Deep Shadows by Vannetta Chapman Read Free Book Online Page B

Castillo had completely recovered from heart surgery, but the man’s skin had an unhealthy pallor. Sweat beaded on his bald head.
    Calvin Green took the remaining seat. The oldest in the group, he was probably over seventy. Shelby knew Max had filled in for the man on several occasions—but he looked healthy to her. In fact, he looked much better than Castillo.
    As Perkins rounded her desk and took her seat, Danny Vail walked into the room. If their city manager was surprised to see Shelby, he didn’t show it, though he did nod her way. Danny was African-American, with a buzz cut and a military bearing. They’d known each other for at least twenty years. Danny was forty-five years old, the same age that Shelby’s husband would have been had he lived. In fact, Danny had served with Alex overseas.
    They first met back when Shelby was newly married and sure that her husband could master the transition from military to civilian life. Danny had helped them through some difficult situations back then, though she saw little of him now. Perhaps that was her fault. He’d seemed interested in her after Alex died and she’d been left alone to raise Carter, but she’d told him in rather blunt terms that she would not be dating. That had been so long ago, and Danny had dropped off the radar other than the occasional hello at church. She supposed managing a town, even a small one like theirs, was no easy task.
    Perkins didn’t waste any time. “All of you know Max, and this is Shelby Sparks. She has clarified our situation, and I—”
    â€œHow can she possibly know what we’re dealing with?” Bob Bryant asked. “Stone’s right. This is a crisis situation. I don’t think we should be looking to people outside of appointed and elected officials—”
    Perkins silenced him with a raised hand. “Shelby was conducting research on an unrelated manner.”
    â€œIf it’s unrelated, why are we wasting our time on it?”
    â€œWhen she realized it applied to our current situation, she thought to bring it to me. I believe it’s valid, and I think you will too.”
    â€œIt’s not valid if it doesn’t tell me how to police our streets with no power, no streetlights, and no way for officers to communicate.” Bryant was ticking the items off on his fingers.
    He’d worked himself into quite a state of agitation. His face was the color of a plum, and he breathed rapidly as if he’d been out jogging. Shelby realized in that moment how quickly things would fall apart if they gave in to panic.
    But Mayor Perkins was not panicking. “I want to share Shelby’s information with each person in this room before I make an official statement.”
    Bryant shook his head in disgust, but he stopped talking. There were murmurs of agreement among Castillo, Vail, and Green. Perkins laid out the situation in quick, succinct points, and when she was finished, Bob Bryant was again the first to speak.
    â€œYou’re ready to accept a massive solar flare is what we’re dealing with based on printouts from a romance writer?”
    Shelby wanted to ask how he knew what type of books she wrote, but she decided it wasn’t the time or place to pick a fight. They had bigger issues to deal with.
    â€œHer research is good.”
    â€œHer research is for a fictional book.”
    â€œIt matches what we’re seeing.” Perkins nodded toward the window. “I recognized the aurora—had seen it before when I was in Alaska. I didn’t realize how it was possible or what it would mean to us. These printouts confirm that we are dealing with a cataclysmic event.”
    Bob pressed his hands over his eyes, lowered his voice, and said, “This is insane. Eugene Stone is right. You’re not qualified to handle this situation.”
    â€œChief Bryant, I will remind you that I’m your mayor and you will follow my