|
|
|
|
|
|
thought as she left Mrs. Bates's room, perhaps she was right. Perhaps I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. After all, I really don't know these people. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
However, neither that idea nor the fact that she was forced to stop thinking about the problem while she wrote to Mrs. Paxton made the "prank" any easier to accept. Linda acknowledged that whoever left the candy knew Mrs. Bates well enough to be sure she wouldn't eat it and therefore would be in no dangerbut then, what could be the purpose of the "gift"? Linda had just put out her hand to take her coat from the closet when the answer came to her and she froze. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
She was the target! She, Linda, had been the target of the drugged candy because whoever left it knew Mrs. Bates would offer it to her. But that was insane! No one knew her well enough to want to hurt her. Linda drew breath slowly, her soft brown eyes taking on the hard glitter of agates between her narrowed lids. Not to hurt her. Of course there had been no intention of harming her in any way. She could have eaten the whole box of candy without being in any serious physical danger. Someone wanted to frighten her. She was in someone's way and the threat was meant to drive her away. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linda's pretty face turned quite hard, and her soft lips thinned. One thing having money did teach a girl was how to resist blackmail and intimidation. A sweet young thing with substantial capital was a prime target for every |
|
|
|
|
|