Deliver Us from Evil by Robin Caroll Read Free Book Online

allowed to sleep there. Oh no, those were only for the visits from the men who came in and out all day and night.
    Mai pressed her ear against the wall closest to the office. She was able to make out Madam Nancy’s squeaky voice. “These all look real fine, Milton. Here’s your money.”
    â€œThis may be the last shipment for a while.” His booming voice echoed. Mai moved a fraction of an inch away.
    â€œWhy’s that? I like getting fresh batches. Keeps the men interested. And I have my other locations to think of as well.”
    â€œWe’ve had a little glitch in our system. It’s being worked out now, but until everything’s all clear again, we’re stopping all shipments.”
    â€œI hate interruptions, Milton.”
    A chair creaked over the wind. Mai bit her bottom lip.
    â€œYeah, well, better safe than sorry. We all have a lot to lose here, Nancy.”
    â€œI suppose. Would you like a drink? I have some of my special Scotch hidden away.”
    â€œLawd, woman, you must be reading my mind. I’d love a shot. It’s colder than an ice sculpture out there.”
    Madam Nancy’s high-pitched laugh hurt Mai’s teeth.
    â€œThanks. This hits the spot mighty nice.”
    â€œAnything else I can do for you?”
    â€œWell, now that you mention it, there is this one girl I had the pleasure of getting to know. Brought her in from Thailand about an hour or so ago. Didn’t get her name though.”
    â€œHmm. I just sent a group to the Colorado location. Can you describe her?”
    â€œAll them girls look alike, you know that.” His deep chuckle rumbled. “But she had this little birthmark, right about here.”
    Mai touched the tiny mole just below her hairline. She backed away, turned, and huddled in the farthest corner of the darkened room. Hot urine trickled down her legs.
    Friday, 7:30 p.m.
    Airspace over North Carolina, Heading Northwest
    THE ABSENCE OF THE engine brought out every creak and screech in the helicopter. Roark gripped the back of the pilot’s seat. “What’s going on?”
    The pilot didn’t turn his head to answer. “Too much wind. The currents are blowing the snow right into the rotors. The engine’s shut down.”
    â€œWhat do we do?”
    â€œSit back and be quiet. And hold on.”
    Roark tightened his grip. Be quiet? While the ground rose up to meet them? At a fast pace, no less?
    â€œAre we gonna crash?” The flight medic’s face reflected fear. Raw fear.
    Scooting back in his seat, Roark patted Thomas’s shoulder. “I don’t think it’s that serious. I’m sure the pilot’s trained for storms and emergencies. We’ll be fine.”
    The man in scrubs didn’t light up with hope. Instead, he appeared downright pasty in the blinking lights from the cockpit. “Not the ones I’ve flown with. Most don’t go up in this kind of weather. Especially after sunset.”
    Roark looked out the window, pondering Thomas’s assessment. He couldn’t see a thing. According to the case file, they hadn’t planned to transport the heart at night, but the donor hadn’t been able to hang on to the fragile string of life. He’d passed on, and the surgical team had no choice but to harvest the organ.
    The helicopter took a sharp left. It pitched forward and down.
    Thomas made little squeaking moans.
    The pilot spewed more curses.
    From the beam of the running lights, he could make out mountains. A crest. All approaching way too fast. He forced himself to breathe.
    The hum of the rotor engine roared to life, followed by the reassuring thrwump-thrwump of the blades picking up speed. The helicopter steadied, then gained altitude.
    Roark grinned at the flight medic. “See, told you it was going to be fine.” He ignored the thumping of his own heart.
    Thomas nodded. His hands, holding the cooler in a death grip, were still as white as