Read Online The Agent Next Door by Adrienne Bell - Free Book Online Page B

well, she could survive a little
bitterness.
    She lifted the cup and took a sip. It was a
hell of a lot stronger than anything she ever made at home, but it
helped her eyes open.
    “Thank you,” she said.
    John inclined his head.
    John snatched the remote and turned on the
television. The morning news flickered to life. A reporter was
talking in front of a pile of scorched timber.
    Erin recognized the scene immediately.
Suddenly, she didn't need the coffee so much anymore. She rushed to
the window and pulled up a corner of the blinds.
    Three news vans lined up in a row across the
street. Reporters hugged the yellow caution tape that cordoned off
her property. One reporter had roped one of the neighbors into
talking to them.
    Erin threw the blinds back down and turned
back to the television.
    “Turn it up,” she said.
    “—a freak gas leak caused the blaze. The
Emerald Glen Fire Chief assured us that the problem has been
resolved and no other houses in the neighborhood are in
danger.”
    Erin swiveled her head toward John.
    “There was no gas leak,” she said, stating
the obvious.
    Not even a flicker of surprised showed on
John’s face. “No, there wasn’t.”
    “So why did the fire chief say there
was?”
    “Because I told him to.”
    Erin went still. “Why?”
    He took another sip of his coffee. “Because
panic is always the most dangerous threat.”
    Erin jumped at the sound of a knock at the
front door, and a splash of hot coffee landed on her hand. She
hissed in a breath at the burn. John raised a brow, as if she’d
just proved his point for him.
    It took a moment for Erin to find her voice.
“If that’s a reporter, tell them I don’t want to talk,” she
said.
    John nodded and turned for the door. Erin
wrapped both hands around her mug and pressed her back against the
wall listening for the creak of hinges.
    “So where is she, Muscles?”
    Erin felt a rush of relief as Marianne’s
voice carried through the house. “In here, Marianne,” she called
out before John could answer.
    Hard heels clicked against the solid wood
floors, and rushed toward her. Tears welled up in Erin’s eyes the
moment Marianne appeared around the corner.
    John followed close behind her, but he
stopped in the archway to the living room, giving the women plenty
of space.
    “Oh, my darling,” Marianne said, rushing
toward her with her arms open. “You poor thing. I didn’t know until
I turned on the news this morning.”
    Erin wrapped her arms around Marianne, being
careful not to squeeze as hard as she wanted to. She was afraid
she’d shatter the woman’s bones. But the truth was, she was
overwhelmed by how happy she was to see her.
    Marianne might be a nosy old thing. She might
not have any grasp on the idea of confidentiality, but she was also
the dearest friend Erin had. More than that, she was also a shining
symbol of normalcy, a reminder that not every shred of her life had
blown apart last night.
    “Are you all right?” Marianne asked, looking
up at her face.
    Erin nodded as she brushed back the tears.
“I’m okay. Really.”
    Marianne looked far from convinced. “You
sure?”
    “I’m better now that you’re here,” Erin said,
finally loosening her grip on her friend.
    “Well, of course you are.” Marianne patted
her hand. “But maybe we better sit down while you tell me all about
it.”
    “Okay,” Erin said, as Marianne led her back
over to the couch, as though this was her home instead of
John’s.
    “Hey, Muscles,” Marianne said. “How about
offering an old lady a cup of coffee?”
    John didn’t say a word but turned toward the
kitchen. Marianne waited until he’d disappeared from sight before
turning back to Erin.
    “So, spending the night at Casa de la
Muscles, eh?” Marianne dug her elbow into Erin’s side.
    “Wh-what?” Erin sputtered.
    “I’m impressed.” Marianne winked.
    “No. It wasn’t like—”
    “And here I didn’t think you had it in you,”
Marianne went on. “Truth