Soul Crossed by Lisa Gail Green

Author:Lisa Gail Green [Green, Lisa Gail]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-63370-032-1
Publisher: Full Fathom Five Digital
Published: 2014-09-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 36

Grace

I ring the bell. It’s Friday, her day off this week, and Mrs. Frasier takes her time getting to the door. She’s in her bathrobe when she answers, a cigarette hanging from her lips. Her face is just as sallow in the morning light. Her hair is still in desperate need of some TLC. She looks me over with pity in her eyes, and the butt nearly falls from her mouth when she sees what I’m holding.

Tommy Two is whimpering slightly. I can’t blame him. He must be terrified that I’m going to hand him off to another abusive owner. I was saddened to realize his injuries were not the result of a run in with another stray, but the product of a human hand. The tip cut off his ear was no bite. It was clean, like a wound made by a knife. I wonder who could possibly be so cruel.

“What is that?” she asks with disgust dripping from every word.

“It’s a dog. Mrs. Frasier, I’d like you to meet Tommy Two.”

“You’re insane. Get that mongrel out of here right now,” she says, trying to slam the door in my face. I put out a hand and hold it steady; try with all her might, she cannot get it to budge.

“Mrs. Frasier, this is just what Camden needs,” I say it, looking in her eyes and willing her to yield. I did it only once before, with the bouncer at the club. It works beautifully the second time as well.

“That’s just what Camden needs,” she echoes. Her entire posture has changed. She’s relaxed back on her heels and is actually smiling. I can see she must have been a very pretty woman once. She could be again.

“Don’t you want to invite us in?”

Cam comes out of his room still in his pajamas. It is now almost eleven in the morning, and he doesn’t even notice us until he goes to close the fridge door. The milk in his hand slips to the floor, spilling out, and Tommy Two runs to lick up the treasure. Mrs. Frasier laughs and so do I. I’m not sure what is more startling to him, my being in his kitchen, his mother laughing, or Tommy Two bounding happy and healthy around his feet.

“Grace?” he asks, as though afraid I’m an apparition.

“That’s my name,” I say, and Mrs. Frasier laughs again.

“What have you done to my mother?” he asks, dumbfounded. He bends to examine her, looking for signs of foul play.

“She hasn’t done anything to me, you little shit.” She reaches up and slaps him across the face. As soon as she remembers her company, her anger turns to embarrassment. “I’m sick of your smart mouth.”

I jump to my feet and drag Cam back away from his mother. He is leaning forward, face twisted with rage, and I am afraid he will strike back if I don’t intervene. He shrugs me off, but gains some composure.

“Cam, lets go outside for a little bit,” I suggest.

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.