Read Online The Burning City by Megan Morgan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Megan Morgan
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on me, so I’m coming. I can’t wait to hold my baby girl in my arms again.”
Her mother couldn’t come to Chicago. If Occam found out she was there, he’d snatch her too. She could envision Occam with a zoo full of her friends and family, taunting her, telling her the key to letting them out was saying yes.
June glanced at Sam, panicked.
He leaned over again. “Mrs. Coffin.”
“Andrea.”
“Andrea. I understand wanting to come, but you can’t, not just yet.”
“Why?” Her voice sharpened.
“Because we’re not sequestered anymore, but they don’t want us having too much contact with people outside the case. They don’t want to take any risks.”
“So you mean after all this time, all we’ve been through, I still can’t come see my children?”
“It won’t be that long, Mom.” June touched the keyboard, as if she could reach through it. “Just a little while longer. I promise we’re all going to be together soon. I’m coming home. Jason’s coming home.”
Sam drew back.
“Oh, this is hateful.” Her mother slapped her forehead. “But tonight might be the first time since January I’ve had a full night’s sleep.”
“Me too,” June said softly.
“Do you have a phone? Can I call you?”
June went to the bathroom and retrieved her phone from her bag. Her hands were still shaking, the rest of her numb. She returned to the bed, turned the phone on, and found the number.
“The idea you’re just a phone call away now.” Her mother’s eyes welled up again. “Oh, God, please don’t let this be a dream.”
June wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Diego told me you’ve been paying rent on the shop. Mom, you don’t have the money to do that. Why?”
Her mother had her own cell phone and punched June’s number in. “I couldn’t let you lose it. Letting it go would be like—like saying you were never coming home.”
June shook her head and grabbed up the tissues again.
“I got a loan. And Diego and the other guys were helping pay for it too. They’ve still been working. You wouldn’t believe all the reporters and looky-loos who come around that place. Always someone nosing around.” She placed the phone to her ear.
“I would. It’s a circus here too.” June’s phone trilled in her lap. She saved her mother’s number.
“It’s been worse lately,” her mother said. “Now that everyone knows the truth. Thank you, Mr. Haain, for all you’ve done for my children. I’m sorry you were persecuted.”
“Sam,” Sam said. “And we’ve all helped each other, haven’t we June?”
June nodded.
“And you’re running for mayor, Sam?” Her mother’s penchant for gossip was still intact. “How do you think that’ll go? The whole city must be rooting for you.”
June almost laughed. Chicago, root for a paranormal person?
“I’m a politician by trade,” Sam said. “It’s in my blood. I’m already entrenched in the politics of this city. I have no doubt I’ll be welcomed back into that circle with open arms.”
“If I were there I’d vote for you, based on the fact you saved my children alone. You’re a good man, Sam.”
“Mom,” June said, “just stay put for right now, okay? Just until the FBI clears things. This is…a complicated situation.”
Her mother sighed. “Knowing you’re all right is enough for now.” She peered closer at the screen. “But God, you’re so thin. Was it hard to get food?”
“We had plenty of food. Like I said, my allergies are giving me a lot of trouble.” She fidgeted with her phone. “I think they’re getting worse. Maybe the stress.”
“When you come home, I’m taking you back to that allergist. And to a nutritionist.”
“There’s a doctor here. She’s got me on vitamins right now. I feel a little better.” She did, sort of.
“Drink lots of water and get some protein in you. No salt. It’s bad for your heart.”
She couldn’t have imagined she’d treasure the day her mother would be
Her mother couldn’t come to Chicago. If Occam found out she was there, he’d snatch her too. She could envision Occam with a zoo full of her friends and family, taunting her, telling her the key to letting them out was saying yes.
June glanced at Sam, panicked.
He leaned over again. “Mrs. Coffin.”
“Andrea.”
“Andrea. I understand wanting to come, but you can’t, not just yet.”
“Why?” Her voice sharpened.
“Because we’re not sequestered anymore, but they don’t want us having too much contact with people outside the case. They don’t want to take any risks.”
“So you mean after all this time, all we’ve been through, I still can’t come see my children?”
“It won’t be that long, Mom.” June touched the keyboard, as if she could reach through it. “Just a little while longer. I promise we’re all going to be together soon. I’m coming home. Jason’s coming home.”
Sam drew back.
“Oh, this is hateful.” Her mother slapped her forehead. “But tonight might be the first time since January I’ve had a full night’s sleep.”
“Me too,” June said softly.
“Do you have a phone? Can I call you?”
June went to the bathroom and retrieved her phone from her bag. Her hands were still shaking, the rest of her numb. She returned to the bed, turned the phone on, and found the number.
“The idea you’re just a phone call away now.” Her mother’s eyes welled up again. “Oh, God, please don’t let this be a dream.”
June wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Diego told me you’ve been paying rent on the shop. Mom, you don’t have the money to do that. Why?”
Her mother had her own cell phone and punched June’s number in. “I couldn’t let you lose it. Letting it go would be like—like saying you were never coming home.”
June shook her head and grabbed up the tissues again.
“I got a loan. And Diego and the other guys were helping pay for it too. They’ve still been working. You wouldn’t believe all the reporters and looky-loos who come around that place. Always someone nosing around.” She placed the phone to her ear.
“I would. It’s a circus here too.” June’s phone trilled in her lap. She saved her mother’s number.
“It’s been worse lately,” her mother said. “Now that everyone knows the truth. Thank you, Mr. Haain, for all you’ve done for my children. I’m sorry you were persecuted.”
“Sam,” Sam said. “And we’ve all helped each other, haven’t we June?”
June nodded.
“And you’re running for mayor, Sam?” Her mother’s penchant for gossip was still intact. “How do you think that’ll go? The whole city must be rooting for you.”
June almost laughed. Chicago, root for a paranormal person?
“I’m a politician by trade,” Sam said. “It’s in my blood. I’m already entrenched in the politics of this city. I have no doubt I’ll be welcomed back into that circle with open arms.”
“If I were there I’d vote for you, based on the fact you saved my children alone. You’re a good man, Sam.”
“Mom,” June said, “just stay put for right now, okay? Just until the FBI clears things. This is…a complicated situation.”
Her mother sighed. “Knowing you’re all right is enough for now.” She peered closer at the screen. “But God, you’re so thin. Was it hard to get food?”
“We had plenty of food. Like I said, my allergies are giving me a lot of trouble.” She fidgeted with her phone. “I think they’re getting worse. Maybe the stress.”
“When you come home, I’m taking you back to that allergist. And to a nutritionist.”
“There’s a doctor here. She’s got me on vitamins right now. I feel a little better.” She did, sort of.
“Drink lots of water and get some protein in you. No salt. It’s bad for your heart.”
She couldn’t have imagined she’d treasure the day her mother would be
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