Read Online A Dozen Deadly Roses by Kathy Bennett - Free Book Online
Authors: Kathy Bennett
Tags: Suspense
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department and was literally by her side ten hours a day, things had changed. He seemed to have changed. It appeared he was no longer a drunk. But Jade’s father had promised her a dozen times he’d quit drinking only to disappoint her again and again. Mac was probably no different.
Seeing him ricochet down the canal awakened the guilt Jade had hidden from herself so well. If Mac had been killed trying to save the boy in the river, Jade didn’t know how she would explain to Donnie she’d purposely kept his father out of his life. But what if Mac demanded joint custody? There was no way she’d turn her son over to someone one beer away from falling off the wagon.
Then there was the psycho who taunted her daily with dead roses. What if he made good on his wordless threats? Each day, the box of flowers was delivered with one less rose inside. When there were no more flowers in the box something was going to happen. What if she were murdered? Who would take care of Donnie? Angus was in his seventies. On a long-term basis, he couldn’t care for her son.
Should she tell Mac about Donnie in case something happened to her? Why, oh why, had Mac returned?
CHAPTER 4
Back at his house, Mac made a fist, slammed it into his pillow, then collapsed on the newly formed softness. Minimal relief registered in his body. Face it Stryker, he thought, it’s too early to be in bed – at least alone.
Mac had thought the best thing for him would be a hot shower and early to bed after the captain sent Jade and him home. Muted light still peeked around the edges of his bedroom’s blackout blinds. But, in his heart, Mac knew the problem wasn’t the intruding light from outside, but the events of the day that had him tossing and turning.
Every time he closed his eyes, the petrified face of the little boy losing his grip on the step of the flood control channel sprang to life. It was just a hop, skip and a jump to imagining that same look of terror on his own daughter’s face seven years ago when an armed gunman had shot her mother, jumped into the family’s SUV, and took off. Beautiful, precious Ashley. How confused and scared she must have been. Stop it! Think about how happy that little boy was to be reunited with his mom and dad .
Mac assaulted the pillow again, and flopped onto his other side. He groaned as pain shot down his shoulders and arms. Then both Ashley and Susan’s faces broke into his thoughts. “Screw it,” he muttered, throwing back the covers.
Leaping out of bed, he stifled a moan. He hobbled into the kitchen and yanked on the refrigerator door. Wincing at the glaring light, he opted for some orange juice.
What I wouldn’t give to have some vodka to mix into the juice, he thought, pouring the citrus drink into a highball glass. Lord! He hadn’t wanted a drink this much in months. Just put Ashley and Susan out of your mind, he told himself. Gulping down the acidic liquid, his stomach gurgled in protest.
“Stop kidding yourself,” he mumbled to his reflection watching him from his toaster. “You’ve gotten through lots of nights of grieving about your losses without wanting to drink. Nope, tonight the new factor is Jade Donovan. You almost got yourself killed jumping into that flood control channel so you could save the kid and prove to Jade and everybody else you’re a good cop.” Mac shook his head in disgust. “Mac Stryker, you’re one sick puppy.”
# # #
Having left work early due to the water rescue, Jade arrived at her father’s house just in time for a snack. Angus and Donnie sat at the kitchen table while Jade explained why she was home early.
Mona brought over a sectioned tray loaded with cheese and crackers, celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter, and green and black olives.
The adults listened solemnly to Jade’s account of the water rescue. Donnie, oblivious to the drama, placed five black olives on the
Seeing him ricochet down the canal awakened the guilt Jade had hidden from herself so well. If Mac had been killed trying to save the boy in the river, Jade didn’t know how she would explain to Donnie she’d purposely kept his father out of his life. But what if Mac demanded joint custody? There was no way she’d turn her son over to someone one beer away from falling off the wagon.
Then there was the psycho who taunted her daily with dead roses. What if he made good on his wordless threats? Each day, the box of flowers was delivered with one less rose inside. When there were no more flowers in the box something was going to happen. What if she were murdered? Who would take care of Donnie? Angus was in his seventies. On a long-term basis, he couldn’t care for her son.
Should she tell Mac about Donnie in case something happened to her? Why, oh why, had Mac returned?
CHAPTER 4
Back at his house, Mac made a fist, slammed it into his pillow, then collapsed on the newly formed softness. Minimal relief registered in his body. Face it Stryker, he thought, it’s too early to be in bed – at least alone.
Mac had thought the best thing for him would be a hot shower and early to bed after the captain sent Jade and him home. Muted light still peeked around the edges of his bedroom’s blackout blinds. But, in his heart, Mac knew the problem wasn’t the intruding light from outside, but the events of the day that had him tossing and turning.
Every time he closed his eyes, the petrified face of the little boy losing his grip on the step of the flood control channel sprang to life. It was just a hop, skip and a jump to imagining that same look of terror on his own daughter’s face seven years ago when an armed gunman had shot her mother, jumped into the family’s SUV, and took off. Beautiful, precious Ashley. How confused and scared she must have been. Stop it! Think about how happy that little boy was to be reunited with his mom and dad .
Mac assaulted the pillow again, and flopped onto his other side. He groaned as pain shot down his shoulders and arms. Then both Ashley and Susan’s faces broke into his thoughts. “Screw it,” he muttered, throwing back the covers.
Leaping out of bed, he stifled a moan. He hobbled into the kitchen and yanked on the refrigerator door. Wincing at the glaring light, he opted for some orange juice.
What I wouldn’t give to have some vodka to mix into the juice, he thought, pouring the citrus drink into a highball glass. Lord! He hadn’t wanted a drink this much in months. Just put Ashley and Susan out of your mind, he told himself. Gulping down the acidic liquid, his stomach gurgled in protest.
“Stop kidding yourself,” he mumbled to his reflection watching him from his toaster. “You’ve gotten through lots of nights of grieving about your losses without wanting to drink. Nope, tonight the new factor is Jade Donovan. You almost got yourself killed jumping into that flood control channel so you could save the kid and prove to Jade and everybody else you’re a good cop.” Mac shook his head in disgust. “Mac Stryker, you’re one sick puppy.”
# # #
Having left work early due to the water rescue, Jade arrived at her father’s house just in time for a snack. Angus and Donnie sat at the kitchen table while Jade explained why she was home early.
Mona brought over a sectioned tray loaded with cheese and crackers, celery sticks stuffed with peanut butter, and green and black olives.
The adults listened solemnly to Jade’s account of the water rescue. Donnie, oblivious to the drama, placed five black olives on the
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