Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69025 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 345(@200wpm)___ 276(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“I don’t care. I want him to know. I want him to sweat it out and spend sleepless nights thinking about this.”
“And you would endanger Ben, and possibly Brandi and the kids, because you can’t keep your mouth shut?”
“What does Ben have to do with this?”
“You know as well as I do that Rodney isn’t playing with a full deck. He could easily take out his anger on Ben. Do you want to risk that?”
Mason raked his fingers through his hair. He hadn’t thought about that, but he wouldn’t put it past Rodney to harm a child.
“Damn, I’ve made a mess of things. Brandi hates me now. Why did Mason Collins have to be such a bastard? His past has ruined my chances with Brandi and I can’t really say I blame her. I wouldn’t want to be with someone who had done half the things he did.”
“Give her a little time. I’m sure when she has time to think more clearly, she’ll realize that you’ve changed.”
“How in the world did Rodney find out?”
“Most of it from public record and asking former employees at the car dealership. He’s also gotten friendly with Karen.”
A chill went down Mason’s spine. “Karen? She told him all this? Has he had contact with Ben? Why didn’t you tell me?” He paced in an angry circle. “As a matter of fact, where the hell have you been? I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“Are you okay, sir?” A little old lady walking her dog stopped to stare at him as though he had two heads.
Mason realized it probably appeared as though he were talking to himself. He heard Paul’s soft chuckle. If his friend weren’t already a spirit, he would have choked him.
“I’m fine, ma’am. Thanks for asking.”
Her little terrier barked in Paul’s direction. “Rex, behave yourself. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Well, if you keep talking to yourself, young man, people will start to wonder. Come, Rex!” She pulled the little dog along with her as it continued barking.
“Paul, if you were flesh, I’d strangle you.”
“But I’m not.” Paul smiled.
“Some guardian angel you’ve turned out to be,” Mason muttered.
“Would you rather go this alone?”
“I’ve been alone for the past few weeks. What would be the difference?” He sighed. “Tell me how Rodney has wormed his way into Karen’s life.”
“Take it easy. He was using her for information, nothing more. Now that she’s no longer useful to him, you needn’t worry, and, no, he never came into contact with Ben.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I had a few other things to take care of.”
“I thought you were supposed to be helping me.”
“I have been helping you.”
“How?”
“Rodney has been keeping tabs on Tina Reed since the night of your murder. The poor child has hardly said a word since that night.”
Mason had an awful suspicion that something bad happened. “Dammit, what did he do?”
Paul shook his head, almost as if he couldn’t believe what happened.
“Rodney went to see the Thornton’s because they told him that she was getting better. He was afraid Tina might have said something to them. They were all sleeping when he broke in and torched their house.”
“Shit!”
“The Thornton’s got out, but their house didn’t make it. Rodney had doused the house with gasoline, so the house lit up like a match. They tried to get to Tina, but the fire was already out of control.”
“That monster! He got Tina?”
“That was the plan, but Tina didn’t die.”
“What? How is that possible?”
“The kid was trapped, and I, uh, guided her out of the house.”
Mason closed his eyes in relief. “So she’s okay then,” he said hopefully before he caught the look in his friend’s eyes.
“Unfortunately, the only escape route was through the window; although I cushioned her fall, she fractured a couple of bones, but it could have been a lot worse. Right now, she’s in a light coma.”
“But if you hadn’t helped her, she could have died.”
“I know. Peter wasn’t happy about my meddling, but I couldn’t let her die. It wasn’t her time and she’s the only one other than you who knows what happened that night.”
“Paul, what can I say? Did you get in trouble? How could all this have happened?”
“I got a talking to, but you know Peter is a big old softie when he wants to be. Besides, JC has taken a special interest in this case. He’s rooting for you.”
“JC? Are you kidding me? He’s never involved himself in Watcher business before.”
“Yeah, he doesn’t normally, but then we’ve never let a Watcher come back to earth in the flesh before, either. There’s been concern that since you were able to come back, some of the others might want to do the same.”
“Have we started something?”
“Amanda Collins is also involved, so it’s bigger than you and me now. Anyway, perhaps you should think about visiting Tina in the hospital soon.”