Awaken (Divine Hunter Series) by L.J. Sealey Read Free Book Online Page A

his expression. His eyes were framed by dark circles and his skin was pale. He looked like he needed a good sleep, and a long soak in the bath.
    There was his first lie . Michael thought. Jake had definitely been the aggressor outside the bar and Nina had been visibly upset by it. Not realizing that Michael had spoken to her straight after, Jake was trying to pull a fast one and he wasn’t buying it.
    He had to find out if there was a connection between Nina’s dead boyfriend and Jake. “You’re her friend right?”
    Jake was beginning to fidget, pulling the zipper on his sweater up and down. “Yeah.”
    “So, how well did you know her boyfriend? Danny, wasn’t it?”
    “I didn’t. Look. . . I gotta go.” He pulled another cigarette from his pocket, then turned and walked away.
    Michael raised his voice after him. “You’ll let me know if she needs anything won’t you.” No answer.
    He needed to have another conversation with Nina.
     
    * * *
     
    L ater that evening, after Michael had eaten some frozen pizza that he’d burned for himself, he’d decided to take a walk over to Lucky Seven’s figuring if he was going to bump into Nina that would probably be the place. It was a modern looking bar: lots of dark wood beams across the ceiling, a dark wood floor, and a large round bar in the center which was lit with color changing panels all across the bottom. Apart from some more of the same panels around the edge of the ceiling, there wasn’t much light to speak of. His eyes scanned the place, but there was no sign of Nina or Jake. It was busy, mostly students, and yeah, he felt a little out of place so he ordered a beer and found a corner where he could keep his eye on the entrance and still hide away quite easily.
    Or so he thought. . .
    “Hi, Mr Warden,” one of three girls said, all were smiling, as they passed his table. Students he recognized from one of his classes earlier. He acknowledged them with a smile and carried on with his beer.
    About an hour passed and there was still no sign of either of them. Michael was on his third beer and was still sitting alone, even though another one of his students had asked if he’d wanted to join him and his friends for a game of pool over in the other corner. He’d politely declined.
    He was about to give up and try somewhere else when he caught sight of Jake amongst a crowd who came walking through the door. He was on his own. Michael sat back in his seat and watched as Jake scanned his eyes around the room, then ordered a drink at the bar. He seemed anxious, looking over at the door every time it opened. There was no doubt he was waiting for someone; could be Nina. Hopefully, he’d find out soon enough.
    Another hour soon passed and Michael was beginning to get a headache from the Indie music that was blaring through the sound system: At the moment, some guy was singing about a girl out of her head and staring at the ceiling. It was no wonder half the campus was suicidal. He watched as Jake threw back the last of his Corona and headed for the exit. Looked like whoever he was meeting had stood him up and he was clearly pissed off about it. Michael got up to follow him out and got collared by the girl who’d smiled at him earlier. “Mr Warden, I was wondering if−”
    “Not now. I have to go. Sorry.” He dismissed her quickly, but by the time he’d gotten outside Jake had gone. “Shit!” He looked around, but there was no sign of him.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
     
     
    D ays had passed and Michael had seen nothing of Jake or Nina; in fact, things were quiet, a little too quiet. Apart from working, he’d spent most of his time doing research on the internet and finding out who the friends of the dead students were. He’d gathered a list of those who he wanted to speak to so he could see if he could find out if there was any connection whatsoever between those who had died. There had to be something. Even though the cops had asked all the questions they