Competition Can Be Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

You’re gonna be up to your neck in it, just like you usually are.”
    I ignored his gentle jibe. It wasn’t meant to be critical, just a reminder that I do tend to get myself into things I don’t want to do, and I’ve found myself in life-threatening situations on more than one occasion because of it.
    We finished off dinner with some fresh fruit and I noticed Drake’s eyelids drooping. “Why don’t you relax in front of the TV for awhile, or just go on to bed?” I suggested. “Isn’t tomorrow another early day?”
    “Yeah, and I forgot to mention it’s an early one for you too,” he said. “We’re supposed to start service to a new platform and I want you to go along with me and learn where it is. You can get a little time in the Astar that way, too.”
    It was only nine o’clock but the long day was suddenly catching up with both of us. I went around the small cottage, closing drapes, even though there was nothing out there but open moor on one side and forest on the other. Before bolting the front door I decided to step out and see whether the mist had cleared. If anything it was thicker. Tiny droplets of moisture beaded on my face and hair. Beside the cottage, the cars were barely visible beyond the garden wall. Somewhere in the distance a dog howled with a mournful sound. I shivered and rubbed my upper arms, giving myself a reassuring hug before turning to go inside.

Chapter 6

    It was still dark in the room when the alarm clock shrilled. Drake rolled over and silenced it and I rolled toward his back, wanting nothing more than to snuggle up to his warmth and stay there for another three hours. Five o’clock was no civilized hour to be up. I groaned as Drake sat up and stretched.
    He headed for the bathroom and I walked to the sliding glass door that led out to our tiny balcony. I pulled the drape aside and squinted into the darkness. Last night’s mist looked thicker than ever.
    “I don’t think we can fly in this stuff,” I called to him.
    “Still socked in?”
    “Big time. It’s not fit out for man nor beast, as they say, so my suggestion would be to crawl right back under those covers while they’re still warm.” I aimed myself toward the bed with just that intention.
    “Not so quick,” Drake cautioned, grabbing my arm just as I was about to dive. “The forecast is for sunshine today, so the mist will burn off pretty early.”
    I groaned again.
    “It won’t be so bad once we’re out,” he tried to assure me. “Get dressed and I’ll get the coffee started.”
    I took a deep breath and headed for the bathroom. Splashing water on my face helped a little, as did brushing my teeth and finding my clothes. I felt a pull of longing as I smoothed the sheets and made the bed, but by the time I reached the foot of the stairs I’d adjusted. There’s that point of no return when it’s simply easier to start the day than to go back to bed and find that cozy dream-state again. Drake was clearly already there.
    Coffee scent filled the kitchen and he’d already poured bowls of cereal for both of us.
    “Here, this’ll help,” he said, handing me a mug of steaming coffee.
    I took careful sips of it, staring out the windows for some hint of daylight beyond. There was none.
    “Okay, breakfast’s ready,” he announced, carrying the two cereal bowls to the table. “Cheer up, things could be worse.”
    “Five o’clock’s pretty bad.”
    “It could be pouring rain and we’d still have to go.”
    “Oh.” I accepted the other half of the banana he’d sliced over his flakes and added it to mine. “Well, in that case . . .” I forced a fakey grin, just to show that I’d be a good sport about it.
    Twenty minutes later we’d finished our breakfast, put the dishes into the dishwasher, and poured more coffee into thermal mugs for the road. We bundled into layers of shirts and jackets and headed for the company van. By the time we reached the airport, the dark mist had turned pale gray,