Ember Learns (The Seeker) Read Online Free PDF Page B

hands were washed, she crept into the kitchen for a drink. The water moistened her parched throat. She finished the first glass and drank another. She couldn’t seem to get enough.
    The clock on the wall read five minutes after seven in the morning. It can’t be that late. It’s still dark . It occurred to her that Angel had blackouts on the windows to keep the sun from coming in. The whole Vampire thing seemed surreal.
    Ember needed to go home. She had to meet Laura at the sheriff’s department in less than an hour to give her statement. She was also determined not to lose her job, and that meant getting it in gear and showing up. She felt sure she would be fairly safe in a building full of people in broad daylight. Angel was going to be furious with her, but she’d deal with that when the time came.
    With a made-up mind, she tiptoed back to the bedroom. She’d have to leave through the sliding door since he’d brought her in that way. Once again she wouldn’t be able to get inside her condo by the front entrance. I really must start carrying a key on my person.
    He hadn’t moved, and she doubted he would until the sun set. She eased to the side of the bed and leaned over him. She let her lips hover over his briefly as feelings rushed to the surface. She was in love with a man she’d known less than three days.
    “Angel?” He didn’t stir, so she softly brushed her lips against his. “I love you.”
    She straightened and exited the room.
     
    EMBER’S WHISPERED CONFESSION floored Angel. Had he been standing, those three words would have taken him to his knees. She had no idea what it meant to him hearing it fall from her lips. And he was trapped inside himself, helpless to respond.
    The sound of the glass door sliding opening swiftly replaced his euphoria with panic. He had forbidden her to leave, and damned if she hadn’t done just that. He wanted to howl in frustration. Ember!
    * * * *
    The parking lot of the sheriff’s department was full when Ember arrived, so she pulled in across the street at the courthouse. She slipped a pair of sunglasses on and climbed out, locking her car doors behind her. She was more than twenty minutes late.
    Traffic zoomed by in a flurry of color and mayhem. It seemed everyone was in a hurry to be somewhere, including her. She glanced at her watch and pressed the button at the crosswalk. The signal changed shortly after, indicating she could proceed without being run down by oncoming cars. She broke into a jog to make up time and nearly twisted an ankle on the opposite sidewalk. “Damn it.”
    By the time she reached the building, she was winded and moderately agitated. At least she’d had the good sense not to wear heels. She pulled open the door and practically ran into a disgruntled Laura.
    “There you are. I was just heading out to call you. I’ve been worried sick about you, and Clay is fit to be tied.”
    “I’m sorry: I got stuck in traffic, then I had to park across the street and wait for the light to change. I so need coffee.”
    “Me too. Come on, he’s waiting for us.” Laura took the lead, striding off down a long hallway, the clicking of her heels echoing off the concrete walls.
    Ember followed close behind. “I need to call Barry and explain why I’m going to be late for work.”
    Laura glanced back without slowing. “I’ve already spoken with him. I told him we were taking your car in for service, and I would be giving you a ride.”
    Relief poured through Ember. The less that people knew of the situation, the better. Especially her boss.
    She could hear the murmur of voices over the ringing of phones as they passed several open doors along the way. A picture of the sheriff hung off-center on the hallway wall. Directly below his unsmiling face, a slogan read, DO THE CRIME, DO THE TIME.
    Ember thought of Carnley sitting in prison. She wondered how he’d been so careless as to leave behind evidence at the crime scene. Was he a Seeker also, or a