Read Online The Night Killer by Beverly Connor - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Beverly Connor
Ads: Link
cars were behind her, more than had been behind her most of the way. She was back in civilization.
Diane made the turn onto Museum Road. She was starting to feel relaxed. It was a pleasant drive—rolling and twisting through the wooded property. Frank would be there waiting on her. She was sure he had left the minute he’d hung up the phone with her. She thought about food, a bath, and sleep; and just as she came out of a dip and over a rise in Museum Road, she almost missed seeing the vehicle that had made the turn off the main road behind her.
Chapter 10
Diane hit the accelerator and flew over the rise and around the curve, heading for the museum. The trees lining Museum Road seemed to fly by as she sped to the building, hoping Frank was there, hoping he wasn’t late.
Calm down; even if he’s not there, the museum night security will be just inside the building.
Damn, how did she miss him? She really sucked at detecting a tail.
Maybe it’s not him. How silly. It could be David or Jin, or Frank, for that matter. It’s just headlights. Damn it, get a grip.
The immense Gothic edifice that was the museum came into view, well lit by the lights in the parking lot. She could see Frank, David, and the others sitting on the steps waiting. Well, hell. Who was following her? She slowed down and pulled in beside Frank’s Camaro in front of the right-hand entrance to the museum. She jumped out of the SUV and ran to Frank.
“Diane . . .” he began, putting an arm around her waist.
“I think someone is following me,” she said.
A set of headlights came over the rise and into the museum parking lot, heading straight for them. Frank, Izzy, and a museum security guard all drew their guns, but held them pointed downward.
It was Slick’s primer-colored Chevy truck.
Damn him. Diane started marching toward it. Frank pulled her back.
The truck skidded to a stop and Slick rolled down the window. He threw out a plastic grocery sack that broke open on the ground, scattering the contents of Diane’s purse and glove compartment onto the pavement. He glared at Diane.
“I found these in a ditch. You leave me and Tammy alone. We got nothing more to talk about.”
With that, he hit the accelerator and screeched away, leaving black rubber marks on the pavement.
Frank and the others stared after him for a moment. A sound from the pavement attracted their attention. Diane’s lipstick was rolling toward them and stopped at David’s feet.
“Well, that was weird,” said David. He reached down and picked up the lipstick, turning it over in his hand as if it might be something other than what it appeared to be. His dark eyes looked quizzically at Diane.
The others turned to her, obviously expecting some explanation that made sense. She noticed that Hector was with them too. He was in a lab coat. He must have been working late. He and his twin brother, Scott, were technicians Deven Jin had hired for the DNA lab.
“What is this stuff?” Hector asked.
“Things from my purse and glove compartment,” Diane told him.
“How did they end up in a ditch?” he asked.
She smiled grimly. “They didn’t. Look, I’m sorry to drag all of you out of bed.”
“We weren’t in bed,” said David. “We were up worrying about you. Are you all right? Where have you been?” He bent down and picked up the rest of Diane’s things.
“Trying out for a part in the remake of Deliverance ,” she said, as Frank hugged her close.
He smelled like aftershave. It was a comforting aroma.
“I’m relieved you’re back,” he said. “You want to tell us what happened?”
“In my office. I need to shower and change clothes. First, I need to get these boxes of artifacts to Jonas Briggs’ office. Please, I’ll tell you everything, but I need to get this done first.”
“Sure,” he said. “Whatever you need.” His blue-green eyes looked dark under the parking lot lights, but she could still see the concern in them. The others were
Diane made the turn onto Museum Road. She was starting to feel relaxed. It was a pleasant drive—rolling and twisting through the wooded property. Frank would be there waiting on her. She was sure he had left the minute he’d hung up the phone with her. She thought about food, a bath, and sleep; and just as she came out of a dip and over a rise in Museum Road, she almost missed seeing the vehicle that had made the turn off the main road behind her.
Chapter 10
Diane hit the accelerator and flew over the rise and around the curve, heading for the museum. The trees lining Museum Road seemed to fly by as she sped to the building, hoping Frank was there, hoping he wasn’t late.
Calm down; even if he’s not there, the museum night security will be just inside the building.
Damn, how did she miss him? She really sucked at detecting a tail.
Maybe it’s not him. How silly. It could be David or Jin, or Frank, for that matter. It’s just headlights. Damn it, get a grip.
The immense Gothic edifice that was the museum came into view, well lit by the lights in the parking lot. She could see Frank, David, and the others sitting on the steps waiting. Well, hell. Who was following her? She slowed down and pulled in beside Frank’s Camaro in front of the right-hand entrance to the museum. She jumped out of the SUV and ran to Frank.
“Diane . . .” he began, putting an arm around her waist.
“I think someone is following me,” she said.
A set of headlights came over the rise and into the museum parking lot, heading straight for them. Frank, Izzy, and a museum security guard all drew their guns, but held them pointed downward.
It was Slick’s primer-colored Chevy truck.
Damn him. Diane started marching toward it. Frank pulled her back.
The truck skidded to a stop and Slick rolled down the window. He threw out a plastic grocery sack that broke open on the ground, scattering the contents of Diane’s purse and glove compartment onto the pavement. He glared at Diane.
“I found these in a ditch. You leave me and Tammy alone. We got nothing more to talk about.”
With that, he hit the accelerator and screeched away, leaving black rubber marks on the pavement.
Frank and the others stared after him for a moment. A sound from the pavement attracted their attention. Diane’s lipstick was rolling toward them and stopped at David’s feet.
“Well, that was weird,” said David. He reached down and picked up the lipstick, turning it over in his hand as if it might be something other than what it appeared to be. His dark eyes looked quizzically at Diane.
The others turned to her, obviously expecting some explanation that made sense. She noticed that Hector was with them too. He was in a lab coat. He must have been working late. He and his twin brother, Scott, were technicians Deven Jin had hired for the DNA lab.
“What is this stuff?” Hector asked.
“Things from my purse and glove compartment,” Diane told him.
“How did they end up in a ditch?” he asked.
She smiled grimly. “They didn’t. Look, I’m sorry to drag all of you out of bed.”
“We weren’t in bed,” said David. “We were up worrying about you. Are you all right? Where have you been?” He bent down and picked up the rest of Diane’s things.
“Trying out for a part in the remake of Deliverance ,” she said, as Frank hugged her close.
He smelled like aftershave. It was a comforting aroma.
“I’m relieved you’re back,” he said. “You want to tell us what happened?”
“In my office. I need to shower and change clothes. First, I need to get these boxes of artifacts to Jonas Briggs’ office. Please, I’ll tell you everything, but I need to get this done first.”
“Sure,” he said. “Whatever you need.” His blue-green eyes looked dark under the parking lot lights, but she could still see the concern in them. The others were
Similar Books
