Hidden Flames Read Online Free PDF Page B

issue,” Owen offered, giving her a sideways look. His comment made it more than clear he wasn’t from these parts. He lived on the north end of town where the upper and middle class resided, not that she held it against him. She could technically live there as well, but she chose not to for reasons she didn’t want to share. “But you don’t think they’ll take it and you don’t think they’ll believe us.”
    “Right on both counts,” Prue said unapologetically, walking out and waiting for him to do the same. She reached around him to close the door but stopped. She wasn’t attached to this place by any means, but it was odd to think she was leaving it all behind. Her chest tightened and she gripped the handle a little harder when she pulled the door shut. “But you’re right. We still have to try.”
    Prue led the way up the rusted stairs, not bothering putting her things down on the ground to retrieve later. They’d be gone and then she’d be out her stuff. She figured the boys and girl lived in one of two apartments, so she chose the first door and rapped on the discolored wood. Owen stood by her side, tensing when they both heard muffled voices coming from inside. Honestly, it sounded like her on a bad day at the shop, so she wasn’t sure why he was so disturbed by it. Did her language bother him? She hadn’t given it any thought before. She was who she was and she wouldn’t change for anyone.
    “What do you want?”
    It was apparent that the woman who answered the door was bone tired and yet she had a sponge in her hand for washing dishes. She couldn’t have been more than twenty-five years of age and her shoulders were hunched in fatigue. She had bags under her eyes, which were currently looking past them to the children below. Once she was satisfied that they were keeping themselves busy, she wiped her forehead as she studied the two people at her door. Most likely she was wondering why strangers had come calling.
    Prue wasn’t sure why she didn’t speak first, especially since Owen glanced her way since she’d already said she would say something. Well, she did know what kept her quiet, but the memory didn’t sit well with her. Long ago images of her mother’s wary face and broken down body came back to her as if it were yesterday.
    “Ma’am, are those your children?”
    “Yes. Did they break something of yours? If they—”
    “No, ma’am,” Owen assured her with a smile. It slowly faded as he got right to the heart of the matter. “They didn’t do anything wrong. I know this is going to sound really farfetched, but if there is any way you can leave this area and travel straight north into Canada or do your best to enter Mexico…then do it. We have it on good authority that something bad is about to happen.”
    “Bad?” The woman glanced between them when she finally zeroed in on Prue. “Aren’t you the lady who lives below me?”
    “Yes,” Prue responded after clearing her throat. This woman and her life were bringing back way too many memories for Prue’s liking. She was ready to hit the road now and hoped like hell that Owen didn’t think they could tell everyone in Florida what Berke had shared with him. The government officials would most likely come for him in a straitjacket. “I live downstairs, but my friend here is right. You should leave here if you have the means to do so.”
    “Ma’am, there is talk of a volcanic eruption that could devastate the entire United States.” Owen looked over his shoulder at the children below and Prue could visibly see his brown eyes soften in response. He really did seem to be a good guy and she had to wonder why he kissed her the other night. She tried not to think about it afterward and now really wasn’t the time, but she considered asking him about it later. No, that wouldn’t happen. “Turn on the television and you’ll see that there is activity at Yellowstone.”
    “That’s in Wyoming,” the woman stated as if Owen