Read Online Ghouls Night Out by Terri Garey - Free Book Online Page A

Jethro here, their reactions are slower, so the body doesn’t have time to tense up before impact, which often results in fewer injuries.” Joe shook his head, disgusted. “I’m willing to bet this jerk’s got nothing wrong with him but a couple of bruised ribs, maybe a broken leg. But I think he needs a little more convincing to do the right thing.” He ripped open a packet of something—ammonia, I guess—and held it under Randy’s nose.
    Randy’s face twitched, eyes fluttering. When he opened them, his expression was dazed. “Wha…what happened?”
    “You passed out, buddy,” Joe said, faking a doctorly concern. “And right before that you were hallucinating. Must be a head injury—if that ambulance doesn’t get here soon I can’t be held responsible for what happens to you.”
    “What do you mean?” Randy’s face showed fear of a different kind than I’d inspired earlier.
    “Subdural hematoma,” Joe intoned. “Bleeding on the brain. It could be very serious.”
    “What?” Randy’s voice cracked on the word. “Am I gonna die?”
    Joe hesitated, and I stepped up, coming where Randy could see me over Joe’s shoulder.
    “Oh, I hope so, lover boy,” I said, smirking. “Then we can really be together forever.”
    Randy gasped, eyes glued to me. He seemed, for the moment, speechless.
    “I’m a doctor, not a priest,” Joe said, as if I hadn’t spoken. “But if you have anything you’d like to get off your conscience, now might be the time to do it.”
    Randy’s Adam’s apple worked as he swallowed. His eyes moved back and forth, from Joe to me.
    “Tell him,” I hissed, deciding to get tough. “Tell him what you did to me, and how you put my body in the car and drove it into the pond.” I was improvising as to the details, but I knew it had to be something like that. “Tell him where I am so my soul can be at peace.” Giving Randy my fiercest glare, I threatened, “Do it, or you’ll never have a peaceful night again as long as you live.”
    It was my sincere hope he’d never have one anyway, but I had only one night—this night—to convince him of it.
    “You’re not looking so good, buddy,” Joe said to Randy, completely ignoring me. “Stay with me, now.”
    “Everywhere you look, you’ll see my face,” I rasped. “Every time you close your eyes, you’ll hear my voice.” I raised my hands, curling my fingers into claws for good measure. “Every time you touch a woman, you’llfeel my cold, dead flesh instead of hers. Your dick will…”
    That did it. I didn’t even get to finish my sentence before Randy blurted, “I killed somebody. I didn’t mean to, I swear I didn’t!”
    I glared at him, knowing a lie when I heard it, but he couldn’t look at me anymore.
    He grabbed at Joe, babbling a confession. “It was an accident—I panicked and tried to hide the body. I put her in the front seat of her car and drove it into the pond.” He was frantic now, beginning to blubber, crocodile tears mixing with the blood on his cheeks.
    “Are you telling me you killed someone? A woman?” Joe’s voice was very calm. The wail of sirens came from somewhere far away.
    “Michelle. Her name was Michelle.” His gaze flicked to me but didn’t linger. He stared at Joe, holding tight to one of Joe’s wrists.
    Joe drew back, pulling his arm from Randy’s grasp.
    “You gotta help me, man,” Randy pleaded.
    “You need a lot more help than I can give you, man .” Joe’s tone was grim, and so was the look he gave me.
    The wail of sirens was a lot closer now, strobe-like red and blue lights flashing through the trees.
    Randy saw them, too. “Thank Gawd,” he moaned in relief, closing his eyes and letting his head fall back against the seat.
    Joe jerked his head toward the trees, and I took the hint, ducking low and threading my way into the bushes surrounding the truck.
    I was expecting an ambulance, but it was a sheriff ’s cruiser that reached the scene first. Only one