Riddle by Elizabeth Horton-Newton Page A

pizza is right?”
    “Yeah. It’s that dough stuff with tomato sauce and cheese on it,” he said jokingly. “There used to be one. It’s probably still here.”
    “Okay first we get the phone. Then you take me to Goodwill. Then we have dinner at the pizza place but I pay for my own.” She stuck out her hand. “Deal?”
    Kort studied her for a few seconds before taking her hand and shaking it. “Why are we going to Goodwill?”
    Grace laughed. “There are no linens or dishes and cooking utensils in that apartment. Now I could steal towels and sheets from the motel but I think they would catch me pretty quickly. I mean, I work right across the road.”
    “Are you sure about this?”
    “You are pretty much the only person I know in this town. And honestly I know more about you than anyone else I’ve met. It’s all out there. So I figure anyone who could help a strange woman get a job can’t be all bad, right?”
    Shaking his head he started the truck and headed toward the shopping area on the other side of town. Grace watched with interest as they passed houses, apartment buildings, and a variety of businesses before entering the parking lot of a large shopping center. Apparently there was more to Riddle than she had seen or expected.
    “A lot of this is new to me,” Kort told her as he navigated the crowded lot in search of a place to park.
    “How long were you away?” Grace asked. Then she immediately apologized. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”
    He slipped the truck into an available space. “No that’s okay. I was in for over seven years.”
    Shaking her head Grace told him she couldn’t imagine being confined for such a long time. “But then I’ve become something of a gypsy these days.”
    Kort studied her closely. “I hope someday you’ll tell me about that. You don’t seem like the gypsy type.”
    She smiled wryly. “I think I just became the gypsy type because it was easier than facing the failures in my life. Maybe we’ll talk about that some time but not right now if you don’t mind.”
    “No problem.” Pointing across the parking lot he said “They have a sign that says they’re having a sale.”
    “Well let’s check it out.” Grace got out of the truck and stretched her back, relieved that the rain had once again passed although the sky was still dark with threatening clouds.
    Kort’s eyes flitted over her body noting she was in good shape. He wondered again if she was running from an ex-husband or boyfriend, or maybe even a girlfriend. He toyed with the notion she might have done something illegal but there was nothing about her to indicate that. Holding the door he allowed her to go inside the store first.
    They had just begun to look at the variety of phones on display when a salesman cornered them and began to expound on the qualities of every phone and plan available. Occasionally Kort and Grace exchanged grins behind his back. Eventually Kort decided on a phone, a carrier, and a plan and almost an hour after entering the store they walked out financially lighter but technologically connected.
    Reaching the truck they looked at one another and burst into laughter. “I owe you dinner after that!” Kort unlocked the passenger side of the truck.
    “I may have to take you up on that. He certainly wanted to make a sale.” Climbing in, she reached back and took the bag with the purchases from his hand. “I think you got a good deal though.”
    Starting the engine Kort glanced at the dashboard clock. “Let’s get to Goodwill so you can get moved in Thursday.”
    Grace bit her lip uncertainly. “Are you sure I’m not imposing?”
    Kort grinned broadly at her. “We made a deal and you more than lived up to your end.”
    The sun had set leaving the sky a strange dark gray as the clouds pressed down on the nearly empty street. Most people were probably home eating dinner. It had rained while they were inside the store and drops still dotted the windshield