Deadly Chaos by Annette Brownlee Read Free Book Online Page A

and holding the knife in her bad hand she ignored the ache in her wrist and scuttled to the bathroom. She set down the suitcase, stuffed her toothbrush and toiletries in her bag. Still wearing her pajamas, which were fortunately a t-shirt and sweats, she grabbed her coat, keys and wallet from the table, stuffed her feet into her work boots and headed out the door. Chaos locked the door behind her and didn't look back. She didn’t know where she was going but if it was free from phantom hallucinations, it was good enough for her.
     
     
    Chapter Five
    No Souls to Save
     
    There were no souls to save. At least not here and not tonight, Dakota was almost sure of it.
    "I’m heading into the basement," Sheila announced. Watching her on the monitor in the van, he didn’t understand her perkiness in these situations. Pitch black and waiting for ghosts to show themselves, she bounced around the house like a cheerleader.
    He saw Linda nod. “Crap.” He hated it when he couldn't see everyone at once. Depending on where she went in the basement, Sheila might be off camera. He couldn't protect her if he couldn't see her. Still, they'd been here for hours and nothing had happened. Not even explainable noises, let alone any unexplainable ones. It was quiet as a tomb. The family that lived here must have vivid imaginations.
    “If you think that's best,” Linda said in her calm, cool manner. The lady was unflappable and he’d seen her in some pretty serious situations. He could tell she was focusing on something though. Her eyes had a familiar faraway look in them.
    “Linda, do you sense anything?” Dakota asked from his walkie.
    “Not yet,” Linda said.
    Dakota opened one of the van doors to let in some fresh air. He fought a shiver as the cold air rushed in. The last day of October, Halloween, and some areas had already experienced snow. This high in the mountains it was barely twenty degrees and everything had a fine sheen of ice on it. Of course it was also two o'clock in the morning. Dead time. The time when the spirits came out to play. Actually, they didn't just come out to play at night. He’d experienced plenty of activity during the bright sunny hours of the day. It was just that humans were more sensitive to their surroundings when everything was dark and still. After two in the morning, everything was most definitely dark and still.
    Dakota closed the van door and again peered at the monitors to see if Sheila had found her way into the basement. They had three cameras wired to the monitors and several hand held cameras positioned in key locations throughout the home to record any movement or activity in the house. Fortunately, Sheila had chosen the side of the basement where Kat had placed a wired video camera. He could see her. Linda remained in the parlor so he could see her, too.
    “Dakota, Sheila, I’m going to do an EVP session,” Linda said, through her walkie.
    Dakota saw Sheila moving around in the basement with a flashlight and her recorder. "Sheila, will you go up and join Linda? I don't want her communicating without someone else present.”He’d seen spirits take advantage of one investigator. If they were outnumbered, they tended to be better behaved.
    "Where’s Kat?”
    “She went on a coffee run.”
    “Cool. I’m on my way back up.”
    “Linda, Sheila’s coming up. Don’t start without her.”
    “Always the worrier.”
    “It’s my job.”
    “We’re so blessed to have you. You know you can't protect us from everything, Dakota. Some things are meant to happen.”
    What was that supposed to mean? He watched as Sheila entered the room. She crossed the small space and sat by Linda on the sofa. Kat entered the room and handed the women their coffees. Taking a sip of her own coffee, Kat took a seat across the room. Good. He was relieved they were all present and accounted for. Now he could relax a bit. True, he never really relaxed until they declared a space clean. Tonight, he didn't think