Monster Read Online Free PDF

time, surprised at the almost silent approach. “I… hey… what the hell…”
    “I brought someone to share our camp tonight,” McDaniels announced. “This here is Alicia. Alicia, meet my friends, Tom, Jen, and Diane. They’re all real FBI agents.”
    “Oh… my… God…” Reskova said in complete shock as the three agents stumbled forward around McDaniels and his wrapped bundle.
    A small hand waved to them in the darkness from beneath the blanket.
    “Hi,” Alicia greeted them.
    Barrington laughed out loud. “Oh man, Colonel, you are somethin’ else, brother.”
    “Where the hell is Hughes?” Reskova glanced furtively around in the darkness beyond.
    “Didn’t you goofballs ever see those movies where the characters rig up warning lines bordering their camp instead of sitting around waiting for the monsters to get them?” McDaniels joked. He gently rested Alicia down against the same log the FBI agents had been leaning against.
    “Answer the question!” Reskova ordered, crouching next to Alicia.
    “He lost his head,” Alicia said simply.
    “He what… listen, Alicia, you take it easy and…” Reskova began.
    “Jeremiah promised me I could roast marshmallows,” Alicia interrupted.
    McDaniels knelt next to Alicia, patting her shoulder. “Let Diane call her boss on the phone. Then she’ll get your Mommy and Daddy on the line. Me and Tom will clear out a safe place for a campfire. You’ll be toasting them in no time.”
    “Okay,” Alicia agreed happily.
    Reskova grabbed McDaniels arm as he tried to straighten up. “Where’s Hughes?”
    “He’s dead, Diane,” Rutledge broke in. She patted Alicia’s hand. “You want a picture? I’m Jen, Alicia. Diane will be making that call now, right Di?”
    Reskova stared at McDaniels for a moment longer before releasing his arm. She sat down next to Alicia. Reskova pulled out the satellite phone from her parka pocket. McDaniels handed Rutledge a sleeping bag from his pack which she helped Alicia ease into. The two men cleared the brush and debris from near the log until they had a nearly barren area twenty feet in diameter. Using the numerous loose granite rocks around and dried wood, Barrington and McDaniels completed the setup in a short time as they listened to the happy sounds of a phone reunion. McDaniels used a propane lighter from his bag to ignite the small batch of kindling beneath the pyramided logs.
    “I figured you’d rub two sticks together, Colonel.”
    “Not hardly.” McDaniels smiled over at Tom from the rapidly growing flames.
    Rutledge warmed her hands near the flames. “God almighty this fire looks and feels good. You never had any intention of taking us to Hughes, did you?”
    “Nope.”
    “Thank you,” Rutledge said.
    “Ditto,” Barrington added.
    “I mean it, you two,” McDaniels said, changing the subject. “Didn’t you guys ever see Predator or one of those other movies where the heroes always set up a perimeter? In your defense, Hughes wasn’t very good at perimeters either.”
    Barrington and Rutledge both laughed. McDaniels extracted a bag of Sta-Puff marshmallows from his bag, handing them to Rutledge. “I’m going to get some marshmallow sticks made. Who wants one?”
    “Me, me, me,” Rutledge waved her hand comically with Barrington laughing and mimicking her gesture.
    McDaniels grinned and went out into the darkness. When he returned a few moments later Reskova and Alicia had finished the call to her parents. He brought along four long, thin sticks. Reskova walked away while making a second call. Sitting next to Alicia, he quickly trimmed the bark off and sharpened the ends. McDaniels handed the sticks to Barrington while he scooted Alicia nearer the fire, using his bag to allow her to recline comfortably.
    “Okay now,” McDaniels said, taking one of the sticks from Barrington. He rotated it over the hot coals. “First we burn off any residual stuff on the stick in the fire. Then we’re ready.