Experiment in Terror (Koehler Brothers Book 1) by Alene Anderson Read Free Book Online Page A

morning, so she grabbed her helmet and gloves and hurried through the store to get her bike, calling goodnight to the two employees that would be working until closing time.
    As Amanda reached the bike path, she saw the empty stone bench. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed. She didn’t think Charlie’s suggestion was going to work when she said the attraction might disappear after she had seen him a few times.
    She was halfway home when a tall figure stepped out from behind a tree. Her heart slammed against her chest, feeling as though it was going to explode. She squeezed the hand brakes in order to avoid hitting him. In spite of her moment of fear, she felt happy when she recognized the man.
    He stood in front of her, staring at her through narrowed eyes.
    “I thought I told you not to ride this path after dark,” he said grimly, grabbing the handlebars in order to steady her.
    “I was held up at work,” she said, cringing slightly at the weak excuse. He was right. She wasn’t using her head. But that was his fault. If she hadn’t wanted to find out about him, she wouldn’t have stayed late at work in order to wait for Sloan’s call. “Besides, it isn’t totally dark yet.”
    “Maybe you just don’t like taking orders.”
    “Orders?” She scrunched up her face. “Why would I want to take orders from the likes of you?” she asked with cold sarcasm, not understanding why she was suddenly so angry.
    He stiffened as though she had struck him.
    “Because if you had any sense, you would know I’m right. Three girls have been killed on this path in the last few weeks. Do you want to be the fourth one?”
    “They were killed up by the library, not down here,” she rationalized, knowing he was right. Damn him.
    “You don’t know that. They could have been killed anywhere and dumped off by the library.”
    “If you will let go of my bike and step aside, I could get home before it gets any darker,” she said, glaring at him.
    He moved away, raising both hands in the air as though to show her she was free to go.
    Amanda pushed hard on one pedal and sent herself shooting down the path. She sailed down the pavement and across a wooden bridge and was soon making the turnoff to her house.
    The ride along the creek was usually therapeutic for her. When she had gone through her divorce from Eric, the bike ride home had often been a lifesaver for her. That, and having Sloan Harrison for an attorney. He was the best divorce attorney in Boulder and she had been ecstatic when she had been able to retain him before Eric.
    Charlie had been her best friend before she married Sloan. In fact, they had gone to high school together. Amanda was happy they had found each other. They were both such super people and Josh, Charlie’s son by her first marriage, was an adorable little boy.
    As she rolled her bike into the garage, she couldn’t help but feel furious as she recalled the homeless man’s remarks. How dare he accuse her of not having any sense? Who did he think he was anyway ? Yet there was something about him. A strange air of authority. He’d said she hadn’t listened to his orders. Orders. Did that imply he’d been a boss at some point? Or maybe a total control freak like Eric.
    What job had he had before he became homeless? Sloan had told her he had once met an attorney he knew panhandling down on Larimer Street in Denver. Sloan had explained the man had a bad drinking problem and had lost everything—his family, his home, his law practice.
    Not feeling like she wanted to eat yet, Amanda decided to vacuum and dust. It had been a few days since she had done so, and it would keep her busy until time to start preparations for dinner.
    Amanda put a CD on and turned it loud enough so she could hear it above the vacuum. She hummed along with the music until she heard the phone ringing.
    It was her mother, calling to inquire how her day had gone. Amanda told her about the appointments with the two prospective