psychic crystal 03 - killer cruise Read Online Free PDF Page A

follows.’ ”
    “Your mama was a smart woman, Chief Bradley,” Juliette said, stroking the bird’s back and cooing, “Old soul.”
    “Why don’t you call me Will? We are married.”
    “Not legally. But, all right, Will, there’s definitely something dark happening on this ship. Evil is lurking in our midst.”
    “My mama predicted that my wife would die an untimely death, and she did. I should have listened to her. I should have protected her, and now my sainted wife is gone.”
    Feeling his pain, Juliette put her hand on Will’s.
    “I’m sorry for your loss. But unless you killed your wife, you aren’t responsible for her death.”
    “I should have done something.”
    Juliette patted the chair next to her and invited Will to sit down. He stared at the crow, hesitated, then took a seat. She turned to him. “How did she die, if you don’t mind my asking?”
    Will inhaled a deep breath before he spoke, and even then his voice came close to breaking. “I haven’t talked about it with anyone, since I lost her.”
    Juliette nodded, sitting perfectly still, ready to listen.
    “It was a dark and rainy night,” Will began. “You couldn’t see beyond the windshield—the fog was as thick as pea soup, the way it gets sometimes in Graysville. My wife was driving home from the grocery store. She went just to get my favorite dessert for dinner. She didn’t see the tractor trailer that pulled out in front of her with no warning. And, like that, she was gone. As Chief, I got the call about the accident, and until I saw her car, I had no idea it was my wife I was looking at. She was the love of my life.”
    “I’m so sorry to hear that.” Juliette placed her hand over his again.
    “I still remember our last conversation. ‘Honey,’ I said, ‘would you mind picking me up one of those cream-filled chocolate cakes they have at the grocery? I’m in the mood for something sweet.’ If I hadn’t asked her to pick up the cake, then maybe she’d still be alive. I should have—”
    “We can’t live our lives on maybes and should haves,” Juliette interrupted. “What good does that do? It was just her time.” She removed her hand and whispered, “How old was your wife when she died?”
    “Thirty years old. We’d only been married for five years. My mama told me it wouldn’t last. She was always predicting gloom and doom, and she was always right. She saw a black crow the night my wife died.”
    The Chief tried to swat the crow away.
    “Stop that,” Juliette warned. “He is not harming anyone.”
    “Why are you getting near that thing if it’s an evil omen?”
    “We’re communicating,” Juliette murmured, continuing to stroke the crow’s back delicately. “Now why couldn’t you be a swallow? Swallows at sea are a good sign.”
    Caa-Caa . The crow sounded off like he was trying to justify his presence to Juliette.
    Juliette continued to stroke the crow calmly. “I know. You are a great big, handsome thing. And so sweet to drop by and pay me a visit.”
    Chief Bradley moved closer to Juliette and started to rub her back, imitating the strokes Juliette was using to pet the crow.
    “That’s a nice dress you have on, Juliette.”
    “Stop touching me, Chief Bradley,” Juliette said evenly.
    “I’ll stop touching you if you stop calling me Chief Bradley. We’re married, so you can call me by my first name.”
    “Like I said, we’re not really married, Will, and stop touching me.” It was obvious the Chief hadn’t been with a woman in a long time. He was horny as a rhinoceros and just as clumsy.
    “You touched me first,” the Chief replied, tapping his forefinger on the spot where her hand had touched his.
    Juliette shrugged. “I was just trying to comfort you.”
    The crow fluttered, left his perch on Juliette’ hand, and started to attack the Chief.
    “Get him off me,” Will screeched.
    Juliette looked at the crow, and they came to an understanding. The crow flew off.
    “I swear that