Read Online Those of the Margin: a Paranormal Suspense Thriller (Derek Cole Suspense Thriller Book 2) by T Patrick Phelps - Free Book Online Page A

deep, long breath and held it inside her lungs for 15 seconds before slowly releasing.
    "Get a grip," she said to herself again.
    "He's gone, isn't he?"
    Maggie spun around to see Robby standing in the doorway.
    "You didn't see his face, Mom?" he asked again.
    "Robby," she said, hoping her intentionally calm voice would still her beating heart, "why don't you wait for me out in the living room. Mommy will be right there, okay?"
    "Okay," Robby said, his eyes still displaying a desperate hope. "I'm glad you saw him. Now you don't think that I'm crazy like dad and everyone else does."
    Robby turned and headed back down the hallway.

CHAPTER TWELVE

    "I need you to come over. Now," Maggie's voice was charged with energy and a certainty that Derek could not dismiss.
    "Did something happen?" Derek asked.
    "I'm still paying you, and I insist that you come to my house right now." Though the words were clearly pronounced, Derek sensed that Maggie was not one to give orders to people very often.
    "Maggie," he said, "I'm just getting ready to leave Father Flannigan's home and will head right over. Do you need me to bring anything?"
    "No. Just come quick."
    Derek's face told John Flannigan enough.
    "Something happen?" John asked. "Are she and Robby okay?"
    "Not sure what happened or if anything happened, and I'm not sure everyone is okay. I need to get over there right away."
    "Yes, of course," John said. "And Derek, I know this is not any of my business, but please let me know that the Bryants are not harmed. And please, don't make this meeting our last. I think there's much more that I can help you with."
    "I'll be back in touch, Father. Thank you."

    #####

    Maggie was standing outside of the front doorway when Derek pulled into the Bryant's driveway. Though the wind was less severe than yesterday, Derek thought it was much too cold for Maggie to be standing outside waiting for him.
    "You really shouldn't be standing out in this cold," he said as he walked up the cleared walkway. "I know they say you can't catch a cold from being cold, but still, it's damn cold out here."
    "I saw something," Maggie said, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. "I don't know what I saw, but I know I saw something. I've been standing out here since I called you trying to clear my head. Trying to convince myself that I didn't see what I saw. But I saw something. I know I did."
    "Where's Robby?" Derek asked.
    "He's inside on the couch. He should be finishing his homework." Maggie smiled as she glanced over her shoulder and through the glass door. When she turned her head back to face Derek, tears had formed in the bottom of her eyes. "It was in his room, talking to him. I heard it from the hallway. Damn thing said something, and I heard it."
    "You said you saw something, not that you heard something," Derek said.
    "I needed to be sure so I waited in the hallway until I heard it again. I busted into Robby's room, and I saw a man standing at the foot of Robby's bed."
    "You saw a man standing in Robby's room?"
    "More like a shadow, but it was a man. It happened so fast, all I can be sure of is that it was a shadow of a man."
    "How long did you see it for?"
    "A second. Half a second. Less. I don't know, it was so fast. But I saw it raise its arm up to cover its face and then back into Robby's wardrobe."
    "It went into a wardrobe?" Derek asked.
    "Not into it, just, you know, 'into it.' Like it became part of it. You think I'm nuts, don't you?"
    "Maybe, but I'm too damn cold to know what I'm thinking."
    Maggie chuckled as she wiped the tears from her face. She hung her head low, nodded as she spoke.
    "The only thing Robby asked me was if I saw his face."
    "The shadow's face?"
    "Yeah," Maggie said, her eyes fixed on Derek's. "He was so happy that I saw it and only wanted to know if I saw its face."
    "You know," Derek said, "I really want to talk more about this, check out Robby's room, and fill you in on what I've found out so far, but I don't think I can do