Family Murders: A Thriller Read Online Free PDF Page A

idea who I am? That you have no idea what I'm talking about?"
    Angela pulled hard but her arm didn't move. She took a deep breath and tried to speak as calmly as she possibly could. "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you're doing here. If I did, maybe I'd understand what you're talking about."
    Gabe's grip loosened and he took a half step backwards. His head tilted a few degrees to the left. For just a second, his resolve seemed to waver. Then the corner of his mouth turned up in a sneer.
    "Almost had me going there. You're a good actress, Angela. I suppose you'd have to be, to keep up that perfect family front and live with him at the same time. You let him do what he does, you know."
    "Let who do what?"
    "He's a monster hiding in plain sight. And you're the decoration, you and Julie. You're the distraction. You're what he hides behind. Without you...," Gabe trailed off for a second. "Without you, he could never have lasted this long."
    Angela looked around and confirmed they were alone on the quickly darkening field, Gabe ranting about someone who had wronged him, and admitted to herself that he might really be crazy.
    "Look Gabe," said Angela, "we can try to get someone to help us figure this thing out. We can get help."
    "Help is the last thing you deserve," he snorted. "What disgusts me the most is the girl. How can you let her play a part in this? She's so young. She's the same age as my sister. How can you live with yourself, knowing how close she is to him?"
    "There must be some mistake. I really don't know who you're talking about. Why are you doing this?"
    "Because I need you to do something for me. I need you to pass along a message."
    Gabe let go of her arm, put on his sunglasses, and smiled. He turned and started across the field towards the woods on the far side. Five steps in he half-turned and called out.
    "Tell you husband I say hello. Tell him I know where to find him and his family. And tell him I'll be paying you all a visit—very, very soon."
    Then he was headed for the woods again, five steps, ten steps, more. This time, he didn't turn around.

6
    Angela circled for what felt like hours, always looking in the rear-view mirror. Back in her own driveway, she sprinted from one car door to the other. She wrenched open the passenger side, grabbed Julie by the arm, and pulled her toward the house.
    "Mommy, you're hurting me!"
    "Come on, honey," she said, "we've got to get home." Her key was already out as they reached the front of the house, and then they were inside. The urge to simply slam the door was enormous. Angela felt like a kid again, hiding under the covers and waiting for her father to come home, totally unable to peek out. If she'd been alone, if she hadn't been a mother, this would have been the same. But for Julie's sake, Angela crushed down her panic, poked her head out the door, and looked.
    Nothing. Just the gravel drive lined with trees and a dusting of the first fallen leaves rustling slightly in the wind. She pushed out a deep breath, hadn't even realized she was holding it in. Slowly, she closed the door and seated it in its frame as solidly as possible. Carefully, she twisted the small knob lock, shot the deadbolt, and slid the chain into its runner. They were secure. They were safe again.
    She turned and pressed her back against the door. Her knees felt weak and she let herself slide down to the ground. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She had married Ted to make a life that was predictable and stable, to get away from anything like this. Sitting there, head between her knees, Angela thought she might start to cry. She lifted her head up and pushed hair out of her face, expecting to see her daughter worrying over her.
    Instead she saw the empty foyer with all the lights off, sitting in silence. In the last light of an overcast day, openings into the dining room and the living room and the hallway to the kitchen all appeared cave-like, quickly receding into