Exposure Read Online Free PDF Page B

raved on," he agreed between tightly clenched teeth. "It's probably one of the best-made automobiles in the world, But just how the hell did you think we'd get rid of it? Mon Dieu!" he growled impatiently. "That's not even the point. I've told you and I've told you, Emma: you're bettah than a common car thief. By God, I oughtta turn you over my knee and blistah your butt!" Instead he jerked her into his arms and held her so tightly she could barely breath. "Jesus, Em."
    The pounding of his heart beneath her ear gave Emma the courage to admit, "I was scared, Eddy. I was so scared." His arms tightened even more. "I'm sorry he yelled at you," she whispered. "That wasn't fair."
    Mr. Woodard had been so low-key with her that it had caught her by surprise to hear him light into Eddy the moment her brother had arrived. He'd dressed him down for a solid forty-five minutes before he'd finally let both of them go.
    To her surprise, however, Eddy pulled back and looked down into her face. "No," he disagreed. "I deserved everything he said. And we got off light, sugah. That man could have made a whole lotta trouble for the two of us."
    Watching her fourteen-year-old self now on the VCR, seeing the vulnerability and the fear so obvious behind the bravado and knowing that her entire life had been violated by hidden cameras, Emma had to wonder just how much trouble Grant actually had made for them.
    It made her go cold, because even now, knowing what she did, suspecting other things, she still couldn't begin to estimate the damage he might have wrought. She thought she knew the worst.
    But, ah, bon Dieu, what if she didn't?

Chapter 3
    Grade leaned heavily against Emma's calves for the third time in ten minutes. She emitted a heartfelt sigh. "Do sumpin' now, Maman? "
    Emma just barely managed to suppress a sigh of her own. Replacing the spark plug she had removed with a fresh one, she lifted her upper body out from under the hood of Ruby's car and looked down at her bored daughter. "Soon, angel pie," she promised. "Maman's got to finish tuning up Miss Ruby's car first."
    "Issa dumb caw," Gracie muttered under her breath. Emma gritted her teeth and disconnected the rest of the old spark plugs. She hadn't considered this aspect of the situation when she'd been so busy patting herself on the back last night for scoring a paying job.
    "Hello," said a tentative feminine voice and Emma raised her head. Gracie's weight lifted from her legs.
    Trying to locate the source of the voice, Emma's gaze skimmed the neatly kept back wall of the boarding house. No one stood at the back door or emerged out of the shadowy stairwell that led down to the basement entrance. Her gaze moved on to the little she could see of the narrow path that hugged the side of the building. It connected the small back parking lot, where she was currently working on Ruby's car, to the main walk at the front of the establishment. As she watched, a pretty brown-haired woman of approximately her own age stepped out of the shadows and walked toward her. She hesitated by the dumpster, smiling uncertainly at Emma.
    "I hope I'm not intruding," she said softly.
    "No, of course not," Emma replied politely, although she was beginning to wonder if this was going to be one of those jobs destined for constant interruption. Then she shook off the tension. When it came right down to it, it wasn't as if she were racing to beat the clock. She straightened out from under the hood again.
    "Oh, good." The woman's voice lost its tentative quality and she walked over to Emma. She stopped, feet together, posture erect, and thrust out her hand. "Clare Mackey."
    Emma regarded her with interest. Showing the other woman her own surgically gloved hand, she didn't offer it. "Sorry, I'm filthy," she said, then inquired, "as in the general store Mackeys?"
    "Yes, 'fraid so."
    "It's a very nice shop," Emma said sincerely. "I bought all this stuff there this morning." She indicated the sack of car parts next to