Read Online Black and Shadow by Caryn Moya Block - Free Book Online Page A

looked at each piece of paper; nothing, not even a
receipt for the Rattler. She yawned again and then
blinked.
    She took out the pictures and checked
the back of each one. Then she pulled out the high school yearbook.
Fred was ahead of her in school, so she didn’t really know many of
his friends, except Dan. Fred and Dan hung out together, forever. A
twinge in her arm told her she should get in bed. She
yawned.
    “Are you all right? Can I help you
with anything?” a voice came from the door.
    Jessica dropped the items into the
suitcase and zipped it up. She swung around to find a tall,
statuesque woman with hair a slightly darker red than her own. She
held a fruit basket in her hands.
    “Uh, hi. I wasn’t exactly expecting
anyone else.” Jessica blushed knowing her backside had hung out on
display. “The only person I know in town is Joe.” She made her way
to bed. It felt good to lie down.
    “I’m Katherine Sloane, administrative
assistant to Mr. Darkwood. I brought this for you.” She put the
basket on the rolling tray and then sat. “I wanted to welcome you
and offer you a job. I’ve been told you’re a computer genius. I
know both Joe and Hugh are hoping you will accept a position in the
tech department.”
    “I’m trying to find out who murdered
my brother, Miss Sloane.” Jessica yawned and blinked again. It
seemed harder to get her eyes to focus.
    “Please call me Kathy. All my friends
do. I know you didn’t come all this way to New Mexico looking for a
job, but I brought down the contract with our salary offer. I think
you’ll find the benefits package appealing. Your wages would
increase by twenty-five percent from what you make with Contel
Security.”
    “Look, I don’t want to be rude, but I
think you have me at a disadvantage. I just got shot and I don’t
want to think about a new job right now.” She yawned again. Sleep
might be a good idea.
    “I don’t blame you. I told Mr. Thunder
Hoof now wasn’t a good time to approach you, but he insisted. There
is also a non-disclosure agreement we need signed before you leave
the clinic. Think about our offer. When everything calms down, you
can let us know.”
    “Uh huh.” Jessica laid her head on the
pillow. To keep it up seemed like too much work at the
moment.
    “I can tell you’re tired. I’ll let you
sleep.”
    Jessica didn’t bother answering. She
let her mind drift away.
     
    §
     
    Joe walked into his office and pulled
Fred’s file from the cabinet. He placed it on his desk and picked
up the phone.
    “Mrs. Hampton, I’d like Sarah Garber
from security to come by my office. Can you let her know,
please?”
    “Of course, Mr. Running
Bear.”
    It wasn’t long before Sarah walked in
the door. “You asked to see me?”
    “Yes. How’s it going down at the
sheriff’s office?”
    “Well, things are a little mixed up
right now with the deputy sheriff taking over and everything. Plus
there’s a new drug lord in town. He seems to be taking out the
competition and leaving a lot of bodies for us to clean up. The
mayor wants the man found, but there are very few clues as to who
this person actually is.”
    “No informants ready to give up a name
for a few hundred?”
    “The one name is ‘Thanatos,’ which I
guess is Greek for death. Oh, and a symbol. A red scythe.” Joe
stiffened.
    “You mean like this?” He pulled out
his cell phone and showed Sarah the picture of the warning note
from Fred’s apartment.
    “That’s it. Where did you find that?
Does the sheriff’s office know?”
    “We made a 911 call. I’m sure a report
is on the deputy sheriff’s desk by now. Thank you for your help,
Sarah. Don’t worry. I’ll call if I find out anything else.” Why did
the new drug lord warn Jessica to get out of town? Joe didn’t want
to believe Fred got mixed up with drugs. It didn’t seem
possible.
     
    §
     
    Jessica came awake slowly. She’d been
dreaming of Fred in high school. How proud he’d been when his
classmates