Blood Red by Heather Graham Read Free Book Online Page A

own.
    â€œHello!” a cheerful voice called from the end of the hall.
    He walked on to the desk. A woman of about sixty, with shimmering silvery white hair, was sitting there. Papers were strewn before her, and a computer was on a table to her left.
    â€œI saw the lights on,” Mark said.
    â€œI suppose I should lock up and go to bed, but I’ve discovered that I love being an innkeeper,” she said. She had a great smile, dark eyes, and an aura of energy about her, even as she sat still. “I’m Lilly Martin. How do you do?”
    â€œI’m Mark Davidson, and I’m great, thanks. I think your inn is wonderful. I was hoping you might have a cottage left.”
    She cocked her head slightly. “You’re looking for a room at three AM?”
    He laughed. “I have a room, but I just saw your place, and I think it’s enchanting.”
    Lilly Martin flushed with pleasure. “Thank you so much. And I do have a cottage vacant. I’m not sure I’d feel right, though. I can’t just give you the room for free, but I can’t really charge you for a full night, either.”
    â€œWe could split the difference,” he suggested.
    â€œLovely. Sold,” Lilly said.
    She turned toward the computer. “Let’s see. Mark Davidson. Address and phone, length of stay, and will this be on a credit card?”
    He produced his driver’s license and credit card. As she looked at the information, he made a point of looking over her shoulder. The registrations for the night were up on the screen.
    He scanned the screen quickly. The girls were obvious. Cottage five.
    Lauren Crow, Heidi Weiss, Deanna???.
    He leaned back, smiling
    As she typed information into the computer, Lilly asked, “Just being nosy, Mark, but what do you do for a living?”
    â€œI’m a writer.”
    â€œOh! Have I read anything you’ve written?”
    He hesitated. “Probably not. I mostly do sports articles for syndication,” he lied.
    She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Hm. And here I thought you might be an underwear model.”
    â€œWhat?”
    She laughed. “Sorry. You look like those guys in the ads.”
    â€œUh, thanks. I think.”
    â€œOr a ninja,” she added.
    â€œA ninja?”
    She laughed. “Silly of me. Okay. Maybe a cop. Or FBI.”
    â€œJust a writer,” he said. “But thanks.” Ninja?
    Within ten minutes, Lilly had him registered and he had a key to his cottage. He hesitated, though. “You really should lock up this late at night,” he told her.
    â€œI know. My kids would be angry.”
    â€œAs well they should be.”
    â€œBut I filled another cottage tonight, didn’t?” she asked cheerfully.
    He turned to her, catching her hands. “Yes, but it’s not safe, Lilly. Please, lock up much, much earlier, okay?”
    She let out a soft sigh. “Yes, of course, you’re right.” She winked. “But don’t tell on me, okay? Anyway, it’s bedtime for both of us now. In the morning, coffee and croissants are served in the dining room, to your left there, or on the patio, by the pool.”
    â€œGreat. Thanks. I’ll go pick up things from my dreaded chain hotel,” he told her, grinning. “Then I’ll be back.”
    After she accompanied him to the main door and watched him go, he heard her slide the bolt, and he was relieved. It worried him a bit to stay here; he hoped he wasn’t putting Lilly in danger.
    But if he thought that woman looked like Katie, so would Stephan. And he knew that Stephan was here. He had followed the creature’s trail from Abruzzi to Cannes to Essex, then here to New Orleans. Mark was convinced that it was only a matter of time before Stephan saw the woman—if he hadn’t seen her already.
    Because Stephan was definitely here. He could feel it.
    Mark simply hadn’t expected that he would come