In Case of Death (The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

leather-bound Bibles professional since many that carried them were men of the cloth.
    My brain was working overtime trying to assess my situation. He seemed to me to be low risk at this point, not currently dangerous although a little crazy sounding to me. I un-cocked my weapon and holstered it at my belt.
    Now, what to do about him? This was definitely not the location for this conversation. He had me intrigued, but I was not at the point of trusting him yet. And why would anyone seek me out…especially to help me. The back of my neck felt like it was burning again, and I rubbed it as I gave some more thought to the statement.
    “I assume you’re not from around here. How well do you know the town?” I asked the stranger as I glanced around the street. I didn’t like drawing attention anytime, and the current situation was making me a little nervous.
    “I’ve scoped it out pretty well over the last couple of days,” he answered matter-of-factly.
    “You know where the Legion is?” I questioned, figuring the dark confines of the bar at this time of day would offer us some privacy.
    “I surely do Mr. Celtic.”
    “Ok, you head there, and I’ll follow you.”
    He nodded at that as he reached up and keyed the ignition. The engine came to life with a deep throated rumble…I loved these old cars.
    He started backing out and I was about to turn toward my car when an unanswered question hit me again.
    “You never did tell me your name.”
    Hesitating only briefly as he looked me in the eye.
    “You can call me Preacher.”
     
     
    Chapter 11
    September 15, 1999
     
    We pulled into the lot at the Legion, and the man was out of his car and leaning on the trunk before I could exit my vehicle. His hands were crossed in front of his light blue blazer holding the Bible.
    As we entered the dark, smoky confines of the bar, I went up to sign in my “visitor”.
    “What’s your last name…Preacher?”
    “Just Preacher,” he replied with a smile.
    Shaking my head, I left the last name blank
    “Want something to drink?” I asked.
    “Coffee would be wonderful!”
    Well, at least he had good taste in drinks. I ordered two coffees and we made our way to the table in the back corner. I was silent for awhile as I sipped my coffee and observed the unusual stranger sitting across from me. At about 5’10”, he was stocky, but not fat. I was unable to determine his age, suspecting his hair color to be not his own. His build kind of reminded me of Frank, my old partner that had been killed last year by the Monk. (1)
    Looking around, I noticed that we were sitting at the same table that Frank and I had sat at the last time I had been here. A shiver ran down my spine momentarily at the thought. I still missed my buddy…I wonder what he would have thought of this stranger offering his help.
    “So…Preacher, you say you want to help. What have you done before, and why do you think you can help me?”
    Preacher pursed his lips as he set his cup down on the table, seeming to choose his words carefully.
    “As to why I think I can help you…let’s just say that in another life, I did a lot of the same kind of work that you do. Investigate murders, robberies, even finding escaped prisoners.”
    Sizing him up as he spoke, it appeared to me that he was being truthful.
    “Ok, then I guess my next thought is…why aren’t you still doing it…your old job?”
    Leaning back into his chair, he interlaced his fingers and let them rest on his stomach, staring down at them as if they held the answer.
    “That part is a little tricky Mr. Celtic, and I’m sorry to be vague, but there is some of it that I can’t tell you.”
    Leaning forward, he took off his Elvis glasses and looked me square in the face. His eyes were a pale blue…at least one of them was. The other was quite apparently a glass eye, with the coloring a little off from the real one. There was a prominent scar running from his eyebrow to his cheek. Doubtless this was the