Those of the Margin: a Paranormal Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

knowing smile etched across her wrinkled face. "Ronald's room is on the third floor. Room 333. I'd take you there myself but my hips aren't what they used to be."

    "No problem. Is it okay for me to visit with Mr. White?"

    "This is a nursing home, not a prison. Though some of us question that from time to time," she said.

    Derek found his way to the elevator and was soon walking down a hallway towards room 333. As he made his way, he noticed the doors that led to the screened-in porch. He opened the door and walked out onto the porch. As he expected, the air was charged by a slight but steady, frigid wind. When Derek reached the lone rocking chair and telescope, he peered through the scope.

    "The Marginal Way," he said.

    The scope was directed toward a high point of the Marginal Way, where the paved path twisted its way through thick trees lining each side of the Way. Through the scope, Derek could only see an area of the path a few meters wide.

    "Why would anyone want to look at the path instead of the shoreline?" Derek thought.

    He turned towards the doorway while he pulled out his Moleskin. As he was fumbling in his coat pocket for a pen, he heard a voice.

    "Quite a view, don't you think?"

    The man stood in the open doorway, one hand on the doorknob, the other seemingly holding on to the doorframe to steady his body. Held firmly between the man's arm and his body were two notebooks.

    "Sure is," Derek answered. "Is that your scope?"

    "That it is. I was just about to have a look when I saw you standing there. See anything of interest?"

    "Not really," Derek said. "Just part of the Marginal Way."

    "Sometimes that is where the most interesting things can be found."

    Derek put his notebook back into his coat pocket and continued walking towards the door.

    "I'm looking for Ronald White who I believe is in room 333. Can you tell me if Mr. White is in his room?"

    "I'd have to say that he isn't," the old man said.

    "Any idea where I could find him?"

    "He's probably heading over to have a look through his telescope, I'd say." The man extended his left hand to Derek. "Ron White, at your service."

    Ron's gate was slow as he moved past Derek and towards the rocking chair. Though the wind was cutting through Derek, Ron was dressed only in a red and black flannel shirt and neatly pressed. tan slacks. His black belt, riding high across his torso, caused his slacks to gather on both sides, suggesting to Derek that Ron White either preferred pants two sizes too large or that Ron had recently lost several pounds. His right hand and arm were visibly thinner than his left and curled slightly inward.

    "Damn stoke six months ago," Ron said after noticing Derek's glances at his arm. "Nearly killed me and landed me in this damn place." Ron placed his two notebooks on a small, wooden table that was positioned between the rocking chair and the telescope.

    "Sorry to hear that," Derek said as he helped Ron sit in rocking chair. Derek then began to move the telescope so that Ron wouldn't have to stand again to use it.

    "It's fine right there," Ron said. "You came here to visit with me, didn't you?"

    "Actually, I came to ask you a few questions about Robby Bryant."

    "Young man get himself into some trouble, did he?" Ron asked as he slowly finished his decent into the rocking chair.

    "Not really," Derek said. "His parents, Jack and Maggie have some concerns about their son and suggested that you may be able to provide some information or some assistance."

    "Interesting," Ron said, his eyes gazing towards the distant ocean.  

    "Mr. White," Derek started, and then stopped when Ron held up his twisted right hand.

    "I don't respond to Mr.," he said. "Only to Ron, old man, asshole, or bastard. Take your pick."

    "I'll stick with Ron for now," Derek said, smiling.

    "You might end up changing your mind after you get to know me," Ron said.

    "Ron, how do you know the Bryant family?" Derek asked.

    "For 40 plus years, I brought my