Read Online Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Rachel McClellan
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one with the big mouth.”
“No. You spoke the truth, but I didn’t have to fight.”
“It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.”
“Not a big deal?” He pulled my arm from my chest and held my hand. “You’re shaking.”
I pulled it back, embarrassed. “I just overdid it today.”
“It’s more than that, and you know it.”
“Can we just go? I’m really tired.”
Christian eyed me thoughtfully. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
He opened the SUV door and waited until I was inside before closing it. I looked around. The upholstery was all leather and the car had been equipped with GPS, DVD player, the works. “This is a nice,” I said as we drove out of the parking lot.
“Thanks. My dad split the cost with me. I worked three summers saving up for it.”
“Doing what?”
“Private lessons.”
“What kind of lessons?”
“Um, fighting and stuff.”
“Fighting? Like karate?”
“Something like that.” Christian glanced in the rearview mirror after rounding a corner.
“So you’re a professional fighter?”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t say that. I’ve just had enough years of experience that I can teach.”
“But you’ve been teaching for three years.”
He shifted in the seat and cleared his throat. “It’s nothing really.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being modest or if he was avoiding my questions. I decided not to press the issue. I looked out the passenger window and toward the full moon.
“You like the moon, don’t you?” Christian asked.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“It is beautiful, especially when it’s full.” He checked the rearview mirror again, and I thought I noticed his grip tighten on the steering wheel.
I casually glanced behind us, but didn’t see anything. “Why do you keep checking the mirror?”
“What?”
“The rearview mirror. What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Just trying to be a good driver.”
The remaining way to my house, he tried to be more casual, but I still noticed his obsession with the mirror. And he didn’t look happy.
“Is your uncle home?” Christian asked when we pulled into my driveway.
“Yeah.” Even though the garage door was shut, concealing his car, I knew Jake was there. Where else would he be?
“How can you tell? The house is dark.”
“He’s always home.” I opened my door. Christian jumped out and ran around to my side.
“I can get myself out,” I said, wondering why he was acting like we were on a date or something.
“I know you can. I just want to walk you to the door.”
That’s what he said, but as we walked toward my house, he continued to shift his eyes the way a babysitter does when she feel she’s not alone in the house.
And then she’s murdered.
I pushed back my paranoid thoughts and turned to him at the door. “I never said thank you.”
“For what?”
“For standing up for me. No one’s ever done that before.”
Christian sighed and shook his head. “If Mike had any idea how special you are, he wouldn’t have said what he did.”
My eyes met his. “What?”
He spoke quickly. “I just mean you are an incredible person. You’re great at sports, you’re kind, you’re not afraid—”
“All right, that’s enough.”
“No, it’s not, but I’ll let you off the hook.” He smiled.
When I reached for the doorknob, he said, “Before you go, promise me something.”
I waited for him to continue before I agreed to anything.
“Promise me you won’t go running tonight.”
“Why would I do that?” Actually I was planning on going out later. It was only eight o’clock.
“You just seem to have this crazy energy. Will you promise?”
“Can I ask why?”
“With the murder that happened up Ian Road, I think it’d be safer if you stayed inside.”
Right, the murder. The red shoe. That seemed like years ago. “Sure. I’ll stay inside.”
“Good. See you tomorrow?”
I nodded.
“Sleep well.” He reached out and lightly squeezed my hand. A thousand
“No. You spoke the truth, but I didn’t have to fight.”
“It’s not a big deal. Don’t worry about it.”
“Not a big deal?” He pulled my arm from my chest and held my hand. “You’re shaking.”
I pulled it back, embarrassed. “I just overdid it today.”
“It’s more than that, and you know it.”
“Can we just go? I’m really tired.”
Christian eyed me thoughtfully. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”
He opened the SUV door and waited until I was inside before closing it. I looked around. The upholstery was all leather and the car had been equipped with GPS, DVD player, the works. “This is a nice,” I said as we drove out of the parking lot.
“Thanks. My dad split the cost with me. I worked three summers saving up for it.”
“Doing what?”
“Private lessons.”
“What kind of lessons?”
“Um, fighting and stuff.”
“Fighting? Like karate?”
“Something like that.” Christian glanced in the rearview mirror after rounding a corner.
“So you’re a professional fighter?”
He laughed. “I wouldn’t say that. I’ve just had enough years of experience that I can teach.”
“But you’ve been teaching for three years.”
He shifted in the seat and cleared his throat. “It’s nothing really.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being modest or if he was avoiding my questions. I decided not to press the issue. I looked out the passenger window and toward the full moon.
“You like the moon, don’t you?” Christian asked.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“It is beautiful, especially when it’s full.” He checked the rearview mirror again, and I thought I noticed his grip tighten on the steering wheel.
I casually glanced behind us, but didn’t see anything. “Why do you keep checking the mirror?”
“What?”
“The rearview mirror. What are you looking at?”
“Nothing. Just trying to be a good driver.”
The remaining way to my house, he tried to be more casual, but I still noticed his obsession with the mirror. And he didn’t look happy.
“Is your uncle home?” Christian asked when we pulled into my driveway.
“Yeah.” Even though the garage door was shut, concealing his car, I knew Jake was there. Where else would he be?
“How can you tell? The house is dark.”
“He’s always home.” I opened my door. Christian jumped out and ran around to my side.
“I can get myself out,” I said, wondering why he was acting like we were on a date or something.
“I know you can. I just want to walk you to the door.”
That’s what he said, but as we walked toward my house, he continued to shift his eyes the way a babysitter does when she feel she’s not alone in the house.
And then she’s murdered.
I pushed back my paranoid thoughts and turned to him at the door. “I never said thank you.”
“For what?”
“For standing up for me. No one’s ever done that before.”
Christian sighed and shook his head. “If Mike had any idea how special you are, he wouldn’t have said what he did.”
My eyes met his. “What?”
He spoke quickly. “I just mean you are an incredible person. You’re great at sports, you’re kind, you’re not afraid—”
“All right, that’s enough.”
“No, it’s not, but I’ll let you off the hook.” He smiled.
When I reached for the doorknob, he said, “Before you go, promise me something.”
I waited for him to continue before I agreed to anything.
“Promise me you won’t go running tonight.”
“Why would I do that?” Actually I was planning on going out later. It was only eight o’clock.
“You just seem to have this crazy energy. Will you promise?”
“Can I ask why?”
“With the murder that happened up Ian Road, I think it’d be safer if you stayed inside.”
Right, the murder. The red shoe. That seemed like years ago. “Sure. I’ll stay inside.”
“Good. See you tomorrow?”
I nodded.
“Sleep well.” He reached out and lightly squeezed my hand. A thousand
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