Before the Moon Rises Read Online Free PDF

I'm going to check out. Be a good girl and watch Cat
    for me. Oh, and water your mom's roses, too. Love you."
    "Your dad's cat is named Cat?"
    A little lift of her lips made him happy he asked.
    "What self-respecting bachelor owns a cat? She showed up
    one day and he didn't have the heart to take her to the
    pound. He tries to pretend she isn't his."
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    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee
    Janet's smile fell. Max watched her stare at the machine.
    "What's wrong?" he asked her.
    "The light wasn't blinking."
    "What?"
    "The light blinks to let me know there are new messages,
    it wasn't blinking." She turned to him and grabbed his arm.
    "Someone listened to my messages. Why?"
    Max bit back a curse. "Call the police, Janet."
    Within a couple of hours, the police filled out their report.
    They took pictures, but without any stolen merchandise, all
    the police could charge the intruder with was breaking and
    entering.
    "Miss O'Brien, do you have any enemies who would do
    this?"
    "No. No one."
    The officers exchanged glances. "Whoever did this wasn't
    after financial gain."
    "That's obvious, since they didn't take anything," Janet
    said.
    "What we have to assume is the perp was after you."
    "Me?" Janet almost screamed the word. "Why me?"
    The police officers didn't answer, instead they asked, "Is
    there somewhere you can stay for a few days while we run
    our investigation?"
    "I could stay with my dad."
    The cop doing most of the talking put away his notepad
    and pen. "Good. It wouldn't be wise for you to be alone until
    we know more about who did this, and why."
    Janet shook her tired head. "My dad is out of town."
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    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee
    The officers exchanged an uncomfortable look.
    "Miss O'Brien will be staying with me."
    Max's statement put her back. "I can't impose on you."
    He smiled, his jaw twitched. "It isn't like I don't have a
    spare room."
    She knew she shouldn't take him up on the offer, but the
    thought of being alone had her scared more than she cared to
    admit. "Are you sure?"
    "I insist." He squeezed her hand.
    The police started for the door. "Okay then, we'll get in
    touch with you tomorrow."
    "Go pack a bag," Max told her. "I'll finish up here."
    They arrived at Max's estate after three. He carried her
    bag and led her to a room across the hall from his. "You're
    exhausted."
    Janet rubbed her swollen eyes and agreed. "I need a few
    hours sleep."
    Max massaged her arms with his hands. The act brought a
    smile to her face. "Everything you need should be in the
    bathroom. Do you want something to eat before you turn in?"
    "I couldn't eat anything now. Can you wake me by six?
    Otherwise, I won't sleep tonight. Graveyard has a way of
    screwing up your sleeping patterns."
    He knew that from first hand experience. Max didn't
    express his thoughts however; instead he agreed to act as
    her personal alarm clock.
    He left her alone and went to find his brother. They had a
    lot to do and little time to do it.
    There was only five hours until the moonrise.
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    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee
    Five hours until he changed.
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    41

    Before the Moon Rises
    by Catherine Bybee

Chapter Four
    He found Richard in his office. A monitoring system, like
    the one in Max's bedroom dominated the back wall.
    Max waltzed in to find Richard taking aim at the room
    where Janet was getting dressed for bed. "What the hell are
    you doing?"
    Richard turned at his voice, then swung back to the
    monitors. "Surveillance."
    Max crossed over and hit a button on the wall. A full size
    bookshelf came down over the monitors hiding all evidence of
    their existence.
    "She's not for your eyes."
    "Someone's a bit touchy." Richard took a seat on the large
    leather couch, crossed an ankle over his knee. "Who is she?"
    Max went to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a drink.
    "Her name is Janet. She's our next assignment."
    Richard's brow shot up in surprise. "You brought her
    here?"
    "I