Read Online Specters: A Monster Squad Novel - 8 by Heath Stallcup - Free Book Online Page A

Tufo took the three steps up into the office quickly. “Let me see that.”
    “Tell me the son of a bitch is dead.” Spalding pushed through the small crowd of operators and stood beside Tufo.
    Mark shook his head. “He was here.” He handed the papers off to Spalding. “Spread out. Search every corner of this place.” He pointed to Donovan and Mac. “Search the perimeter. Look for prints leading away, probably in a hurry.”
    Lamb pointed back into the office. “Outer window is open. He might have hauled ass when he heard the shit hit the fan out here.”
    Spalding pushed past him and ran to the window. He sniffed the air hard and shook his head. “I don’t know why I thought that might work.” He strained his eyes in the early morning light and could just make out where feet had landed outside the window. The packed ground gave little clue as to what direction the person may have went. “Son of a bitch.”
    Little John appeared by his side. “Come on, I’ll go with you. We’ll help do an outside sweep.”
    “He’s long gone.” Spalding shook his head.
    “You can’t be certain.”
    Spanky turned and looked up at the large man. “It’s what I’d do.”
    “Let’s hope this joker isn’t as smart as you then.” John pulled him from the window and handed him his rifle. “Come on.”
     
    *****
     
    Laura ran to the front of the hospital and pushed through the large double doors leading to the parking lot. She trotted out toward her Jeep and paused, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. “Where are you, Daddy?”
    She dug her keys from her pocket and climbed into the Wrangler, starting the engine and popping the clutch, chirping the tires as she pulled out of her parking space. She drove slowly, her eyes scanning the surrounding area as she headed the only direction she could think to go: Home.
    She pulled off the main road and hit the smaller side streets. “If I were on foot and walking home, I’d want the shortest route.” She drove slowly through the mini-mall, through the edge of a residential area, and finally she came back to the main road leading back to her father’s house. She goosed the gas pedal and shifted up, her eyes still scanning the surrounding area.
    She merged onto the highway and set the cruise on her Jeep. If he walked this way, she might see him on the side of the road. She pulled her cell phone and called Derek. He finally answered and she all but yelled at him, “Have you seen dad?”
    “Isn’t he in his room with you?”
    “No, D. He took off. He got dressed and said he was going home. I…” She paused as she realized she left her brother at the hospital. “You’re still there, aren’t you?”
    “Well, duh, Einstein. We went down to the cafeteria and got coffee. I thought you were calling to tell us to come back up.” She heard him cover the phone and when he uncovered it, Crystal was near hysterics.
    “Great. Listen, Derek, I’m making my way toward the house. I’m looking for him. I really—”
    “How could you just let him walk out, Punk? Jesus, he’s a sick man!”
    Laura ground her teeth and squeezed the steering wheel. “He’s not that sick anymore, remember, Derek? And do you think either of us could stop Dad once he made up his mind to do something?” She slowed the Jeep and stared down the side of a steep embankment as cars whizzed by on her right. “Besides, I really thought he would come back…that he was just blowing off steam.”
    It took him a moment to reply but when he spoke, his voice was softer. “You’re right, Laura. Once Dad makes up his mind, he’s gonna do it come hell or high water. Okay, you keep heading toward the house. Me and Crystal are gonna look around the hospital here just to make sure he didn’t get part way, maybe get winded and just sit down to rest or something, okay? If either of us finds out something, we call the other, okay?”
    “Agreed. Thanks, D.” Laura snapped her phone shut and slipped it back