Bad Habit by JD Faver Read Free Book Online Page A

over.” Angel leaned down and grabbed the man by the
arm while deftly kicking the phone under a thick hedge of overgrown
pink oleanders.
    Marcel cringed, covering his head with both hands as
Angel dragged him to his feet. “Don’t hurt me!”
    “ Stay away from the nuns,” Angel
growled.
    “ I...I have an assignment.” Marcel
tried to muster a little dignity as he straightened his jacket. A
few long strands of hair from his comb-over hung limply, covering
one ear like a ponytail gone awry.
    “ Your assignment better not have
anything to do with these nuns.”
    “ I can’t say.” Marcel straightened
the thin bolo tie he wore around his neck.
    “ Then get out of here and don’t
come back!” Angel glowered at Marcel.
    “ My camera-—” Marcel reached for it
but stopped, glancing up at Angel.
    “ Sure.” Angel popped out the memory
card and handed him the camera.
    “ But—”
    “ If you know what’s good for you,
you’ll leave now.” Angel pointed sternly toward Marcel’s car. He
watched the man turn and amble away, his shoulders drooping. When
he was out of sight, Angel retrieved the phone.
    He turned and found Teri standing
on the stairs, her arms folded across her chest. Her expression
told him she had witnessed his recent actions.
    He dropped the phone in his pocket
and walked slowly to meet her.
    She seated herself on the second
step and he sat beside her. He detected a light floral fragrance
from a soap or lotion.
    Teri spoke first. “What was that
about?”
    He grinned. “That was me saving your bacon,
Teri.”
    “ Please don’t call me
that.”
    “ It’s your name.”
    She sighed. “Yes, but you’re the
only one who’s figured it out.”
    “ Maybe not. That man taking
pictures was a Private Investigator. Who else would pay someone to
find you except the killers?”
    Teri emitted a strangled gasp. “I
don’t know.”
    “ Whoever they work for is behind
this and he or she is looking for you. Do you understand that
you’re in real danger?”
    “ I know, but I felt safe here with
the sisters.”
    He emitted a scornful snort.
“You’re extremely vulnerable. This apartment isn’t secure. Walking
to the school is suicide. Someone could grab you in a
heartbeat.”
    Teri wiped a tear and didn’t move
away when Angel put his arm around her. “I...I feel horrible about
lying to Mother Immaculata and the others. They’ve been so kind to
me. And the girls are wonderful.” She turned to him as another tear
drooled down her cheek.
    Angel wiped the tear with his thumb
and wondered how such an otherwise smart and very beautiful woman
could get herself into so much trouble.
    She bit her trembling lower lip. “I was only
thinking of myself when I came here. I was so scared. I didn’t
consider how this ruse would affect anyone else.”
    He stroked her hair. “Everything
will work out okay.”
    “ I don’t think so,” she said. “My
lies will hurt the real nuns, especially the ones I live with. And
the students will be upset. They opened their hearts and accepted
me at face value.”
    “ They’ll also be sad if you get
killed.” He gazed into her eyes. “Let’s be real here. There are
some extremely bad people after you. They may already know where
you are. You have to come with me.”
    Tears spilled down her cheeks as
she leaned into his embrace.
    He patted her shoulder until her
sobs abated. “I don’t have a handkerchief,” he said. “But try
this.” He pulled out his shirttail and used it to wipe her cheeks
and nose.
    She laughed. “Is that a really gross way to collect
my DNA?”
    He laughed with her. “You’ve been
watching way too much television. Keeping your sense of humor in a
crisis is a very good quality.”
    She sniffled. “At least I have one
good quality.”
    He gazed into her eyes, realizing
that he, too, was in danger. He started when he heard a sound
behind them. He took his hand off his weapon when he saw three nuns
standing at the top of the stairs