The Winter Man Read Online Free PDF Page B

and come with me,” he told her. “We have things to talk about.”
    â€œBut—” she began.
    â€œDon’t argue, Millie,” he interrupted. “If you stay in there, you’re endangering your coworkers.”
    That hadn’t occurred to her. She looked horrified. “But I have to work,” she protested. “I have bills to pay…!”
    â€œYou can ask for a leave of absence, can’t you?” he persisted. “A few days off won’t put you on the streets.”
    He was making sense, and she knew he was right, but she was afraid that if she asked for time off, she’d lose her job. She’d been at the library all her working life, and she loved what she did. Her superior still hadn’t gotten over the gossip John had caused by insinuating that Millie had a wild lifestyle. God knew what she’d say when she heard about the bomb.
    â€œI may not have a job when my boss finds out what happened here today. She’s out of town until next Monday,” she added sadly.
    â€œCome on. I’ll go in with you.”
    He escorted her back into the building and insisted on seeing her supervisor with her. He explained the situation matter-of-factly, adding that he was certain her colleagues wouldn’t like to risk another such incident by insisting that she stay on the job until the culprit was apprehended.
    â€œCertainly not,” Barry Hinson said at once. “Millie, we can manage without you for a few days. I’m sure Mrs. Anderson would agree.”
    Millie sighed. “I don’t suppose I have a choice. I’m very sorry,” she began.
    â€œIt isn’t your fault,” Barry said firmly. “None of us ever blamed you for what that man did. He should have been locked up,” he added, unaware that Tony had been John’s friend.
    Millie flushed. She didn’t look at Tony. “Well, I’ll get my things and leave. I’ll be back next week.”
    Barry smiled. “Of course.” He glanced warily at Tony. “You won’t let anything happen to her?” he asked, assuming that the big man worked for law enforcement.
    â€œNo,” Tony assured him. “I won’t.”
    Millie didn’t want to feel that enveloping warmth that his words caused. She’d risked her heart on this man once before and had been crushed by his rejection. If only, she thought, you could banish feelings and make them leave you alone forever. She went to get her purse and coat and explain to the clerk what she’d been working on before the bomb disrupted their day.
    * * *
    â€œNow, what?” Millie asked as she paused by her little black VW in the parking lot. It was used, but clean and well looked after.
    â€œNow, we go somewhere and talk and make decisions.”
    â€œThere’s a cafeteria down the street, where I usually have lunch,” she said, naming it.
    â€œI’ll meet you there.”
    She nodded meekly and got into her car.
    * * *
    Ten minutes later, they were having sandwiches and coffee, a late lunch because disposing of the bomb had been a protracted business. Millie ate and drank automatically, but she didn’t taste much. It was disconcerting to realize that John actually meant to kill her.
    â€œStop brooding,” Tony said as he sipped coffee. “It won’t help.”
    â€œI never thought John would want to kill me,” she said.
    His eyes narrowed. “He beat you up.”
    She gasped. “How did you know that?”
    â€œFrank.”
    Her lips made a thin line. “He’d been drinking. He said it was all my fault that his life was falling apart, because I wouldn’t marry him. I tried, for the twentieth time, to explain that I didn’t love him in that way, but he wouldn’t listen. He lost his temper and the next thing I knew, he was slamming me into a wall. Even when it happened, Icould hardly believe it. I screamed and screamed, and when