Caught Dead by Patricia Mason

Author:Patricia Mason [Mason, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zuzalley Books
Published: 2016-11-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The windows and doors of the cottage stood open allowing the smoke to dissipate, but the acrid metallic smell lingered. Jonah held a hand over his mouth, coughing as he put a fan in front of the door. Eliza sat on the sofa, holding her bleeding hand, and Derek hovered behind her.

Jonah just stood there unable to process Jessica’s revelation. She killed his parents? But she’d been just a child at the time of their murder and their killer had been killed himself by Mayor Bundy, Jessica’s father. How was that possible? He didn’t know that answer. But he did know that Eliza had helped Jessica. Sure, Derek’s mom had a last minute change of heart, but that was no excuse.

“That shit’s messed up, Mama,” Derek shouted. He’d been ranting pretty much continuously since Jessica left.

Jonah pinned Eliza with a glare just as Belinda strode out of the kitchen with a first aid kit in hand. As she stepped closer to Eliza, Belinda gagged, made a quick right turn, and approached Jonah instead.

“I can’t handle the sight of blood. You’ll have to bandage her hand.” Belinda held out the kit for him.

Jonah nodded as Belinda headed in the direction of the bathroom.

“Damn, Mama! How could you do that?” Derek burst out. “You always promised that you wouldn’t read Rayna’s diary, let alone perform any of the spells. Christ. You could turn dark so easily, Mama. I know I was murdered, but that ain’t no freakin’ excuse,” Derek continued as he began to pace behind her.

Eliza looked up at Jonah with watery eyes, then her glance flittered away. “I’ll bandage myself.”

He dropped the first aid kit into her lap and started to walk away. Eliza stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. He flinched at her touch.

“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I just…I…” Her betrayal still stung. But he knew she’d been crazed with grief over Derek. He could definitely understand what someone would do when a loved one died. Particularly when they’d been murdered in such a brutal way.

Jonah nodded at her, accepting the apology, and then he walked away.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it,” Derek shouted, moving in front of his mother. “You were working with Jessica.” Derek tore at his hair in exasperation. “That bitch killed me. Slit my throat. Do you remember that? Huh? I sure do… I mean I couldn’t remember for a while, but now I do. So how could you? Huh? How could you?”

Jonah groaned. “She’s not gonna answer, buddy.”

“Why not?”

“’Cause she can’t hear you.”

“Oh, right.” Derek stopped and plopped down next to his mother on the sofa.

“Plus, she apologized. Just let it go. It’s over.”

Eliza had used an antiseptic wipe and laid out a bandage, but she glanced up before applying it. “Derek is talking to me? What’s he saying?”

“He’s yelling at you about your grandmother’s diary and working with Jessica.” Jonah glanced at Derek. “Specifics aren’t important. Some obscenities were involved, though.”

“Derek,” Eliza admonished. “You don’t curse at your mama.”

“I’m dead. What difference does it—I’m sorry,” Derek said.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.