Hailstone by Nina Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

daughter? Hell of a headline.”
    “Don’t put me in your paper.” Magda watched the coffee land on the table in front of them.
    “You’re not in the Congregation of your own free will, are you?” Kat looked serious again. “Adam was right, wasn’t he? That church is like a cult.”
    “I don’t know what a cult is like. I’ve never known anything but the church.” Magda sighed. “Maybe one day you’ll be able to run that for a story. But not yet.” She tilted her head. “I like you, Kat.”
    “I’m not gay.” Kat’s mouth quirked in a half-smile. “Just in case you’re saying what I think you’re saying.”
    “Okay. But I still like you. Can I have your phone number?”
    Kat flicked her over a business card. “My mobile’s on there.”
    “Are you covering the rally tomorrow?”
    “Taking photos of a street full of angry Christians isn’t my idea of fun, but since I’m covering the whole issue, I guess I’ll have to.”
    “If you see me there, don’t take a photo. I’m probably going to get dragged along.”
    “If you hate it so much, leave.”
    Magda took a sip of her coffee. “You sound like Adam. It’s not so easy, you know.” She eyed a car that pulled off the road and idled by the curb in front of them and sighed. “Case in point. Don’t look around Kat, just keep your back to the road in case he recognises you.”
    “Who?” Kat did as asked.
    “My husband.”
    The window wound down. “Magdalene get in the car,” John said.
    “I have to go. I’ll be seeing you.” Magda left some money on the table for the coffee and got into the car. There, she gave John her biggest, most charming smile. “I’m so glad to see you. My friend there was going to help me jumpstart my car, but then we realised she had no jumper leads. Have you got some? It’s just around the corner from here.”
     

Wednesday
     
    A loud thump on her door woke Magda up.
    “Get up Magdalene!” John called from the other side. “It’s time to get ready!”
    Magda groaned and buried her face in her pillow. She peeked up at the clock; 11am. She’d overslept. No wonder, she was still exhausted from two days ago. She always felt exhausted when John was home. Constant surveillance did that to a woman. She hadn’t locked her door last night; the man couldn’t stand her, he wouldn’t come in. But he’d watched her every move, from the moment she got in his car. He’d watched her while he jumpstarted her car and he’d tailgated her all the way home.
    Now what did he want? She crawled out of bed and dressed in the clothes she hated. She downed a pill, chased it with the last mouthful of vodka from the bottle in her bag and stuffed the empty bottle in the back of her closet. She could easily have slept all day.
    She pushed open her door and listened down the hall. If she was quick, she might make it out of the front door before he ever knew she was awake. She could spend the day relaxing down at the river, or go down to Adam’s little downstairs bar and drink herself stupid.
    The front door slammed. Magda jumped when Preacher’s voice echoed through the house. “Is she up yet? The car’s packed and ready to go.”
    Crap. Magda closed her eyes and sighed. The rally. Of course. A day to herself would be far too much to ask.
    “Magdalene.” John appeared at the end of the hall. “Time to go now.”
    “Do I have to?” she could barely keep the plaintive note out of her voice. “I’m so tired, John. I’d rather stay home.”
    The look he gave her was barely civil. “Get in the car,” he said.
    Magda matched his look. Then she crossed the hall and laid her hand on his arm. “Good morning, darling.” She kissed him on the cheek.
    He pulled away and rubbed his arm. God, the man couldn’t even stand her touch, no wonder he rarely came home. Magda smiled at him. She felt a surge of power in her ribs. She liked having a way of making John as miserable as he made her.
    “Come along, Magdalene,” Preacher