Tuesday's Child Read Online Free PDF Page B

car and opened the back door for Ben to jump out. The dog obediently sat on the pavement waiting for his mistress to get him. He started up the path with her, just as Dane flung open the door and ran towards them.
    Nate’s stomach sank into his shoes. “What’s wrong?”
    “We got to go. Jas will keep some dinner for us and watch Vianne.”
    “Go where? We’re not on duty.”
    Dane’s expression seared him to the core. He only spoke two words, but those two words spoke volumes. “Euphorbia Way.” He looked at Adeline. “We’ll see you later.”
    Leaving Adeline on the path, Nate headed back to the car, praying hard that this time the Herbalist would leave them something a little more substantial to go on. “My car is faster than yours. We’ll take mine to the station and pick up a pool car. ”
    “Are you tanking it?” Dane asked.
    “Legally tanking it,” Nate said looking at him, not even the speeding joke gaining a smile this time. “Would you pray while I drive?”
    “Sure, partner.”
    “Thanks.” Nate glanced across at the mirrors and pulled away, heading towards the station before going on to crime scene number five.
     
    ****
     
    Still in two minds as whether to go to the self-defense class or not, Adeline tugged her baggy tee-shirt down over her knee length jogging pants. “Do I look all right in this? Or is it too tight?”
    Ben put a paw over his nose.
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence. I know I don’t look great. But we can’t all have a wonderfully proportioned figure like Jas, unfortunately. Mind you, it’d be nice to be able to eat what I like without worrying about piling on the calories.”
    Her gaze fell on the newspaper lying on the table. A blonde girl with blue eyes smiled at her. The same girl she’d seen in the latest ‘vision’. The same girl who died at the hands of the man the press called the Herbalist—the latest of five women all strangled by a man who vanished without a trace each time.
    Adeline let out a deep shuddering breath. She’d seen each girl just before their death. At least that’s what she assumed, as the clothing the papers described matched what she’d seen. She hadn’t even told Jasmine about the visions, because she’d insist on her telling Dane. Maybe she should. Then again she didn’t want to be laughed out of the police station. But five women had died now. Maybe she should just chance it and say something to Sgt. Holmes tonight or when he brought Vianne to collect Amelia Jane.
    Ben appeared with his leash and Adeline smiled. “Yes, all right, we’ll go now.” She clipped on his leash and slung her bag sideways across her body. Leaving the house, she headed down the street towards the church. Both she and Ben loved walking and it made sense to do that rather than use the car—unless it was pouring with rain.
    There were around fifteen ladies of various ages in track suits standing in the church hall when she arrived. Ben settled on the floor by her bag, his wide eyes watching her. His tail thudded on the floor, a sure sign he was content. She signed to him to stay.
    She turned around and smiled seeing Rachel. Also deaf and able to speak, Rachel taught sign language but the two of them usually conversed totally in sign.
    “Hey,” she signed. “How are you?”
    Rachel hugged her and then signed rapidly. “I’m good. How are you?”
    “Not sure I should be here.”
    “Why’s that? You look good. Ready for action.”
    Adeline rolled her eyes. “I look frumpy compared to everyone else. You look great in your tracksuit. Not sure I’m cut out for this.”
    “This old thing?” Rachel dragged her hands down her clothes before signing a response. “You’re fine in what you have on.”
    “I shouldn’t have come. I’ll take Ben home.”
    “Please stay. All we do is try to throw Nate on the floor. We don’t succeed, but we try and we always have a laugh.” She paused. “There’s coffee and cake afterwards.”
    “Like I need