Read Online Shelby's Secret (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 4) by Kori David - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kori David
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woman.”
Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he frowned. “Why are we getting the call? Shouldn’t that be missing persons?”
Mike’s brow was deeply furrowed as he looked at them both. “The woman was taken from a hospital parking lot and, with the exception of hair color and being a little taller, she could be Shelby Lynn’s twin.”
Chapter 7
The afternoon sun woke Shelby as it lasered through a crack in the curtains. Her body had finally taken over and shut off her mind, allowing some much-needed sleep. The black-out drapes were pulled closed so only the clock on the nightstand told her how long she’d been out. She stretched and yawned, feeling her jaw crack as she woke up and took inventory.
Overall, she felt better. Less terrified than last night, and more determined than ever to end her public life. This concert deal was bringing in enough money to set up her and Rebecca for the rest of their lives. Not that she wasn’t already wealthy, but she needed this last hurrah, as a goodbye to her dream as well as putting a period on her portfolio. Financial security for the future was what she and Rebecca needed. And this tour was giving her that.
But in the wake of the murders, she’d had Madge cancel all her remaining public appearances. Shelby would do three shows, making them the best she’d ever done, and then fade away from the spotlight. Her dreams had come with a higher price than what she earned. And she was ready to begin again. With a new dream. A better one.
Something moved in the corner of her eye and her head whipped around in alarm. Clothes were piled up on a plush reclining chair, and in the center of that flashed a pair of eyes. Shelby reached out and flipped on the lamp by the bed. “What are you up to?” she asked, shoving curls out of her face.
But the eyes only blinked and then little shoulders shrugged up and down delicately.
Shelby smiled and held up the covers.
The pile of clothes exploded into every direction as a little body shot from the chair and jumped into the bed.
Wrapping her arms around the girl, Shelby asked, “Did you already eat?”
Rebecca nodded and snuggled into Shelby.
They leaned against the headboard together, and Shelby wished Rebecca would chatter away like she used to. She’d been like a little monkey, always moving and talking and getting distracted. Now she was too still, too mute and very unhappy. And Shelby didn’t have the first clue how to help her.
The psychologist they hired said Rebecca would start talking again in her own time.
“Any ideas what we should do today?”
Another shrug.
“You want to go out and look around? We could go shopping and get something to eat?”
A negative shake of the head.
Shelby sighed. She didn’t mind staying in the house, but she was getting cabin fever. The only thing that stopped it from being worse was because the house was so damn big. She needed to rehearse, but she didn’t want to leave Rebecca long enough to do it. Besides, her band had been with her since almost the beginning, and they were the best. They would be rehearsing, but they didn’t actually need her there with them. Her band made her sound great, and they would continue to do so, even if she didn’t show up. “How about swimming?”
That suggestion got a slow nod. The property boasted an enormous zero gravity pool on the property they hadn’t tried out yet. Guess it was time to work on her tan.
Madge poked her head into the room and when she saw Rebecca curled up with Shelby under the bed covers, she came all the way inside. “I’ve been looking for this one. I hope she didn’t wake you.”
Shelby hugged the girl closer while shaking her head. “Nope, I woke up all on my own. Rebecca never made a peep, did you?”
That got a frown from the little girl and a small smile from Madge. Shelby had been told not to tip-toe around the fact that Rebecca refused to speak, or couldn’t speak, due to the trauma of missing her
Daniel ran a hand through his hair as he frowned. “Why are we getting the call? Shouldn’t that be missing persons?”
Mike’s brow was deeply furrowed as he looked at them both. “The woman was taken from a hospital parking lot and, with the exception of hair color and being a little taller, she could be Shelby Lynn’s twin.”
Chapter 7
The afternoon sun woke Shelby as it lasered through a crack in the curtains. Her body had finally taken over and shut off her mind, allowing some much-needed sleep. The black-out drapes were pulled closed so only the clock on the nightstand told her how long she’d been out. She stretched and yawned, feeling her jaw crack as she woke up and took inventory.
Overall, she felt better. Less terrified than last night, and more determined than ever to end her public life. This concert deal was bringing in enough money to set up her and Rebecca for the rest of their lives. Not that she wasn’t already wealthy, but she needed this last hurrah, as a goodbye to her dream as well as putting a period on her portfolio. Financial security for the future was what she and Rebecca needed. And this tour was giving her that.
But in the wake of the murders, she’d had Madge cancel all her remaining public appearances. Shelby would do three shows, making them the best she’d ever done, and then fade away from the spotlight. Her dreams had come with a higher price than what she earned. And she was ready to begin again. With a new dream. A better one.
Something moved in the corner of her eye and her head whipped around in alarm. Clothes were piled up on a plush reclining chair, and in the center of that flashed a pair of eyes. Shelby reached out and flipped on the lamp by the bed. “What are you up to?” she asked, shoving curls out of her face.
But the eyes only blinked and then little shoulders shrugged up and down delicately.
Shelby smiled and held up the covers.
The pile of clothes exploded into every direction as a little body shot from the chair and jumped into the bed.
Wrapping her arms around the girl, Shelby asked, “Did you already eat?”
Rebecca nodded and snuggled into Shelby.
They leaned against the headboard together, and Shelby wished Rebecca would chatter away like she used to. She’d been like a little monkey, always moving and talking and getting distracted. Now she was too still, too mute and very unhappy. And Shelby didn’t have the first clue how to help her.
The psychologist they hired said Rebecca would start talking again in her own time.
“Any ideas what we should do today?”
Another shrug.
“You want to go out and look around? We could go shopping and get something to eat?”
A negative shake of the head.
Shelby sighed. She didn’t mind staying in the house, but she was getting cabin fever. The only thing that stopped it from being worse was because the house was so damn big. She needed to rehearse, but she didn’t want to leave Rebecca long enough to do it. Besides, her band had been with her since almost the beginning, and they were the best. They would be rehearsing, but they didn’t actually need her there with them. Her band made her sound great, and they would continue to do so, even if she didn’t show up. “How about swimming?”
That suggestion got a slow nod. The property boasted an enormous zero gravity pool on the property they hadn’t tried out yet. Guess it was time to work on her tan.
Madge poked her head into the room and when she saw Rebecca curled up with Shelby under the bed covers, she came all the way inside. “I’ve been looking for this one. I hope she didn’t wake you.”
Shelby hugged the girl closer while shaking her head. “Nope, I woke up all on my own. Rebecca never made a peep, did you?”
That got a frown from the little girl and a small smile from Madge. Shelby had been told not to tip-toe around the fact that Rebecca refused to speak, or couldn’t speak, due to the trauma of missing her
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