Darkening Dawn (The Lockman Chronicles Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

going eternally silent. Unless Elka magically came up with the money to take it into the shop.
    The radio blared Slash’s guitar solo from “Welcome to the Jungle” while Elka went through her routine of sucking down two cigarettes, waiting until the last possible minute to trudge into the restaurant to serve hot wings and cheap beer to guys who thought they had the pick-up lines she had never heard before. And who treated her like she was just another thing they could order from the menu.
    When she punched in, Kenny came out of his little office and tapped his watch. “Cutting it a little close, Elsa?” he said like he did every day she came in, including the purposeful and pointless mispronunciation of her name.
    “Check the clock,” Elka said. “Right on time.”
    Kenny stood a foot taller than Elka and he liked to rub that in by moving in close to tower over her, putting his chest right in her face. He wore the standard manager’s polo-style shirt for the restaurant with “Chuggers” embroidered in bright yellow on the breast. On the opposite of the logo, Kenny wore his plastic name tag. The first “n” in his name had worn off some, making it look more like a “v.” He had long hair that he kept swept back except for one piece that hung almost in his eye, as if it had come loose accidentally. But since that “loose” lock hung in the exact same spot every day, Elka and the other girls knew there was nothing accidental about it.
    He thought he looked sexy. Unfortunately, no one had told him the eighties had ended over twenty years ago.
    “You know, I see you sitting out there in your car. Why don’t you come in, clock an extra ten minutes? Or you could hang with me in my office. I don’t mind.”
    His gaze dropped to Elka’s chest. A common male reaction when she wore her work shirt. But unlike most men, Kenny didn’t bother bringing his eyes back up.
    “Much as I love my job,” Elka said, “I treasure my alone time.”
    “From what I can tell, all your time is alone time.” Still staring at her chest, his lips parted in a smile that showed his teeth. He had especially pointy incisors, which made him look like a jackal when he grinned. “You live alone. You drive alone. You go home alone.”
    The hairs on the nape of Elka’s neck stood on end.”You been stalking me, Kenny? How do you know I don’t have a boyfriend?” She thought her voice hitched, but hoped Kenny hadn’t noticed.
    His smile grew wider. He had noticed.
    “I don’t need to stalk you. I can smell the loneliness on you.” He bent his head and sniffed her hair.
    Every inch of Elka’s skin quivered. “This is a good way to get yourself a sexual harassment suit,” she said. But they both knew it was a hollow threat. Elka needed this job to survive. Kenny knew she lived paycheck to paycheck. Early on she had made the mistake of asking him for a cash advance to cover a few utilities she’d fallen behind on. Since then, he held his knowledge of her dire straits like a trump card at a poker tournament. Now, it seemed like he wanted to play that card.
    Kenny chuckled like a cartoon character. “Fifteen years I’ve worked here. Started off bussing tables. Mopped floor. Worked my way up to the kitchen. Now I’m top dog. Never once have I had any problem with the girls.”
    “That’s because they’re all afraid to lose their jobs.” Elka felt woozy. How had she stumbled into this conversation with her shift barely started? She just wanted to get on with her job. But she needed to be careful what she said. Sad to say, despite all the trouble he gave them, none of the other girls would stand up for Elka against Kenny.
    “Aren’t you?” he whispered. His breath smelled like peanuts.
    A sour taste filled Elka’s mouth. She bit back what she really wanted to say. She felt her cheeks flush. Next time she woke up from the dream about her father and felt the need to strangle someone, she would imagine Kenny, his pretty-boy face