The Messenger: A Novel Read Free Page A

amusement as he said, “I’m heartbroken.”
    “Impossible.”
    “You’ll say that’s because I have no heart, but really, you do me wrong.”
    “It’s been a long time, Colby, but I doubt you’ve changed that much. What brings you to Los Angeles?”
    “Strange occurrences. Don’t you notice something in the air?”
    He had, but answered, “Cigarette smoke.”
    Colby smiled and took a long drag, blew it out slowly. “Still self-righteous, I see. Haven’t you had enough of living as you do, Tyler?”
    Although he had been thinking that very thing not five minutes before, Tyler said, “If you’re here to recruit me, you’re wasting your time.”
    “Hmm. Terribly lonely, isn’t it?”
    Tyler didn’t answer.
    “Not necessary to admit it,” Colby said. “I mean, really—a city of millions of souls, and Tyler Hawthorne sits alone in the dark.”
    “Amusement isn’t happiness. Starting to realize that, Colby?”
    Colby lowered his gaze and took another long drag. “Really none of your business. What have you done with your only companion, by the way?”
    “He’s nearby, don’t worry.”
    Colby gave him a crooked smile. “The odd thing is, Tyler, I do feel a bit worried for you.”
    “Why?”
    “Well, for one thing, I think those woods out there are haunted.”
    “As if that would bother you.”
    “No, of course not. But…” He grew serious. “But something more, Tyler, I mean it. Bad neighborhood, for all its money.”
    “It’s where I’m supposed to be now.”
    Colby faked a yawn. “Yes, well, you go on being a good little scout. I’m sure that even as we speak, somewhere someone’s sewing a merit badge for you. Don’t bother showing me out.”
    He was at the door when Tyler said, “Colby—”
    Colby looked back at him.
    “Good to see you again.”
    Colby laughed derisively and disappeared from view.
    Tyler was wondering if he should have done more to encourage Colby to stick around, despite the complications that would inevitably ensue, when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the number on the display. He answered and assured the caller that he would soon be on his way to the hospital.
    He went to the deck again and called to Shade, waited a moment, then locked up. He tried not to worry about the dog, knowing those who had called from the critical care unit couldn’t wait for him to search the woods. He told himself that when Shade heard the van start up, he’d head back.
    He had just driven past the gate when a familiar dark silhouette came racing up the drive.
    Shade.
    Relieved, he opened the passenger door, and the dog jumped in.
    “I trust I’m not keeping you from anything important?” Tyler said, closing the door.
    Shade wagged his tail.
    Tyler gave him a soft scratch between the ears.
    He hit the remote to close the gate behind him.
    “I was a little worried about you,” he admitted.
    Shade cocked his head to one side.
    “Yes, ridiculous. But Colby visited.”
    Shade sighed.
    “Yes, I felt the same.”
    By the time they reached the curve in the road, Tyler, his thoughts taken up with Colby’s visit and the work before him, had forgotten about the flash of light, the silence in the woods, the dog’s delay in returning.

    3
    H arry Williams lay dying, knew it, and although he did not fear it, fought it with every ounce of his dwindling strength. Had he not been so desperate to communicate with his wife, Catherine, just once more, he would have let go, would have given in to the tidal pull on his soul.
    For days now he had lain in a dark world, unable to move, unable to speak. Comatose. Trapped in a body that would not obey him, able to hear but not to respond—not with so much as the batting of an eyelid or the lifting of a finger. He had tried. If will alone could have accomplished it, he would have come back to the family that surrounded him.
    But Harry couldn’t. He had fallen from the roof of his home while trying to adjust a television satellite dish, an