Deadly Intentions Read Online Free PDF Page A

going to stay here?”
    â€œI’m not sure. Probably until the police allow me to move into my grandfather’s place.”
    Lisa reached for the door handle. “I’ll get your bag for you.”
    â€œLet me check in first.”
    When he went inside, Lisa started to follow him, but her cell phone rang. It was Jackie. Her first impulse was to ignore it. But the news of the murder might have reached the island.
    Lisa pressed the talk button.
    â€œHey, girl. I’ve been trying to reach you.”
    â€œWhat’s up?” Lisa asked. “I don’t have time for the psychic today.”
    â€œThat’s the last thing on my mind. I just need to work a couple days next week.”
    Lisa stifled a groan. “Everything’s covered right now.”
    â€œYou’ve got to have something,” Jackie said with a desperate voice. “Didn’t you say something about a new contract?”
    â€œI’m working that house.”
    â€œLisa, I need to work a couple days. I’ve got bills to pay. Keep me in mind if anything comes up, okay?”
    â€œDon’t worry.” Feeling guilty, Lisa hung up. There was a time Lisa wasn’t quite reliable either and was desperate for money, but when she did show up, she always did her job well. Her employers always got their money’s worth. The problem with Jackie was she rarely showed up for work and she did a piss-poor job when she did.
    A month ago, Lisa had teamed her up with another of her employees. When Lisa had stopped by to check on things, Jackie had already left, leaving the other employee to do most of the work. The woman was running behind and had to make it to another house. Lisa had sent her to the next job while she finished up there.
    Lisa’s solid reputation, based on her employees doing a good job, ensured she’d get return calls and referrals. She didn’t want anybody saying her company did shoddy work. She hoped Jackie wasn’t holding her breath.
    Brian limped to the car and got in. “Drive around the building,” he said. “My room’s on the left side.”
    Lisa drove there, parked in front of the appropriate unit, and took his bag inside.
    â€œCan I get you anything before I go?” Lisa asked.
    â€œI’ll rest for a few minutes, then I’m going to rent a car.” He eased himself onto the edge of one of the beds.
    â€œYou can’t drive in your condition. Why don’t you contact someone in your family?”
    â€œMy grandfather’s in Africa and my mother’s on her fifth honeymoon.”
    â€œWhere’s your father?” Lisa asked.
    â€œDied a few years ago.”
    â€œI’m sorry.” Sometimes she thought family was a curse, but when she considered the predicament Brian was in without one, that he was hurt and completely on his own without anyone to help him or care, having a huge family was a blessing. Even if they often got on her nerves. Half the island would have shown up if Lisa was in trouble. But there had to be somebody who cared about Brian.
    â€œYou got any brothers or sisters?”
    â€œHalf brothers and half sisters. From my mother’s second and third marriages. We aren’t close.”
    â€œThey’re still kinfolk. Where are they?”
    â€œCalifornia, New York, Chicago.”
    â€œDo they know you’re hurt?”
    â€œA couple of them visited me in the hospital. They knew Harriet was going to help me.”
    â€œIf I had sent my family away, they would’ve stayed anyway. What kind of family are you from?”
    â€œEvery family isn’t like yours, Lisa.”
    â€œHmph.” Lisa realized she grew up in a closed community where everybody was in your business, and that every place wasn’t like that. New York certainly wasn’t.
    â€œYou said your grandfather is in Africa?”
    â€œHe’s on a humanitarian mission there. He won’t be back for another six