Edge of the Season Read Online Free PDF

cupcakes when this is over,” Dani whispered. “Just please don’t cry right now.”
    “Two?”
    Dani nodded even as she turned her attention back to the asshole speaking in her ear. She dug in her purse for her phone. “What do you want?”
    “First, I need you to put on the earpiece that’s in your purse. You’ll need to be hands-free for what’s coming.”
    Dani searched her purse. A small black Bluetooth accessory lay in the bottom. Her phone was no longer in her purse. It had to have been the guy who’d bumped into her earlier. He must have taken her phone and replaced it with the other one. She pulled out the Bluetooth earpiece and frowned. If she put it on, she was cooperating with him. It seemed like a dangerous idea.
    “What if I don’t want to?”
    “You don’t have to. But if you don’t hear my instructions then you won’t be able to win the game.”
    “Win the game?”
    “Maybe I should say survive.” He sighed, and she fought a shiver. “I’m becoming bored. If I blew up the store, I’d still get paid. I’m beginning to think that’s a better idea.”
    “Wait,” she almost shouted. Cassie jumped in her arms. “Hold on. I’m putting in the earpiece.” She fumbled with the earpiece and the phone, unwilling to set Cassie down, afraid she’d see the red light marking her as a target of this madman. She hooked the Bluetooth around her ear and shoved the phone into her jacket pocket.
    “Okay. What next?”
    “I want you to come to the park to play with me,” he said.
    “That’s not creepy at all.”
    He cackled. “Oh, I’m really going to enjoy breaking you.”
    A chill went down her spine at his words. “Why are you doing this?”
    “Because someone paid me to.”
    “Who?”
    “If you come to the park then I’ll tell you.”
    “Fuck you.”
    Cassie’s eyes went wide at her words.
    “No thank you,” the Huntsman said. “That’s not really my style. But I do need you to come to the park. I’m afraid I’ll have to insist.”
    There. She spotted Alyssa’s red ponytail in one of the candy aisles and took a step toward her.
    “I will give you ten seconds to leave the store, or I will blow it up.”
    Dani stared around the crowded store at the slightly frantic parents and the wide-eyed kids bouncing in their holiday excitement.
    “You wouldn’t,” she breathed.
    “Ten.”
    Where was Alyssa? She couldn’t see her anymore.
    “Nine.”
    She ran with Cassie in her arms. She had to find Alyssa.
    “Eight.”
    She had to get everyone out of the store. How could she do that? There were three floors crowded with people.
    “Seven.”
    There was no time. She set Cassie down. “I’ve got to go,” she told the girl.
    “Six. Bring the girl.”
    Dammit, he’d heard her.
    “No,” she said.
    “Five. If you don’t, I will blow the store anyway.”
    “Asshole.”
    “Four.”
    Fuck. She snatched Cassie up and darted back to the main doors.
    “Three.”
    She pushed people out of her way.
    “Merry Christmas to you too,” someone yelled at her.
    “Two.”
    The glass doors were ahead of her.
    She rammed one and almost knocked down the toy soldier. Cold air blasted her hot cheeks.
    “One.”
    “I’m out,” she yelled. “I’m out. Don’t do it.”
    The toy soldier frowned at her. Cassie whimpered and clutched at Dani’s shoulders.
    “Please don’t shout, Danielle,” the psychopath said. “I can hear you just fine. Cross the street to the park.”
    An open pedestrian square lay in front of the main doors of Fun Factory. Street vendors crammed the edges of the square selling phone cases, prints of New York, and character sketches. Tables and chairs sat in the middle of the square for people brave enough to weather the cold.
    Fifth Avenue and 59th Street intersected at the far corner of the square, and Central Park loomed beyond the streetlights.
    “Walk faster, Danielle.”
    She looked all around. He was watching her now. It was only after five, but full dark had