Scream for Me Read Online Free PDF Page A

there seemed no danger of her hurting herself, so I didn’t want her drugged.”
    “I agree. So all this time Hope never said a word? Are we sure she can speak?”
    “The preschool says she’s very talkative, big vocabulary. In fact, she can even read.”
    Meredith looked taken aback. “Wow. She’s what, four?”
    “Barely. The preschool said Bailey read to Hope every night. Meredith, none of this feels like a junkie abandoning her child.”
    “You think foul play, too.”
    Something in Meredith’s voice rubbed Alex wrong. “Don’t you?” she demanded.
    Meredith was unperturbed. “I don’t know. I know you’ve always given Bailey the benefit of the doubt. But now this isn’t just about Bailey, it’s about Hope and what’s best for her. Are you going to bring her home? To your home, I mean?”
    Alex thought of the little apartment she only slept in. Richard had kept the house. Alex hadn’t wanted it. But her apartment was big enough for herself and one small child. “That’s my intent, yes. But Meredith, if something did happen to Bailey . . . I mean, if she has changed and she’s met with some harm . . .”
    “What will you do?”
    “I don’t know yet. I couldn’t get anywhere with the police over the phone and I couldn’t leave Hope alone to go in person. Can you stay with me for a few days? Help me with Hope while I check this out?”
    “I had all the appointments with my most critical patients moved to Wednesday before I left. I have to fly back late Tuesday night. It’s the best I can do for now.”
    “It’s a lot. Thank you.”
    Meredith squeezed her hand. “Now go get some sleep. I’ll sleep here on the sofa. If you need me, wake me up.”
    “I’ll sleep in there with Hope. I’m just praying she sleeps through the night. So far she hasn’t slept more than a few hours at a time, then she wakes up and colors. If she needs you, I’ll let you know.”
    “I wasn’t talking about Hope needing me. I was talking about you. Now go to sleep.”

Chapter Two
    Atlanta, Sunday, January 28, 10:45 p.m.
    D aniel, I think your dog is dead.” The voice came from Daniel’s living room and it belonged to fellow GBI investigator Luke Papadopoulos. Luke was also quite possibly Daniel’s best friend, despite his being the reason Daniel owned the dog to begin with.
    Daniel slid the last plate into the dishwasher, then went to the doorway to his living room. Luke sat on the sofa, watching ESPN. Riley the basset hound lounged at Luke’s feet, looking like he normally did. Which, Daniel had to agree, was like a dog who’d gone on to meet his Maker. “Offer him a pork chop, he’ll perk up.”
    Riley opened one eye at the mention of a pork chop, but closed it again, knowing he probably wouldn’t get one. Riley was a pessimistic realist. He and Daniel got along well.
    “Hell, I just offered him some of the moussaka, and he
still
didn’t perk up,” Luke said.
    Daniel was able to visualize the results of such an irresponsible action all too well. “Riley can’t have your mom’s cooking. It’s way too rich and that’s bad for his stomach.”
    “I know. He got into some leftovers while you were gone up north and he was staying with me.” Luke winced. “It wasn’t pretty, trust me.”
    Daniel rolled his eyes. “I’m not paying your carpet-cleaning bill, Luke.”
    “It’s okay. My cousin owns his own carpet-cleaning business. I got it taken care of.”
    “If you knew, then why for God’s sake did you try to feed him tonight?”
    Luke gently nudged Riley’s butt with the toe of his boot. “He always looks so sad.”
    “Sad” in Luke’s family meant “feed me.” Which explained Luke’s showing up on Daniel’s doorstep tonight with a full Greek meal when Daniel knew full well he’d had to break a date with his on-again-off-again flight attendant girlfriend to do so. Mama Papadopoulos had been worried about Daniel since he’d returned from Philadelphia the week before. Luke’s mama