Eerie by C.M McCoy Read Free Book Online Page B

room.
    Hailey followed and watched as he disappeared inside with her uncles. She listened through the door.
    â€œÂ . . .at least two of ‘em . . .skulking around . . .couple’a wretches to do the dirty work . . .” Hailey moved her ear closer to the door.
    â€œBetrayal!” one of her uncles shouted, and Hailey winced.
    â€œFirst Katherine. Now Holly!” Katherine was her mother’s name. Hailey’s heart pounded.
    â€œThe line is broken,” said another. “Why would they do it? No, it’s not them at all, at all.”
    â€œIt makes no sense,” agreed another.
    â€œOne’s gone rogue, I tell yeh.”
    â€œAnd taken our sight! We’re blind, all of us!”
    â€œÂ . . .could be a wretch, could be right under our nose—we wouldn’t know it.”
    â€œAnd what can we do about it? Feckin nothing!” That voice belonged to Uncle Pix.
    â€œWe protect the ones that need protecting,” one of her uncles answered calmly, “like we always have.”
    Someone slammed their fist on the table.
    â€œWe cannot protect against what we cannot see.”
    There was a long pause.
    â€œDid you get a location, Tommy?” someone asked. Tommy was the man who’d just arrived, Hailey figured. He needed to talk louder. She could barely hear him over the high-pitched hag laughter coming from the bar.
    â€œÂ . . .on consecrated ground . . .still out there...”
    She strained to hear more, but somebody grabbed her arm and yanked her away from the door.
    â€œOuch!”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” Fin chastised, and Hailey wrenched her arm out of his grip.
    â€œEavesdropping,” she said unashamed. “Obviously.”
    Just then a couple of chairs squeaked across the floor inside the room and some footsteps approached the door.
    â€œShoot!” she whispered, grabbing Fin by the arm. “Go-go-go.” Fin let her turn him around and run him back to the bar.
    â€œWhat did you hear?” he demanded.
    She peeked over her shoulder.
    â€œNothing.”
    â€œLiar.”
    Hailey shook her head. “Bits and pieces. It didn’t make any sense.” Fin relaxed his posture, looking curiously relieved.

    Sometime around 2am the brothers emerged from the back. Uncle Pix pulled Hailey aside as Fin closed up.
    â€œWe’ll be out all night looking for your sister,” he told her. “Fin will walk you home and stay with you until we get back.”
    All night? Hailey frowned, but nodded obediently. They couldn’t know where Holly was then, but still she had a feeling her uncle knew a lot more than he was telling her.
    â€œI’m coming with you,” she said, her voice rising. Pix just sighed and shook his head. He hugged her tight, nodded to Fin, who nodded back, and he left the pub with his brothers. Hailey stared expressionless at the door as it closed behind them.
    Fin grabbed his coat from behind the bar and met Hailey by the exit.
    â€œWhere’s your coat?” he asked her.
    â€œI didn’t wear one,” she said, still staring blankly at the door.
    Throwing his leather jacket over Hailey’s shoulders, Fin led her outside, hitting the lights as they left.
    Hailey stuck her arms through the sleeves, which were several inches too long. She let them swish at her side as she walked. It was a chilly night, and she shivered when the wind blew.
    â€œZip your coat,” Fin said with a smile.
    Hailey lifted her arms repeatedly trying to get her hands out of the sleeves. Fin watched, chuckling.
    â€œCome here, chowder-head.” He pulled on her arm to break her stride, shook his head, and zipped his coat for her.
    â€œDo you think they’ll find her?” she asked him hopefully.
    Fin seemed to be in cahoots with her uncles. So did Frog. In fact everyone seemed to know more than they were saying. It was like they were