Monster Read Online Free PDF Page B

Marshmallow please, Jen.”
    Rutledge handed McDaniels the marshmallow. McDaniels put it on the end of the stick firmly and passed it on to Alicia. “Are you an old hand at these marshmallow roasts, little one?”
    “Yes Sir. Rotate it and don’t hold it too far in or you get a flameout, right?”
    McDaniels laughed and nodded his assent. Barrington and Rutledge followed suit with their own sticks. Reskova completed her second call on the phone and put it away. She moved to the fire, sitting across from McDaniels.
    “Where’s Hughes?” Reskova asked brusquely. She looked at Barrington pointedly when he muttered under his breath. “I’m serious. Before we all break out in a campfire sing-along I want to know where Hughes is. Did it ever dawn on you two, McDaniels might have…”
    “Don’t go there, Agent Reskova,” McDaniels cut her off, standing up from the fire. “I brought proof down about Hughes. Let’s enjoy the fire for the little one’s sake and deal with the rest tomorrow.”
    “That won’t fly, Colonel, show me.”
    “I left the proof out there where I called to you. I’ll get it.”
    Reskova followed McDaniels to the edge of the woods. She stood waiting for him to return with her arms folded over her chest.
    * * *
    Alicia glanced up at Barrington and Rutledge as she drew back her marshmallow, allowing it to cool.
    “He… he was going to let you get close and then cut me up to make me scream where you could hear me,” Alicia told the stunned agents. “Then he said he’d come down to get you all in the dark… and… and he would’ve too. Jeremiah didn’t let him.”
    Barrington looked over at Rutledge who was trying to make her unattended marshmallow stop flaming. She finally blew on it.
    “See, that’s a flamer,” Alicia told her.
    Rutledge smiled at Alicia. The three of them watched McDaniels come back out of the woods with a plastic bag. He opened it, allowing Reskova to shine her Mag-lite down into the bag. Reskova gagged and dropped her small flashlight. She staggered a few steps away and vomited violently. McDaniels sealed up the bag. Without another word he returned it to the woods.
    “Uh oh, I guess Diane saw something that didn’t agree with her,” Barrington said.
    “Be careful what you wish for, huh?” Rutledge winked at Alicia. “You ready for another marshmallow?”
    “Yep,” Alicia accepted another white puff from Rutledge. “Remember, don’t let yours get too close to the fire.”
    “I’ll remember, Honey,” Rutledge promised. “Do you think Diane’s okay, Tom?”
    “She’ll be okay, but the Colonel might be in for some trouble.”
    Alicia watched Reskova stumble over to her bag and take out her water bottle with a shaky hand. She rinsed her mouth out before spitting the water on the ground. McDaniels walked over next to her. Reskova waved him off angrily and stalked over to the fire. She crouched down, holding her hands out to warm them. After a moment, she glared at the other agents.
    “Do you know what that monster did?” Reskova asked them, her voice almost a hiss as she tried to hide her embarrassment.
    “Jer…Jeremiah’s not the monster, lady,” Alicia protested, her voice trembling as McDaniels walked slowly over to the fire. “Don’t you talk about him like that.”
    Alicia felt McDaniels’ arm around her shoulders. “It’s okay, little one, Agent Reskova is just shaken up a bit.”
    “You’ll answer for this when we get back down,” Reskova promised darkly. “You can’t…”
    “I asked you nicely not to talk any more about this until we get down out of here,” McDaniels cut her off. “Now I’m telling you. Relax and enjoy the fire. Give Alicia a chance to think about something else.”
    “You…” Reskova began, starting to get to her feet. Rutledge grabbed her arm.
    “The Colonel’s right, Diane. Give the little girl a break. You can do anything you like when we get out of these damn woods.”
    Reskova shrugged her off but