Infected by V.A. Brandon Read Free Book Online Page B

okay?” she said, walking briskly to match his stride. “Just search along the nearby roads. I really doubt he’d have strayed that far off.”
    “Let’s hope so.” Reaching the mansion, Justin went to speak with Daniel, who was bent over trying to pick up three stacked boxes at once. The two men spoke in low tones as Amy walked past them and entered the foyer. She frowned when she saw Marie hobbling around, sweeping the floor as Walter dutifully trailed after her.
    “What do you think you’re doing?”
    Marie glanced up, startled, then smiled. “I am cleaning the living room.”
    Amy rolled her eyes. “Yes, I can see that, but the question is why? We’re leaving this place soon.”
    “I am bored,” Marie replied, shrugging. “Also, there is broken glass near the window. Walter might get a glass piece in his paw.”
    Amy shook her head in disbelief. “Your priorities are a bit out of whack, you know that? If I had fallen off a balcony, I’d be resting my sprained ankle right now.”
    With a smile, Marie leaned over to caress the pooch. “I am protecting him for Benson.” She glanced at Amy, her dark eyes shiny. “The boy is with strangers, and his father is gone. How lonely he must feel! But Walter is like family to him.” She straightened and continued sweeping the floor. “I must make sure to bring the dog to Benson in one piece.”
    She must really love that kid , Amy thought as she watched the Korean woman hobble across the room. She wouldn’t be surprised if the Korean couple adopted Benson in the near future. They would make great parents, especially Marie.
    Outside, the station wagon drove along the driveway and went out the gates. Marie looked up with a puzzled expression. “Is Justin going somewhere?”
    “Justin and your husband, actually,” Amy elaborated. “We couldn’t find Patrick, so they’re going out to search for him.”
    Marie stilled. “Patrick is missing? He is not in the woods?”
    “I’m afraid so.”
    Marie closed her eyes and leaned against the wall for support. “This is my fault.”
    “Your fault?” Amy repeated, incredulous. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re not responsible for any of this.”
    “If Patrick slept in here last night, he would not be missing.”
    “And if Patrick hadn’t sexually assaulted you, he would have slept in here last night, and he wouldn’t be missing,” Amy pointed out. “He’s a grown man who’s responsible for his own actions. You’re not at fault here.”
    “Okay,” Marie whispered, but the troubled look in her eyes belied her answer.
    Amy reached out and grabbed the makeshift broom from Marie’s hand. “I’ll finish sweeping the floor. Now go and rest that foot of yours before it gets worse.”
    “Thank you, Amy,” Marie said softly. “You are a good friend.” She gathered Walter into her arms, hobbled over to her blanket, and settled in. The pooch licked her face as she laughed quietly and patted his rump.
    After sweeping the broken glass into one corner of the room, Amy took a moment to study Marie. The woman was slumped against the wall, her head lolling to the side. She was napping. As for the incorrigible pooch, he was resting his head on her thigh, his big eyes darting upward to glance at Amy.
    “Stay there and be quiet,” she whispered as she tiptoed past them. When Walter’s head popped up in interest, Amy pointed a stern finger at him and repeated the command. The lazy pooch blew air out of his nostrils and laid his furry head down again, suddenly dismissive of the female human standing before him.
    She smiled to herself, mildly amused by the dog’s antics. But the smile soon disappeared as she crept up the grand staircase and headed toward the last room in the hallway, the room where she and Marie had hidden only the night before.
    ***
    A small part of Amy wondered why she was doing this as she stepped around the broken door and went inside the bedroom. The place was a frightful mess. Not only that, it