Dark Series, The Color of Seven and The Color of Dusk (Books We Love Special Edition) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Dennis’s father. Together the two men formed the professional medical group of Macon Neurology, P.C. Dennis had been Ria’s favorite babysitting job back in her teens when Dennis had still needed a babysitter and she’d been his favorite an d pretty much only babysitter. S he loved him like a little brother, but he didn’t fool her a bit. She knew damn well he was considerably sma rter than his grades indicated and way too easygoing for his own good.
    “I’m sorry I came down without calling, Ria.”
    “That’s okay. You don’t need to call to see me.”
    “Can I?”
    “Can you what?”
    “See you for a while. Ria, I need to talk.”
    “Sure,” She head ed to her office and hop ed like hell t his wasn’t a professional call. Dennis radiated the nervous air of a kid in trouble.
    She closed the door behind her.
    “So. What kind of trouble are you in?”
    “You never did beat around the bush.”
    “Do your parents know you’re here?”
    “No. I’m eighteen now, Ria, you don’t have to tell ‘em, do you?”
    “Dennis, they’re going to find out sooner or later, whether I tell ‘em or not . W hich I won’t. Besides, y ou’re over eighteen and you’re consulting me in a professional capacity. So I couldn’t tell ‘em even if wanted to. Speeding ticket? DUI? Or possession, maybe?
    “Jesus, Ria!”
    “They’re the most common ones . Which is it? ”
    “I haven’t been arrested at all. But if I had been, I don’t think it’d have been just for possession.”
    “Then what would it have been for?”
    Dennis hesitated. He’d had a wild crush on Ria when he was a kid . Even at six and seven, he’d known she was major hot. But it wasn’t just that. She was strong. Her self-confidence radiated out two feet in front of her. He’d never seen her in a situation where she didn’t know what to do, even the night he’d run that high fever while his parents were at a Country Club party. She’d taken his temperature and frowned. Then she’d dosed him with Tylenol and ordered him into a bathtub of warm water. By the time she’d run down his folks and gotten them back home, the thermometer read a mere 100 instead of 103. And she’d only been sixteen herself.
    Shit . She was going to be so disappointed in him.
    “Well?”
    “I guess the charge’d be dealing. I guess.”
    “Dennis! You idiot!”
    “I didn’t think lawyers were supposed to give lectures.”
    “I’ve put you in the bathtub, boy! If all you want’s a lawyer, you’ll have to go somewhere else! If you want me, I’ll lecture any time I feel like it! How in the hell — why in the hell did you get involved in something like—oh, wait! L et me guess ! Justin Dinardo.”
    “You never did like Justin.”
    “Damn straight I’ve never liked that kid! There’s something wrong there, Dennis, he’s missing something! Did he ever pull the wings off flies and laugh when they tried to fly?”
    Never could fool Ria. And he’d tried plenty. Now, l ooking at Justin with newly opened eyes, Dennis admitted he’d always known Justin was dangerous . Not because of size or athletic ability. Because Justin just wasn’t right . And he’d been scared enough of him to allow Justin to control him . Dennis shuddered, envisioning Lori running down the halls from the school parking lot screaming, knife slashes pouring blood down her face . Not happening.
    “Well, I’m waiting.” Ria brought him out of the imaginary scene.
    Dennis told her. Everything. Almost everything. He didn’t tell her about the skeleton buried in the cave hill. She’d think he’d been using himself if he told her that.
    “Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”
    “ What now? I know I was stupid, but Justin—I know you’re right, Ria. He’s got something missing somewhere. And I’m scared. But not for me, that rat in Lori’s locker, and the look on his face when his hand moved to that knife in his pocket. And he’s ri ght next door to us. Suppose—”
    “Suppose the