Killer Dreams Read Free Page B

She’s a sweet little girl.”
    “And you’re a good woman.” He paused. “Who’s trying to avoid an argument by changing the subject.”
    “I’m not arguing. This is my battle. I pulled you into it to help me, but I’m not going to let you run any risk or accept any guilt.”
    “Guilt? Lord, if you’d thought it through, you’d realize how silly that is. My soul must be as black as hell’s own cauldron by now.”
    She shook her head. “No, Jock.” She bit her lower lip. Damn, she didn’t want to say this. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but maybe it’s time you left me.”
    “That’s not going to happen. We’ll talk later. Good day, Sophie.” Jock was heading for the door. “I promised to pick up Michael from his soccer game this afternoon so you don’t have to bother if you’re tied up. Get to bed and try to sleep. You told me you had a one o’clock appointment.”
    “Jock.”
    He glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “It’s too late to try to rid yourself of me. I can’t have you killed. I’m being entirely selfish. I have too few friends in this world. I seem to have lost the knack. It would hurt me to lose you.”
    The door slammed behind him.
    Dammit, she didn’t need this reaction from Jock. She should have kept her mouth shut about being seen. She knew how protective he could be. He’d kept arguing with her about letting him do the kill but when she’d refused he’d set about teaching her the safest and best way to do what had to be done. He’d stayed by her during these months to oversee and protect and to be there in case she changed her mind. She should have sent him away after he’d taught her what she needed to know. He’d said he was being selfish, but she was the one who’d been selfish. Having him here to keep an eye on Michael when she had to work late had been a blessing in itself. She’d felt terribly alone and Jock had been a comfort. But she had to force him to go now.
    “I’ve got five minutes.” Michael came tearing into the kitchen. He grabbed the orange juice and downed it. “No time for breakfast.” He grabbed his book bag and headed for the door. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek as he passed. “I won’t be home until six. Soccer.”
    “I know. Jock told me.” She gave him a hug. “I’ll see you at the game.”
    His face lit up. “You can make it?”
    “I’ll be late, but I’ll be there.”
    He smiled. “Great.” He started to leave and then stopped. “Quit worrying, Mom. I’m okay. We’ve got this licked. It only happened three times this week.”
    Three times when his heartbeat tripled and he woke screaming. Three times when he could have died if she hadn’t had a monitor on him. Yet he was trying to keep her from fretting. She forced a smile. “I know. You’re right. You’re on the uphill path. What can I say? I’m a worrywart. It goes with the territory.” She pushed him toward the door. “Take a protein bar since you don’t have time to eat your breakfast.”
    He grabbed the bar and was gone.
    She hoped he’d remember to eat it. He was too thin. After the terrors he had trouble keeping food down, yet he insisted on being involved in soccer and track. It was probably good for him to be busy and she wanted desperately for him to have as normal a life as possible. But there was no question the sports had helped to melt the pounds off him.
    Her cell phone rang.
    She stiffened as she checked the ID. Dave Edmunds. Jesus, she didn’t need to deal with her ex-husband now. “Hello, Dave.”
    “I hoped I’d catch you before you went to work.” He paused. “Jean and I are catching a flight to Detroit Saturday night, so I’ll have to bring Michael back early. Is that okay?”
    “No. But I guess it has to be.” Her hand tightened on the phone. “Christ, it’s the first time you’ve had Michael for a weekend in six months. Do you think he’s not going to know why you won’t have him overnight? He’s not