportunity to test that theory.
She rose to her feet.“Hello, Rhonda.”She saw from her nametag that Rhonda’s last name was now Lockwood, which meant she’d married her high school sweetheart.Rhonda had been cute in high school with sandy brown hair and a compact, curvy body.She’d been one of a clique of mean girls that had included Rhonda’s best friend Josie Whitlock.Those girls had made life miserable for so many others.
Rhonda’s hair was artfully arranged with blonde highlights and tawny lowlights, and her makeup was beautifully done.Melanie felt like a female lumberjack in her jeans, ankle boots, and flannel shirt, and didn’t have on a speck of makeup.But she was here to open a bank account, not revisit insecurities from high school.
“Hello, Melanie.Right this way.”Rhonda led the way to a desk and motioned to a chair.“Have a seat.I’ve helped your mother set up an investment account.I was surprised when she said you were moving back after so many years.”
A framed photo sat next to a computer monitor, Rhonda, smiling next to Joshua Lockwood, a teenage boy standing between them.Melanie guessed the boy was thirteen or fourteen, probably their son.
Rhonda tapped on her phone without looking up, then set it aside.Melanie drummed her fingers against her knee.She hadn’t come back to Sisters to sit quietly.Rhonda had been at the bootlegger that night—the night everything changed.
No time like the present.
“Rhonda,” she began, voice steady, “you were at the bootlegger the night I was attacked.I remember you and Josie hanging out with Chase Bradford and Greg Delano.I’d like to know what you remember.”
Rhonda looked up slowly, her expression unreadable.
Rhonda and Greg had done more than hang out.Even though Rhonda had recently gotten back together with Josh, she’d cuddled up on Greg’s lap, making out next to the fire.Melanie pressed on.“I need your help to understand what happened that night.What you saw.What you know.”
Rhonda’s hands were frozen, hovering over the keys.Melanie didn’t understand the flash of alarm on her face.
“You’re mistaken.I wasn’t hanging out with Chase and Greg.”
“I could swear you were.”Melanie frowned.“One reason I came back to Sisters is to identify who assaulted me.I want to talk with the people who were at the bootlegger that night.I’m looking for clues.Maybe I can uncover details the detectives missed.”
“There’s nothing I can tell you.”Eyes flashing, she bent forward and hissed, “You already did enough damage to this town, you’d best leave that alone.”
Melenie narrowed her eyes.There it was, blaming the victim of an assault for how it played out in a small town.She already regretted putting value in the idea of having her money in a local institution.
Rhonda’s hands fisted, knuckles white.She took a deep breath and Melanie thought she was searching for calm.“Now, what kind of account are you interested in, Melanie?Is it still Brennan?I heard you have a daughter, but not everyone takes their husband’s name.”
“It’s still Brennan.I want to open checking and savings accounts and start the process of transferring funds from my current bank.”
“Is there anyone you want to add to the account?”
“Nope.”Melanie wasn’t about to satisfy Rhonda’s curiosity about her marital status.
She filled in forms and signed documents, then dug in her purse for her driver’s license.
Rhonda finished setting up her accounts and gave Melanie a forced smile.“Be sure to let me know if you need any of the other services our bank can offer you.”
She squared her shoulders and reminded herself of her goal.“Would you like to get lunch sometime?”
Rhonda reared back like Melanie had slapped her.“No, no.”Her face flamed red and her voice was stiff.“I can’t meet for lunch today.I mean ever.I’m too busy for that.”
“Okay.Let me know if you change your mind.”What had flustered Rhonda?And why lie about who she’d hung with at the bootlegger?
Melanie made her way to the door, pondering Rhonda’s reaction.“Melanie, wait.”A tall man she immediately recognized approached.Chase Bradford.
First Rhonda, now Chase.The ghosts from her past were making an appearance.
