Preta's Realm: The Haunting (Book 1 of The Hidden Evil Trilogy) by J. Thorn

Author:J. Thorn [Thorn, J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-08-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

“Calm down, honey. We’re fine.”

Drew pulled Molly and the kids into his embrace. They stood in the middle of the kitchen amidst a sea of red-penned homework, unopened bills, and the delightful aroma of Molly’s chicken spaghetti.

Drew took a deep breath. He put his bag down and proceeded to check every door. He turned the lock and yanked on each knob, testing its strength. Molly stood and watched him as the oven timer beeped. She released a wave of delicious dry heat before reaching in and grabbing the baking dish.

“When were you at Denison Park last?”

Molly waved the hot steam away with one hand before digging a stainless-steel spoon into the dish and turning it over. She looked at the ceiling, her mouth moving without producing words.

“The seventh? I don’t know, hon.”

“Can you think harder, please?”

Molly stopped stirring dinner and looked at Drew. His red eyes bulged in the sockets and his face flushed. She thought he looked drunk.

“Yeah, the seventh. We were there with Sally and her kids.”

“Do you remember seeing anyone suspicious or threatening?”

Molly gave up on moving the pasta noodles from one side of the dish to the other. She replaced the tin foil, folding the edges down over the outside of the glass.

“What is going on?”

Drew stepped through the kitchen and into the living room, where the cartoon du jour prattled through the airwaves and into the brains of Sara and Billy. Drew pushed the “off” button on the television, which immediately darkened the screen and produced a two-person choir of disappointment.

“Go downstairs and play something. Mom and I need to talk and we can’t hear each other over that thing.”

Sara crossed her arms and furrowed her brow.

“I’m not asking you again. Get down there or else.”

Sara stomped through the living room and slammed the door on her brother. Billy dragged his feet across the floor as if he was pulling a sled of granite. Drew shut the door and turned to Molly.

“Did you see anything weird?” he asked again, more out of desperation than anger.

“You know how that place is, Drew,” she replied. “It’s a zoo without the bars. And less manners. I swear if I see another parent texting while the kids are—”

Drew interrupted her rant on negligent parents. “What about on the benches near the street?”

Molly shook her head. She looked at Drew, extending her gaze around the kitchen bursting with dirty plates and soaking pots.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. It had been folded in half twice and attracted a host of pocket lint during its stay. Drew’s hands shook as he held it out for Molly to take.

She turned her head sideways and opened her mouth. She grabbed the edge of the paper and held it up. Drew could see the blood drain from her face.

“What is this?”

“It’s a photograph of you and the kids at Denison. Probably taken with a telephoto lens. I’m guessing it’s from the seventh.”

The grainy, gray-scale printout may have

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.