The Suicide Forest (The River Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

down his tea and walked to the shelf
looking for the item she indicated. It was about four inches tall, with a small
handle. The sides were made of a mixture of tin and glass. He handed it to
Judith, who thanked him.
    “Once you can get in the house safely,” Judith said, “you’ll
place this in a room of the house for a night. That’s all it needs, just one
night. Doesn’t matter where you put it. Then bring it back to me, and we’ll go
from there.”
    “It’ll collect information on what’s inside the house?”
Steven asked.
    “Such brilliance! Too much for me in my state,” she sighed
dramatically. “Really, show mercy and withhold your wisdom and insight before I
succumb.”
    “Come on, Steven, let’s go,” Roy said in a huff.
    “Not so fast, Mr. Hall,” Judith said. “I have an assignment
for you, as well.”
    “What?” he said gruffly, tired of Judith’s wisecracks.
    “Now, now,” she said, “I am trying to help you here, dear,
although it’s difficult at times. A little courtesy if you will.”
    Roy closed his eyes and exhaled. “What would you like me to
do?” he asked calmly.
    “Once the woman has the token to protect the house from your
son,” Judith said, “I want you to try another trance. But you’ll have to do it according
to my precise instructions. Steven, do you have something to write on? You’ll
need to take this down.”
    Steven removed his phone and opened a note. “Go ahead,” he
said, ready to type.
     
    ◊
     
    “I’m going to kill Dixon,” Roy said as they marched back down
the hill toward the marina. “He sent me to her just to get back at me for that
massive poker loss the last time I went with him to Cabo.”
    “How do you know that?” Steven asked. “Maybe she really is
the best. A little eccentric, but then so is Dixon.”
    “I’m not going to do it like that,” Roy said. “I’ll trance
and do everything else she said, but I’m not doing it naked. She’s just making
that part up to humiliate me. I won’t do it.”
    “You have to do it,” Steven said. “We need to find whatever
it is that opened the door. This lantern will collect information, but you’ve
got to find the ‘Ouija board,’ or she’ll not be able to help us figure out a
plan. She said she’s got to have both for the next step.”
    “Fuck her,” Roy said. “I’m not going to do it. Maybe we
should get a second opinion.”
    “Why?” Steven asked. “What she’s suggesting makes sense to
me. There’s no reason not to follow her instructions. You’re just pissed that
she was a little sarcastic with you.”
    “And what is it with you?” Roy asked. “They’re scared of you?
What’s that all about?”
    Steven thought Roy might be a little jealous. Up until now,
Roy had always been the senior leader, the one with the most knowledge as they
worked together. Steven was only his assistant, or his student. To learn there
was something in him that scared these creatures – Steven was surprised, but he
also knew it bothered Roy.
    “I don’t know about any of that,” Steven said. “I’m just
taking her word for it.”
    “The word of a dingbat,” Roy said, stomping faster as they
approached the boat. “She’ll probably get us both killed.”

Chapter Three
     
     
     
    Jason slid into the empty booth seat across from Steven.
    “You’re late,” Steven said.
    “Traffic, sorry,” Jason said, taking his jacket off and
setting his phone on the table. Steven noticed that his son’s upper body was
even more muscular than the last time he’d seen him.
    “You working out?” Steven asked.
    “Swimming,” Jason said. “Every day.”
    “You hated swimming as a kid,” Steven said, looking back down
at the menu.
    “Well, things change,” Jason said. “I eat onions now, too.”
    “Shocking,” Steven said. “How’s life going? How’s school?”
    “Fine,” Jason said. “Nothing interesting to report.”
    “Grades?” Steven asked.
    “Fine,” Jason said.