Read Online A Dozen Deadly Roses by Kathy Bennett - Free Book Online Page A

fingers of his left hand, and five green ones on his right.  He waved his hands with delight.
    “We watched the whole thing on TV,” Angus said.  “They interrupted my game show for ‘breaking news.’  I had no idea it was my little girl down there.”
    “Goodness, Jade.  I’m still not convinced it’s safe for you to be a police officer,” said Mona.  “It might have been you floundering in that awful water.  How is the little boy?”
    “He’ll be fine.  Hopefully he learned his lesson about playing near the flood control channels.”
    Angus moved his hand over his face, rubbing a day’s worth of stubble.  “Nah, it’s the same thing every year.  Some kid falls in the water and the taxpayers spend a fortune to get ‘em out.  How’s your partner?  He musta had some kind of ride.”
    Jade shuddered with emotion.  “It was horrible.  I didn’t know if I should jump in too.  They were gone so fast.  I’m just so thankful they were rescued.”
    “Who was rescued, Mama?  Did the firemen help?  I’m gonna be a fireman when I get big.”
    “Good for you, Sweetie.  Now eat up those olives, and we’ll go home.”  Jade grabbed a loaded celery stick and savored the peanut butter sticking to the top of her mouth.
    “I can’t, Mama.  Mona and me was baking some cookies.  Can’t you smell them?”
    “Donnie, dear,” Mona interjected, “it’s Mona and I, not Mona and me.  And don’t worry about the cookies.  Your grandpa and I will save them so you can have some tomorrow.”
    Jade inhaled.  “I was wondering what smelled so good.”
    “Ah, lassie, I almost forgot,” Angus said, shuffling to the refrigerator.  “You got a package.”
    “Here?” Jade questioned.  Her heart hammered with dread.  “What kind of package?”
    “One of the best presents a woman can get,” Mona said, beaming.  “Someone sent you flowers.  You didn’t tell us you had a suitor, Jade.”
    “Who delivered them?” she demanded.
    “Darlin’ we don’t know.  The box was sittin’ on the porch when I went out to get the mail.  So, who’d be sendin’ my little girl a big shiny box?”
    “I, um, I don’t know who would send me flowers.”
    “Mama, don’t fib.  You gotted lots of those boxes.”
    Jade hurried to Angus and took the box from his hands.  The shaking of her knees made her steps unsteady.  The celery and peanut butter threatened to come back up.  “I’ll just get this out to the truck and come back for Donnie.”
    “Don’t you want to open it?” Mona called, as Jade hurried the box toward the door.  “I guess not,” Mona murmured, as Jade exited without a reply.
    The outside air felt cool on Jade’s cheeks.  She tried to swallow the panic threatening to erupt as a scream.  The wacko knew where her Dad lived.  Should she tell Angus about the flowers?  No, if the nut had wanted to hurt her family he would have done it today.  He was just trying to scare her.  It was working.
    After gathering Donnie’s belongings and putting him in his child seat, they were on their way.  Jade’s attention was fixed on the rear view mirror watching for someone following her.  Don’t be stupid, she told herself.  He already knows where you live.
    Even with the rain, it didn’t take them long to get home.  Jade quickly searched the apartment.  She wanted to get Donnie settled.
    “Mama, can I watch TV?”
    Jade functioned on autopilot.  Her mind raced with the implications of the latest delivery.  “Sure, just don’t have it too loud.”
    Jade went to the kitchen and retrieved her gun cleaning kit.  After about fifteen minutes of steady work, she was satisfied her weapon was serviceable and duty ready.
    Finally getting a chance to relax, she sat in the recliner, staring blindly at the colorful cartoons her son watched.
    I’ve never been a drinker, she thought, but if I were going to imbibe - today would be the day.  First, I had to face the captain, then there’s