Illusions of Death Read Online Free PDF

Martha Campbell to join when she first moved here. She expressed no interest, which I found odd for an author’s wife. She does come in every eight weeks for a color and cut, but she doesn’t say much.”
    Resa shook her head. “Quiet, that one. Haven’t gotten to know her in all the time she’s come to the salon. She’s thoughtful, though. Brings me a little Christmas treat each year, like a candle or a box of Godiva chocolates. Nice lady. I sure hope her husband will be all right.”
    “I see him out walking every morning when I head to work,” Mitchell Warner volunteered.
    “Maybe he walks and thinks about his books,” Logan suggested. “He’s written enough of them. I remember junior year we read Time Marches On . Symbolism out the wazzoo. Mrs. Donovan raved about it, but it was worse than Faulkner. Way over my head.”
    “Yeah, dumb jocks like you don’t get literature,” his dad teased. “But then again, you only minored in English Lit in college.”
    Logan laughed. “I get Hawthorne and Hemingway. I can even jazz up a conversation about symbolism in The Waste Land . But Broderick Campbell remains over my head.”
    Resa patted his hand. “That’s why he’s so famous, dear. No one can understand him. Everyone buys him, but I doubt anyone ever finished one of his books.” She grinned. “Even Mrs. Donovan.”
    “Sounds like a scam to me,” Mitchell proclaimed. “Now how about some hot peach cobbler?”
    They dished up cobbler and vanilla ice cream and sipped on decaf coffee for the next few minutes, gossiping about what was going on in the Springs.
    Then his father changed the subject.
    “I saw where another of those Rainbow Murders happened north of the city. First time outside of Atlanta.”
    Logan grew somber. “People expect crime in a big city. Not in a small town like Mortonville. Especially with it being just a few towns over from the Springs.”
    “I hope it never happens here,” his mother said. “I couldn’t stand you being involved in something so sordid, Logan.”
    His mom had no idea of the horrors he’d witnessed in Atlanta on a daily basis. Aside from the knifings, rapes, and assaults while a patrolman, he’d seen a slew of murder victims during his time in homicide. Images haunted him even now.
    Especially the last ones of Ashley and Alex.
    His dad must have realized where his thoughts had wandered. “More cobbler, son?”
    “No. I better hit the road. Thanks for dinner.”
    His mother slid the remaining lasagna into a Tupperware container and handed it to him. “Your sister will be in town next weekend. Will has a soccer tournament. Try to make a game if you can. Cathy complained that she never sees you.”
    “I’ll try.”
    His dad walked him out to his car. “Good having you over, Logan. Don’t be such a stranger.”
    He waved as he pulled out. The lasagna now sat like a hard lump in his stomach. He knew he should get over it. Cathy’s two boys were great kids, but he found it hard to be around them. All he could think about was Alex and Ashley playing with their cousins. How old they’d be now. What they would be doing. Playing soccer? Taking piano lessons? Wearing braces? Begging for a cell phones?
    Five years had done nothing to heal the rip through his heart.
    Especially since Carson Miller had never been caught.

Chapter 6
    Karlyn’s temples throbbed as she exited the airport in her rented car. She was a poor flyer, and plenty of bumps occurred between La Guardia and Hartsfield. The plane being held on the tarmac for an hour hadn’t helped her growing headache. Hertz losing her car reservation iced the cake and brought the pounding to the forefront.
    Now she was driving a sleek BMW convertible that screamed money, which was the last thing she wanted as she drove to a place she’d only visited once. Karlyn remained frugal despite her writing success. Driving an ostentatious sports car made her uncomfortable. Unfortunately, it was either the convertible or a