Don't Look Back Read Online Free PDF

bit of a hurry.”
    “Okay, so you were rushing around. You grabbed your work stuff and headed out the door. It’s broad daylight, you’re not thinking that you’re going to be late getting home and you just . . . leave. Without hitting the light switch.”
    Jamie bit her lip. Was it possible? Maybe, but . . . “What about my blinds. I never open them. I would have remembered that one.”
    “Maybe you brushed by them in a hurry and hit them. Or something.” She threw her hands up. “Anything’s possible.”
    Jamie realized Samantha really wanted to believe that. “Okay, all of that is possible, I suppose.”
    Dakota pushed his Stetson back on his head and looked at Jamie as he hung up the phone. “No one’s answering. We can try again later. And,” he looked over at Samantha, “what you’re saying sounds pretty reasonable, but if Jamie’s scared, I think it bears looking into.”
    “I’m not saying we shouldn’t look into it, just – ”
    The door bell rang and Jamie jumped. She gave a self-conscious laugh that lacked humor. “That’s Maya. Guess it’s too late to tell her to stay home.”
    Making her way over to the door, she considered everything Samantha had just come up with. Maybe she was just being paranoid.
    Gripping the knob, she sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment. She was overreacting.
    No she wasn’t.
    She opened her eyes and the door greeting Maya with, “Hey, glad you could make it. Come on in.”
    Maya, dark hair turning slightly grey, stood at five feet two inches – maybe. She stepped into the foyer and asked, “You didn’t sound right on the phone so I ordered a pizza to be delivered here. I’m starved.”
    Pushing aside bad memories and worries about a possible stalker, Jamie hugged her friend and told herself to relax. Everything would be fine. The bad stuff in her life was over.
    Right?

4
    Jamie watched Maya pull away from the curb and turned to Samantha as she closed the front door. “She knows me so well. I can’t believe she could hear all the stress in my voice . . . crazy. And even though I’ll struggle to get up in the morning since it’s,” she glanced at the clock, “12:15, I’m glad she came over.”
    Samantha grabbed the pizza box and headed for the kitchen. “It was nice.” Her expression stated the exact opposite.
    Jamie followed her and watched as her sister tossed the box into the trash. Concerned, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m bothered.”
    “By?”
    “Everything that’s happened tonight.”
    Jamie blew out a sigh and slumped into the nearest chair. “I was trying to forget it.”
    “Well, I can’t!” Samantha’s outburst flew from her lips and Jamie flinched, staring at her sister.
    She held out a beseeching hand. “Sam, I’m sorry, I – ”
    “Where’s that picture, Jamie?” Desperation flashed before she could cover it up.
    Keeping her cool, Jamie stood. “I don’t know. I hope Mom has it . . .”
    “She doesn’t.”
    Jamie paused. “What? How do you know?”
    “She called my cell while I was in the restroom. I didn’t tell her what was going on, of course, just asked her if she’d taken the picture from your mantel.”
    “And?”
    “She was indignant that I’d even ask.”
    Her stomach dropped at that pronouncement. Somehow she’d held out hope that her mother had taken the picture and forgotten to mention it.
    Even though she was 99 percent sure she hadn’t.
    And now that it was confirmed, Jamie felt confused – and scared. “I’m going to bed.” Turning on her heel, she left the kitchen, ignoring Samantha’s protest.
    Ugly fear she’d thought she’d conquered battled to rise up in her, mocking her newfound safety, her determination to succeed and escape the constant reminders of her past.

    Pain beat through her. Tears leaked from her eyes against her will. Oh God, either save me or let me die! She wailed silently, refusing to cry out this time. The heavy plaster cast on her lower left leg