Blood of Cain (Sean O'Brien (Mystery/Thrillers)) Read Online Free PDF

there. My friend, Carla, runs it. Tell her Lois Timbers sent you. They're great, caring people. You can get anything from a shower to a hot meal, even a bed. Okay?”
    Courtney placed her hand on the door handle, started to get out of the car, and watched a police cruiser drive slowly down the street. She turned back to Lois and managed to smile. “I'm feeling a little sick now.” Courtney lowered her head down.
    The woman glanced from Courtney to the police cruiser that had turned right at the next street. She asked, “What happened to you? The police are looking for you, right? Why?”

7
    Lois Timber's cell rang in her purse. She reached for it and answered. After a few seconds, she said to the caller, “I'm sorry I'm running late. I had to give a friend a ride to town. Yes, I'll be at the school in a few minutes. Please see if Carol can watch my class until them.” She looked at Courtney. “Whatever's happened to you, you need to go to the authorities and tell them. Don't run.”
    Courtney nodded and blew out a breath. “You wanted me to call my grandmother. Do you have a phone I can use for a second?”
    “Absolutely. This is worth me being tardy to my own class.” She lifted a cell phone from her purse.
    Courtney took it, opened the car door, and said, “I won't take long. Just need to make the call in private.”
    “I understand.”
    She stepped out of the car and into the shade of a large pine tree next to the sidewalk. She punched numbers and waited. The morning turned warm, a mockingbird called out from the tree, the smell of fresh-cut grass in the air. The voice of an older woman said, “Hello.”
    “Grandma …”
    “Courtney, I've been so worried about you. Where are you?”
    “Something bad has happened.”
    “What honey? What happened?” The woman coughed.
    “A man's been killed. He was stabbed to death. It was horrible. I tried to help him, tried to stop the bleeding. But I couldn't. I didn't know what to do, so I just ran. I had to get out of there.”
    “Courtney, where are you?”
    “Florida. I think the town's called DeLand. I was trying to find the Celtic torc he stole from you. I heard he was workin' the carnival circuit. I was getting closer. Then all this happened.”
    “I told you to stay away from him. He's more evil than you can understand.” She coughed into the phone. “Courtney, listen to me. You have to go to the police. Tell them what happened. Then you come on back home. You understand?”
    “I can't go back there. You know why.” Courtney saw a police cruiser slowly coming down the street in her direction. She turned her back to the cruiser. “Grandma, I gotta go.”
    “Courtney! Courtney, come home.”
    “I love you. I’ll call you.”
    “I love you too, sweetheart.”
    Courtney disconnected, opened the car door, leaned in and said, “Thank you for the ride. I really appreciate you stopping.” She cut her eyes to the right and watched the police cruiser continue down the street, slowing in front of a Dairy Queen restaurant and turning around in the parking lot.
    Lois said, “I hope you're gonna be okay. The women in the clinic will help you.”
    Courtney nodded. “I appreciate what you did, stopping for me. Bye.” She closed the car door, turned her back toward the cruiser and walked to the front entrance. From the reflection on the dark glass doors, she could see the police car pulling up to the curb.
    Courtney entered the clinic. A receptionist looked up from the magazine she was reading behind the desk. “May I help you?”
    “Yes, I'm here to see Carla.”
    “Do you have an appointment?”
    “No, Lois Timbers sent me.”
    “Please, have a seat. I'll see if Mrs. Flowers is available.”
    Courtney looked through the front glass. Two officers were getting out of the car, one speaking into a radio microphone clipped to his sleeve. “Where’s the ladies’ room?”
    The receptionist pointed to her left. “Through that door. It'll be on your