The Summit Read Online Free PDF Page B

O’Shaunessy’s Bar and Grill, an upscale local hangout that was one of Terri’s favorite see-and-be scenes.
    The day passed swiftly. Autumn arrived at the bar right on time but Terri, as usual, was running a little late. By the time she got there, Autumn was sipping a nice chilled glass of Kendall Jackson chardonnay and beginning to relax.
    Terri was smiling as she wove her way through the crowd at the bar and sitting at tables. She walked up and hung her purse on the back of one of the stools around the tiny table and waved one of the cocktail waitresses over.
    â€œI’m desperate for a Cosmo, Rita. After a day like today, I really deserve one.”
    â€œWill do, hon.” Rita sashayed away, tray propped on her shoulder, wide hips swaying, and returned just a few minutes later with the drink. Terri was a regular and always got good service and Autumn enjoyed the lively little pub as well.
    Terri took a sip from her frosty, long-stemmed martini glass. “So how was your day, girlfriend? Mine totally sucked.”
    Autumn sipped her wine. “My day was fine. Last night was the pits.”
    Terri rolled her eyes. “Don’t even tell me. The dream, right?”
    â€œYes…and no.”
    â€œOkay, tell me.”
    â€œI had a different dream about the same person.”
    â€œWhat?”
    She nodded. “No kids playing ball in the yard, no little boy named Robbie. This time, the girl was five or six years older…maybe eleven or twelve. I don’t think she was a teenager yet.”
    â€œWow, that’s weird. And you still think these dreams are real?”
    â€œI’m probably crazy, but yes. I think maybe little Molly got into that car and the man drove away with her, like in the dream. But he didn’t kill her—he couldn’t have if she’s older in the second dream. I think maybe he just took her off with him somewhere.”
    â€œMaybe you’ll just keep dreaming about her until she’s all grown up and everything will be fine.”
    â€œI thought of that. I suppose it’s possible, but…”
    â€œBut what?”
    â€œBut I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think…I don’t know but…I think Molly is trying to send me some kind of message. I think she’s asking me for help.”
    Terri fixed her with a stare. “That’s a pretty far stretch, don’t you think? If she is trying to reach you, why did she wait until now? Why didn’t she send you this supposed message five or six years ago?”
    Autumn hooked a curl behind her ear. “I don’t know.”
    â€œYou have to admit this is all pretty crazy.”
    â€œNo kidding.” She trailed her finger through the condensation on her wine glass. “If it weren’t for what happened in high school, I’d ignore the whole damned thing.”
    Terri frowned. “The car accident…right? I see what you mean.”
    â€œThe weird thing is—what caused it to happen back then? And why is it happening now?”
    Terri ignored the question since neither of them had an answer. “You know what I think you should do? I think you should go through old newspapers to see if a little girl was abducted five or six years ago. If there was and her name was Molly—”
    â€œYou’re right!” Autumn sat up straighter on the stool. “I should have thought of that myself. I’d have to make certain assumptions. I may have guessed her age wrong, so I’d need to do a spread of several years. I’ve got to assume I’m somehow connected or this wouldn’t be happening, so I’ll start looking here in Seattle.”
    â€œIt might not work but it’s worth a try.”
    â€œIt’s a great idea.” If Autumn’s hunch was right, it was absolutely worth a try.
    Terri looked up just then and broke into a smile. “Todd just walked in. Isn’t he gorgeous?”
    Todd was