Read Online Glare Ice by Mary Logue - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mary Logue
Tags: Mystery
Ads: Link
it.”
“What do you think it is?”
Dr. Lord brought out the bag with a red strip in it. He held it out for Claire to look at. “I’m not sure. Some kind of rag, but why would it be cut like that?”
“A rag strip.” She stared at it. Long thin red rag. She remembered where she had seen them before. “I should have thought of this sooner. I think I know what it is.”
7
S TEPHANIE couldn’t believe she was at work, checking over dog food as it went into big paper bags. There were moments when her blood would turn to ice in her veins and her feet would feel frozen to the factory floor. She would wonder if she could even move if she had to run for her life.
She hadn’t been able to leave Snooper at home—the thought of anything happening to him made her start to shake—so she had brought him with her. She checked on him a few minutes ago, to make sure he was okay sitting in the car with a big polar fleece comforter, a bowl of food, and plenty of water. She had parked so the car would be in full sun all day long. She had checked on him twice in the morning and then taken him for a long walk at lunch. He seemed quite content and very happy to see her. He had a very sunny personality.
Nearly as sunny as Buck’s had been. She knew it was stupid, but somehow she felt as if something of Buck lived on in Snooper, some of his kindness. She needed to hold on to that.
The foreman of the factory had made an announcement about Buck’s death the first thing at the start of the shift. After telling everyone what had happened, he had asked for a moment of silence. Stephanie had felt all her fear and tiredness waiting to drop her to the floor, but she remained standing.
Afterward, he had walked over and said, “I’m sorry, Steph. I know you guys had something going.”
She had nodded, accepting his condolences silently. She didn’t want to start crying at work.
Throughout the day, people had stopped by her station, mainly the women, some she hardly knew, just to say a little something. Most of them were awkward and all they might say was, “Too bad,” “So sorry,” but she knew it was heartfelt. Buck had always had a smile for everyone. Even though she knew they were offering her sympathy because of the way they had felt for Buck, she still appreciated it.
The one good thing about being at work was that she was safe here. Maybe she should sign on for extra shifts. Two more days, and she would be gone. She just needed to get her two-week paycheck. It would make a big difference on how far she could go.
She was even thinking of Hawaii. She had never been there, didn’t even know anyone who had ever been there, but she didn’t think she would ever be found there. She would get a little carry case so Snooper could fly in the plane with her.
It was hard to do her work when she was so tired. They kept track of how many bags each checker did an hour, and she knew her average productivity was not going to be what it usually was. But she stayed at it, steady as she could be, trying to keep awake on the line. At least nothing dangerous would happen to her if she fell asleep. Some people could get really hurt if they weren’t careful.
Thinking of Hawaii kept her going. Palm trees—she had never seen a palm tree. Drinking right out of a coconut. Maybe she’d even learn how to hula dance. She and Snooper could go for long walks on the beach.
She’d legally change her name. Stephanie Klaus—she had never liked her name. Maybe Lorna Lake; that had a nice sound to it. She could be a totally different person. A woman who never took shit from any man. Maybe she would find someone to love her. Maybe she would get married again. Kids were certainly still a possibility.
She got giddy when she thought of what her life could be. But when she thought about leaving her house, getting away from him, she started to sweat. She knew he would stay away from her for a while, but then he would come after her. She did not want to
“What do you think it is?”
Dr. Lord brought out the bag with a red strip in it. He held it out for Claire to look at. “I’m not sure. Some kind of rag, but why would it be cut like that?”
“A rag strip.” She stared at it. Long thin red rag. She remembered where she had seen them before. “I should have thought of this sooner. I think I know what it is.”
7
S TEPHANIE couldn’t believe she was at work, checking over dog food as it went into big paper bags. There were moments when her blood would turn to ice in her veins and her feet would feel frozen to the factory floor. She would wonder if she could even move if she had to run for her life.
She hadn’t been able to leave Snooper at home—the thought of anything happening to him made her start to shake—so she had brought him with her. She checked on him a few minutes ago, to make sure he was okay sitting in the car with a big polar fleece comforter, a bowl of food, and plenty of water. She had parked so the car would be in full sun all day long. She had checked on him twice in the morning and then taken him for a long walk at lunch. He seemed quite content and very happy to see her. He had a very sunny personality.
Nearly as sunny as Buck’s had been. She knew it was stupid, but somehow she felt as if something of Buck lived on in Snooper, some of his kindness. She needed to hold on to that.
The foreman of the factory had made an announcement about Buck’s death the first thing at the start of the shift. After telling everyone what had happened, he had asked for a moment of silence. Stephanie had felt all her fear and tiredness waiting to drop her to the floor, but she remained standing.
Afterward, he had walked over and said, “I’m sorry, Steph. I know you guys had something going.”
She had nodded, accepting his condolences silently. She didn’t want to start crying at work.
Throughout the day, people had stopped by her station, mainly the women, some she hardly knew, just to say a little something. Most of them were awkward and all they might say was, “Too bad,” “So sorry,” but she knew it was heartfelt. Buck had always had a smile for everyone. Even though she knew they were offering her sympathy because of the way they had felt for Buck, she still appreciated it.
The one good thing about being at work was that she was safe here. Maybe she should sign on for extra shifts. Two more days, and she would be gone. She just needed to get her two-week paycheck. It would make a big difference on how far she could go.
She was even thinking of Hawaii. She had never been there, didn’t even know anyone who had ever been there, but she didn’t think she would ever be found there. She would get a little carry case so Snooper could fly in the plane with her.
It was hard to do her work when she was so tired. They kept track of how many bags each checker did an hour, and she knew her average productivity was not going to be what it usually was. But she stayed at it, steady as she could be, trying to keep awake on the line. At least nothing dangerous would happen to her if she fell asleep. Some people could get really hurt if they weren’t careful.
Thinking of Hawaii kept her going. Palm trees—she had never seen a palm tree. Drinking right out of a coconut. Maybe she’d even learn how to hula dance. She and Snooper could go for long walks on the beach.
She’d legally change her name. Stephanie Klaus—she had never liked her name. Maybe Lorna Lake; that had a nice sound to it. She could be a totally different person. A woman who never took shit from any man. Maybe she would find someone to love her. Maybe she would get married again. Kids were certainly still a possibility.
She got giddy when she thought of what her life could be. But when she thought about leaving her house, getting away from him, she started to sweat. She knew he would stay away from her for a while, but then he would come after her. She did not want to
Similar Books
