The Monster Within by Kelly Hashway

Author:Kelly Hashway
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: The Monster Within
ISBN: 9781937053826
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Published: 2014-06-17T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

I LOOKED around, making sure Nora wasn’t lurking by the bathroom or by the door. I didn’t see her anywhere. I stared at the note some more, not even sure why I was considering meeting her. She’d been nothing but a pain in my ass since I met her. She owed me tip money, and she’d gotten me in trouble with Gloria.

So why did I want to see what she had to say?

I know what you are.

If she really had left me that note, I had a reason to go meet her. I couldn’t risk having another person tell my secret. Nora was at the diner every day. She could easily tell Ethan about me. She could ruin my life. I couldn’t let her do that. I had to at least talk to her and see what she knew or what she thought she knew.

“Gloria?” I stuffed the envelope in my purse and put it back behind the counter.

“You feeling all right?” she asked.

“Yeah, much better, but I was wondering if you could cover for me for another minute or two. I’d like to get some fresh air before I get to my tables.”

She eyed me, trying to figure out if I was really okay or if I was faking.

“Seriously, I’m good. I just want to get some fresh air. It’s a little stuffy in here from the crowd.”

“Okay. Ten minutes. And if you’re a second late, I’m coming out after you.”

“Thanks.” I squeezed her forearm. “Oh, and could you not tell Ethan? He’ll just worry, and I’m really fine.”

She nodded. “Ten minutes.”

“Ten minutes.” I looked toward the kitchen to make sure Ethan wasn’t coming out. Satisfied I was clear to go, I made my way to the back door. No one ever went back there. It led to Gloria’s office, and customers weren’t allowed back there, even though the office was always locked tight.

I slipped outside, relieved to feel a slight breeze on my cheeks. I needed that after the heat in the diner. Gloria had the air conditioning running, but with the heat coming from the kitchen, the heat of the coffee pot, and the body heat from all the customers, it felt like a sauna.

I looked around for Nora, but I didn’t see her. Was this a joke? She could’ve been messing with me, seeing what she could get me to do. I still wasn’t convinced the previous note—the one under her coffee cup—had been from her. After Dylan gave me his name and number on a yellow Post-it, I kind of thought he was the one leaving me all the notes.

“Hey.” Nora stepped out from the shadows. “I’m surprised you actually came.”

“That makes two of us.” I crossed my arms, letting her know I wasn’t in the mood to socialize or play nice. “Well, I’m here, so what do you want? I have to get back to work.”

“I want to know where your necklace is.” She motioned to my bare neck.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Are you not wearing it because I said I wanted it? You don’t trust me or something?”

I scoffed.

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