The Vision Read Online Free PDF Page B

…”
    â€œI know,” Joshua answered. I could picture him, dark and stocky like his father had been, nodding sadly. “It was very sudden.”
    â€œHow’s your mom?”
    â€œA little better. Managing.”
    I heard a sympathetic sigh, the cluck of a tongue. “He’d told me about the project he’d just started. His research sounded so promising …”
    What research? If I leaned much closer I’d fall through the door, but I was on high alert. This is what I needed to know. Robert Killiam had been a doctor. Might he have done something valuable if he’d lived? Critical? I couldn’t change anything for him. But maybe I could for the next one.
    â€œYou know you’re dead meat if my father or Mr. Ludwig finds you here.”
    I almost screamed I was so startled by Ryan’s whisper, soft against my ear, but he’d anticipated that, slipping a hand gently over my mouth. He was close behind me, his chest against my back, and I could feel his warmth, smell fresh soap on his skin.
    â€œI’m going to let go of you,” he whispered, “and we’re going to walk to the prep room. Be quiet.”
    I nodded and he released me. My heart was thudding with the fear of having been caught and, strangely, something else. I hadn’t been so close to anyone, touched like that, since Jack. Ryan looked nothing like him, but the way his arms felt wrapped around me was too much of a reminder. It hurt.
    Ryan took my hand, his grip firm and gentle at the same time. He studied my eyes for a second as we stood less than a foot apart, then he turned and led me silently down the hall. Neither of us spoke until the prep room door closed behind us.
    â€œWhat’s up with you?” Ryan leaned against the steel table in the center of the room, facing me, his arms crossed. I stood by the door, absently rubbing my hand, still warm from being in his.
    I’d been trying to think of an explanation, but the hall is only about twenty feet long—way too short to come up with something good. I shrugged, moved to a nearby counter. It occurred to me that Ryan would probably tell his dad and I’d probably get fired. That would suck because, aside from hoping to learn something, I actually liked working there.
    â€œReally, Cassie,” he said. “I’ve been watching you and something’s off. It’s like you’ve got some kind of … I don’t know … sick fascination with death.”
    â€œNo, it’s not that.”
    â€œIt’s not? What is it, then?”
    â€œIt’s … I’m …” I wasn’t sure how to answer, but fired or not, I didn’t want him to think I was a freak. “I’m just trying to learn about it,” I said.
    Ryan looked skeptical. “What do you mean? Learn what?”
    I bit my lip, trying to phrase the truth carefully. “People believe such different things about death, you know? Where do we go? How does it affect the people left behind? What if …” I paused, making sure it sounded okay. “What if someone didn’t die when they did? Like that guy out there, Dr. Killiam. How would things have been different for his family or, I don’t know, the world even, if he were still alive?”
    I held my breath, waiting for Ryan’s reaction. He just stared, making my ears and face warm. Maybe they are bedroom eyes, I thought.
    â€œThat’s pretty deep,” he said finally.
    I shrugged. “I’m not perverse or anything. Really. And I promise I won’t do it again if you …”
    Ryan held up his hand. “I’m not going to tell my dad. But seriously, Cassie, you can’t do that … spy on the wake. You would have scared the crap out of my dad or Mr. Ludwig if they came through there. What if they yelled? How do you think the family would have felt?”
    â€œYeah, I know.”
    Ryan walked closer, stopping by the counter