Demon's Web by Laura Hawks Read Free Book Online Page B

something nasty if they were going to. Which means, you are valuable. If you don’t know anything, then it’s probably a ransom and as soon as the deal is made you can go home. Easy peasy.”
    “I hope you’re right, Nathan. Gods, I hope you’re right.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Logan wandered the swamps, sinking into the mud. At times, the mud reached his knees and others, his hips. The pungent order of decay permeated the air about him. After he and his parents searched for hours, they decided to split up and cover more ground. He watched his mother shift into a white wolf, trying to use her olfactory perception to uncover Trinity’s scent. However, the land was too porous and the odors from the rotting vegetation too strong, covering any discernible redolence which might otherwise be detected.
    As Clarissa sniffed around as best she could under the circumstances, Mel turned to his son, placing a hand on his arm to hold him back. He lowered her voice so the wolf would not hear them, even with her exceptional hearing.
    “What are you hiding, Logan?”
    Logan appeared surprised, then resigned and almost relieved. “I was going to mention it sooner, but, I wanted to be sure first.” He didn’t add Shara thought it best to keep the information from them for the time being.
    Clarissa moved out of sight as she continued her search, leaving father and son the opportunity to talk in private as they walked.
    “This isn’t a time for caution, Logan. The life of your sister is at stake. Even if you don’t think it important or consequential. Sometimes we are not the best judge of what information could be useful.” Mel moved in such a way as to face Logan. “Whatever secret you are keeping, I will not judge or scold you for it now.”
    Logan hesitated a moment more, checking to see if his mother was still nearby in case she might overhear them. “There is a woman who comes to the gardens every couple of weeks. Today was her day to come, but she told me the last time she was here, she would be running late and could not get away as easily as usual. She has always said no one could know she came to the garden, because her life would be in danger if anyone knew. She never said who was after her or why.”
    “Who is she? How long has she been visiting? Why does she come?”
    “Her name is Jasmine, but I really don’t know much about her. She came to see mother’s roses, and then kept coming to visit them and me. She has been arriving in the garden for about ten years now.”
    “Ten years! You have been meeting this woman in the garden for ten years?”
    Logan lowered his head, slightly ashamed it had gone on so long without them knowing. “Yes. Ten years. I was fourteen when I first saw her trying to find the entrance into our garden.”
    “And you have been meeting her there ever since.” It was a statement not a question. Mel peered closely at his son, a penetrating look Logan had detested but knew it meant he was looking deep into the man’s soul. “You are in love with her.” Again, another statement.
    Logan had not thought about it, but with the words there between them he could not refute it either. “Yes. I am.”
    Mel gave a solitary nod then turned back towards the way Clarissa had taken off.
    “I suggest you don’t let your mother know this at the moment. She will feel like she is losing you and she is already distraught over Trinity.” He started walking again. “As for Jasmine, she may or may not be the reason Trinity was abducted. Regardless, she obviously needs someone to protect her as well if she has been fearful enough after all this time to still hide her identity from you or the reason she is being hunted. Whatever her secret might be, it deserves your attention. When we find your sister, you should consider finding a way to be with Jasmine.”
    Logan was stunned speechless for several moments. His father had always been fair and diplomatic when it came