Killer Within by S.E. Green Read Free Book Online Page A

is?”
    “A girl in my class.”
    Daisy looks between us. “Are you talking about Annie Holmstead?”
    Justin nods. “Yeah, that’s right. She lives in that colorful house.”
    By “colorful house” I know my brother means the green-and-purple historical one a few blocks from the elementary campus. Bucky Holmstead. I’m going to find this stupid Bucky, and I’m going to see what his deal is.
    I drop Justin off at after-school tutoring and Daisy at her friend Samantha’s house, and I circle back around to the neighborhood where the green-and-purple house sits.
    I parallel park and check things out. People come and go from the surrounding homes, but there’s no movement from the colorful one. A few minutes in and I get out my iPhone and type in Bucky Holmstead, Falls Church, Virginia .
    I get about a dozen hits.
    The guy’s eighteen. Most recent arrest was for drug possession and assault with a baseball bat. Baseball bat. I pull his picture up. And pause.
    Well, hello there. It’s the guy who yanked me out of my Jeep at Aisha’s house. How lovely our paths should cross again.
    I continue scrolling through links, reading. I’m sure he’s got a juvie record, although that won’t be public knowledge. For the kids not to have reported Bucky, he must really have them scared. Hell, he scared me.
    I agree with Kyle; bullies rank right up there with how bad I loathe animal abusers.
    I give the house one last look before putting my Jeep in gear and driving off. I’m going to get home, grab my laptop, and really dig in to researching this Bucky guy. Drugs. Baseball bat. Knows Aisha. This just might be my link to figuring out who was watching me the other night.
    But when I get home, Victor’s in the office. I’d forgotten this was his work-from-home day. He’s with someone. I hear “Masked Savior” and purposefully hang in the dining room to eavesdrop.
    “I appreciate you letting me pick your brain,” the visitor is saying.
    “Hey, listen, we made it through fifteen years in the army together. Letting you pick my brain is the least.”
    “While we didn’t condone it, this vigilante used to beharmless. Hell, he did our job for us. But now with the recent bludgeonings, he’s morphed into a danger to society.”
    Well, shit. Does this mean they don’t think Aisha is the Masked Savior?
    “What’s the local task force put together so far?” Victor asks.
    “We’ve combed the streets, upped surveillance, and come up empty. There’s a website we’ve been keeping tabs on,” the man continues.
    “That’s a good strategy,” Victor says.
    Well, shit again. I should’ve already thought of that—I would’ve before. If they’re monitoring the site, they can track the IP addresses of those who have posted. I IM’d j_d_l. My IP address is officially traceable now.
    “What’s your gut telling you?” Victor asks.
    The man chuckles. “Exact reason why I’m here. I want to know if I’m crazy or not before I take this hypothesis to the task force.”
    “Go ahead.”
    “I think—”
    “Hello.”
    I spin around to see a girl standing behind me. “Who are you?” I ask.
    She sticks her hand out. “I’m Catalina.” She nods to the office. “My dad is in there with your dad.”
    I shake her hand. “Where’d you come from?”
    “I’ve been sitting over there in the corner reading a magazine.” She grins. “Watching you eavesdrop.”
    I don’t bother denying it and in fact admire her boldness. I give her a solid look. Tall like me and even skinnier. Wavy dark hair. Cool gray eyes. I’d say about sixteen.
    Our fathers walk from the office, and I squash my irritation. I barely got a chance to hear anything at all.
    “Don’t worry,” she whispers, “I won’t tell them you were listening in.”
    I don’t respond.
    “Oh, hey, Lane, this is an army pal of mine. Mr. Coffey.”
    We shake hands.
    “I heard you talking about the Masked Savior?” I say.
    This earns a laugh from Catalina. She hadn’t