Unmasked (New Adult Romance) (The Unmasked Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

switched
the receiver to his other ear. He was hard of hearing in the left one, and
always answered with it as a way of screening calls. "What can I do for ya?"
    "I'm not sure if there's anything you can really
do, not yet anyway. But, in the mornings, could you check the woods on the
western perimeter? You don't have to spent a lot of time or anything on it, but
just buzz by there and see if you find anyone."
    "Sure, but, who am I looking for? Do you think
someone's been breaking in? Because I can pretty much promise you that-"
    "Oh no, no, nothing like that. I know this place
is locked up tighter that Gadsen." They both laughed for a second. "Do you
remember that girl that used to pick mushrooms out there? She lived in the
house just on the other side of those woods. Her name's Alyssa Barton."
    "Sure, I remember her. She stopped coming through
here four years ago? Maybe five? I didn't know her name, but sure I remember
her. Why?"
    "It's a little embarrassing, but she's back in
town and I was hoping she might resume her visits. If she does, I'd like to
finally meet her. I used to... Anyway, if you see her, could you bring her in?"
    "Hold on. You want me to catch some girl wandering
through the woods and kidnap her?"
    "No, it's not kidnapping. I just want to meet her.
Don't hurt her or anything."
    "Couldn't you just, I don't know, talk to her?
Seems easier."
    A long silence hung over the phone line. Neither
man spoke for ten seconds, twenty.
    "Sorry sir, not my place. I'll do what you say.
I'll keep an eye out, and if I see her, I'll bring her in."
    "Thanks Pete. I can trust you, right?"
    "Of course, sir. Why do you ask?"
    "No reason. I just might need to know who exactly
I can count on when it comes down to it."
    "Uh, well," Peter clicked his teeth, "yeah, I'm
your man if you need me. I loved your dad like a brother."
    "You're a life saver. Remember, don't hurt her,
and – well, I'd say don't scare her but that might be impossible." He chuckled.
"Alright. Talk to you later."
    "Right, Mr. Webb. I'll let you know as soon as I
see anything."
    "See that you do."
    The line went dead with Preston still holding the
phone and staring dead-eyed out the window in front of him. In his mind, a girl
stumbled out of the woods and looked at him from across the field that
separated the two of them.
    She smiled, waved, and mouthed 'be home soon,'
before disappearing back into the trees.
    Preston Webb slid his fingers across his eyes and
rubbed them for a moment. He yawned and looked down at the stack of papers in
front of him, the letter from Ryan Barton off to one side, and the contract
that Gadsen had brought. Then he remembered the tea and took a drink.
    "One thing I can say for Gadsen is that he can
certainly make tea."
    The paper on top of his growing mountain was on
cheap white copy paper, but the signatures at the bottom were real enough, in
three different colors of blue when he looked closely.
    "Underground Usage Permit," it read. "This is to
permit Webb Oilworks to lay underground pipes for the purpose of transporting
oil and other petroleum products underground through the Township of Newton,
State of Pennsylvania. These pipe works must comply with all Federal and State
practices and guidelines for the transport of petroleum and petroleum
byproducts."
    He let out another heavy sigh and folded the
contract.
    "We'll see about this," he said.
    Creasing it hard between his fingers and the top
of his oak desk, Preston Webb closed his eyes, felt underneath his desk for a
latch, opened it, and put the contract inside. Slowly pushing the hidden hatch
closed, he listened for the lock to click.

Chapter Four
    ––––––––
    Alyssa rolled over, looked out the windows, and
was a little disappointed when the dueling squirrels chose not to make a repeat
performance. That minor tragedy aside, she had a lot to do for the first time
since she got home.
    One dramatic, stretching yawn later, she touched
her toes and popped back up fast