A Changed Man (Altered Book 1) by Unknown Read Free Book Online

about?"
    "Well, I'm not sure exactly.  My grandmother's place; has she ever talked to you about anything that goes on up there? I know she came in to see you a lot. I was just curious if she ever mentioned, uh, well, anything weird?"
    "No, not really. She would come in to buy some big tool, I would try and talk her out of it, not wanting her to hurt herself." Henry laughed. "She told me she had someone doing the hard work for her.  That’s why I figured she must have had a handyman, though, she never said for sure or who it was. Other than that, we'd sit right here like you and me.  We’d talk about the weather, and she was always quick to ask about my family; a great woman your grandmother."
    "Yeah, she was. Did she ever say anything about weird noises at night? Did she ever seem shaken up about anything?"
    "No, your grandmother was a strong woman.  If she had any problems out there, she never told me. Why? Is something bothering you out at her place?"
    "Well, I hear weird sounds at night sometimes, it kind of freaks me out." Jackie laughed.
    "Well darlin’ you are in the mountains, them woods are full of critters and a lot of them come out at night!"
    "Yeah, I guess." Jackie was starting to get the feeling if she said anymore the guy was going to think she was just a scared little woman afraid of every little thing that goes bump in the night.  "Well I better get going.  I have some errands to run. Thanks for your time Henry." She smiled.
    "Oh anytime, anytime!"
    "Oh, could you tell me where the Goodwill is at?"
    "Sure, you head down main street four blocks, then swing a right.  It’s the second building as you’re coming up the street.  There’s a big sign, can't miss it!"
    "Great, thanks again!"
    "You have a great day darlin’!"
    Jackie waved goodbye, got back in her car, and made her way up Main Street.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                          Chapter 4
     
    Slade Thompson was awakened by the ringing of his cell phone.  He rolled over to see it lit up with the name Josh across the screen. "It's midnight.  This better be good,” he answered.
    "Mr. Smith! It's me, Josh.  We've had a breach at The Den!"
    "What? That’s the second one in the last six months!"
    "I know sir.  I'm sorry.  A guard was killed."
    "Why is it every time I leave that place something happens Josh? Is everyone just screwing around while I'm gone? The cats away so the mice will play?"
    "I dunno sir.  All subjects were locked in their rooms. I checked them myself. Most were sound asleep."
    "Well are you going to tell me who it was that escaped or do I have to prolong this tedious conversation by guessing?"
    "Uh, yes sir, it was Remington Cross sir."
    "Remington Cross? That’s impossible! He failed us!  There is no way he could have escaped the cell, let alone the den!"
    "I know sir, never the less, he's gone."
    "Are you positive it was him?  You don't have his cell mixed up with someone else’s?"
    "Yes sir. When I opened the door he looked to be sleeping so I went on to check the others. They were all in their rooms so I went back to his cell; opened the door and told him to get up. He didn't move, so I called Phillip on the radio, he was guarding the east entrance."
    "Get to it!" Slade yelled.
    "Uh, yes sir.  Well he joined me at the cell and we went in to wake the subject, but his bed was empty.  He had laid pillows out and covered them up to look like a body. We checked the bathroom and under the bed, he was gone."
    Slade began to roar with laughter, not the oh that’s so funny laughter; more like the laughter the devil would make while holding innocents over his fire pit in the deepest bowels of hell.
    "Sir?" Josh felt it through the phone; the evil that emanated from this man was sending cold shivers up his spine, as if he was standing right in front of him. Good thing for his sake that he wasn't.
    "Ahh" Slade sighed loudly. "You're telling me the subject fooled you with