Dhampir Love by Shirlee Lewis Read Free Book Online

sleep.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                                               Chapter Three
     
         Bright and early in the morning there was a knock was at the door.  Tony and I got up to see who it was.  A man was dressed in a suit and tie.  Through the screen door, Tony asked, “May I help you?”
         “Hello, my name is John Santino.  I’m the prosecuting attorney for Cauburn, County.  Is Jessica Pearl in?” he announced taking off his hat.
         I came around the corner from the hall in time to hear him announce who he was.  Tony opened the door for him.  “Please come in,” he said.
         “Please have a seat.  Can I get you anything to drink?” I asked.
         “No, thank you.  I’m fine.”  He took a seat on the sofa, opened his briefcase taking out a brown folder and placed it on the cushion beside him.  Opening it up, he took out a piece of paper and looked it over.  He handed me the paper and stated, “Is this the statement you gave the police regarding the incident that happened back in March of last year, when Max Brown assaulted you.”
         Taking the paper and looking it over, I nodded, “Yes, it is.”
         “I’ll be the prosecuting attorney for the state.” He looked at Tony and back at me.  “We are scheduled for court at the beginning of next year and you’ll be our prime witness.”
         “If court isn’t until next year, why are you here now?” I asked not completely understanding.
         “I’m in the process of gathering and interviewing witnesses to make sure all their statements are correct.”
         Not looking forward to court, I didn’t want to face Max.  I was sure Max would be in prison for the rest of his life, especially for what he had done to Sharon Wilson, my friend.  I could imagine the fear and torment she went through because I went through it myself.  I lived through it—she didn’t.
          Mr. Santino put the papers back in his briefcase and stood.  “My office will be in tou ch with you later in the year.”  He stood up.  “Thank you for your patience.”  He headed to the door.
         Tony escorted Mr. Santino to the door.  Hanging his head, he turned and looked at me.  The pain and sadness on his face was unbearable. 
         “What is it?” I asked.
         “I should have been there.  I shouldn’t have left,” he mumbled.
         “Please don’t do this.  Don’t beat yourself up over something you had no control over.  We need to put this behind us.  I need to put it in the past.”
         I went to Tony and hugged him.  “I love you.”  
         “I love you too, but I should have….”
         “Tony.  Please.” I begged.  “You had things you had to get done in Davenport so that you could move here.  Nobody could have predicted when, where or who he was going to target next, not even you.”
         We sat back on the sofa.  “Besides—you have a trip to Italy to think about, and getting the blood bank ready for opening day.”
         Tony turned on the television and I went to start a pot of coffee.  Running the water into the coffee pot, there was a knock was at the door.  “I’ll get it,” I called from the kitchen.  Thinking it was Mr. Santino again, I hurried to the door.
         Mildred was on the porch.  She started to knock again when I opened the door.  “Good morning, Mildred.  Can I help you?”
         “I am out of sugar for my cinnamon rolls and came to see if you might have a cup.  I brought my own container to put it in.”
         “Sure, I’ll be right back.”  Taking the container, I left Mildred standing on the porch.  Tony was upset with remembering the Max episode.  I didn’t want Mildred seeing him this way.  Hurriedly , I filled it with sugar and