Read Online No Place to Hide by Lynette Eason - Free Book Online Page B

mother’s moved in with us for the next few weeks.”
    “You’re fortunate to have her.”
    “I know.” Maria’s heart ached at the schedule she and her husband were required to keep. He worked for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as an explosives expert and had just been assigned an extremely complex case. Unfortunately, his hours were even worse than hers lately.
    And all they seemed to do was argue when they were together. It was killing her. Killing their marriage.
    But he’d promised to try harder and she wanted to give him the opportunity to do so.
    “What about your father? Is he still living?”
    “No.” She breathed in. “He died when I was twelve. He was murdered, actually. Along with my brother and younger sister.”
    Henry’s jaw dropped and he gaped at her. “I—I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”
    “Yes. Me too. We were living in Russia at the time. Thieves broke into our house and I’m sure my father fought back. My brother was sixteen, my sister was seven.” Maria had escaped because she and her mother had decided to go shopping at the last minute. When her mother had gotten a phone call from her father, they rushed home to find the carnage. The police tried to keep them from entering, but her mother pushed her way through and Maria had followed. She blinked against the memories and blew out a slow breath. It had been almost fifteen years ago, but she could still see her father, brother, and sister lying on the floor, their blood black beneath them. Nausea swirled. Why had she told him all of that?
    The door to the studio opened and Maria turned to see three men enter. Grateful for the distraction, she studied them, curious. She glanced at Henry, who caught her silent question. He shrugged.
    She walked toward the visitors. “Hello.” She held out a hand. “I’m Maria Fox. May I help you?”
    The older, gray-headed man stepped forward and grasped her fingers. “Drew Manguson. We’re here to see the progress on the float.”
    “Of course. Mr. Manguson of Manguson Toys, I presume.” She turned to look at the float, and as always, pride and awe filled her that she had a hand in creating it. “This is a magnificent piece. I’m looking forward to getting it finished.”
    “Excellent.” Maria noted the other two men flanking the gentleman she’d spoken with. For some reason, an icy warning slithered up her spine and she shivered. She frowned at her reaction and told herself not to be silly. Mr. Manguson approached the masterpiece he’d paid well over a hundred thousand dollars for.
    The man examined every inch, including the platform thefloat was built on. He turned to his two associates and nodded. To Maria, he said, “Everything looks great. You’re doing a wonderful job.”
    She flushed. “Well, thank you, Mr. Manguson. I appreciate that.”
    “We’ll be by early the morning of the parade to examine it one more time.”
    “Of course. We’ll have a full house that day and it will seem very chaotic.”
    “Organized chaos, I’m sure.”
    “Exactly. Yes sir.”
    He tilted his head and gave a small smile. “Until then.” He turned on his heel and nodded once more. His friends fell into step beside him and followed him from the building. Maria frowned. Something—
    “What is it, Maria?”
    “Something about him bothered me.”
    “What?”
    “Well, for one thing, why bring two other men with you when all they’re going to do is stand around and watch? What was their purpose?”
    “He’s rich, right?”
    “Of course.”
    “Bodyguards.”
    Maria shrugged, but couldn’t stop frowning. “I guess.”
    “What else is bothering you?”
    “His eyes.”
    “His eyes?” Henry frowned at her.
    “Didn’t you notice?”
    “Notice what?”
    She heard his exasperation and sighed. “Nothing.”
    But it wasn’t nothing. While Mr. Manguson had smiledand seemed kind enough, his eyes had been empty pools of black tar.
    And that sent more uncomfortable shivers dancing