Read Online Silence: The Faces of Evil Christmas Prequel by Debra Webb - Free Book Online Page A

sympathy into her voice. “You must’ve been horrified when you discovered what they’d done.”
    Potter made an indignant sound, then pressed her lips close to Jess’s ear. “I should’ve put Melvin out of his misery as soon as I found that other one.” She nudged Jess’s temple with the muzzle. “Just look at ‘em. They’re pathetic. Didn’t even try to fight for their lives. Whined and cried. Please don’t hurt me,” she mocked. “Just let us go. We’ll never tell.”
    Jess resisted the emotions tugging at her. She had to focus. To stay alert. Survival depended on it.
    Marie Duncan sobbed quietly, her sister’s frail body held against her chest. The sight almost undid Jess’s determination. The women were nude, their bodies covered with the signs of extreme physical abuse. All four were bone thin from malnutrition. Water and food bowls, the kind used for large dogs, sat empty in the cages. How long had it been since they’d had either? It was a miracle Marie was still alive.
    Inside, Jess stilled. Marie being alive confirmed one thing. Old Melvin had at least one accomplice besides the dead guy upstairs.
    “They’re not strong like you,” Jess offered. No need for her to guess who that other accomplice was.
    “Damn straight,” Potter growled. “But Melvin still wanted to play with them. It made him feel like a man to watch them plead for mercy. A real woman like me couldn’t keep him happy. I didn’t mean to, he’d say,” she mocked. “It’s the bad thoughts, he’d whine. Bastard.”
    Jess hoped she would be able to make sure this bitch got what was coming to her. “We can make him pay, Delia. The evidence I told you would help is right here. We can make sure Melvin gets the death sentence. After what he’s put you through, we can even arrange for you to watch him die.”
    Potter laughed. “Right. I guess it won’t matter that I left these four down here to starve after I slit Dale’s sorry ass throat. You’re a liar, Agent Harris. Just like all the others.” She shoved Jess toward an empty cage. She landed on her knees. “Get in.”
    Hard as she tried, Jess couldn’t keep the anger at bay. She glared up at Potter. “You should’ve gotten on that plane, Delia. We’d all still be thinking this was Melvin’s work if you hadn’t put in a personal appearance.”
    “You think I don’t know that?” she roared. “I should’ve flattened all your tires. Maybe then I could’ve done what I needed to do and gotten out of here before you showed up.” She grunted a self-deprecating sound. “I wanted to take care of this mess the last time I was here but those two Duncan bitches were still breathing. I couldn’t exactly call the cops with potential witnesses against me alive in the basement. Burning the place down would’ve aroused suspicion. All I had to do was wait for them to die and make the call. Oh, officer,” she cried, blinking her eyes rapidly as if to hold back tears, “I came to check on Dale and look what I found.”
    Her expression turning cruel, she glared at Jess. “Then you showed up. Now we’re both screwed, Harris.” She kicked Jess in the stomach. She doubled over, fighting for breath. “Get in the cage before I shoot you dead, then I’d miss the best part.”
    Think, Jess! Once she was in that cage, there was nothing she could do. Marie Duncan’s quiet sobbing underscored that reality.
    There was only one option.
    She looked up at Potter. “Make me.”
    Fury twisted the woman’s face. She leaned down, stuck the barrel of the Glock against Jess’s forehead. “Get in or I’ll blow your brains all over the floor.”
    Jess wished she hadn’t let so much time pass without visiting her sister. There were things she should have said more often... things she shouldn’t have taken for granted.
    Then she did the only thing she could. She rolled to her side as she swung both feet and knocked Potter’s out from under her.
    Potter hit the floor. The weapon