Lost and Found by Lorhainne Eckhart Read Free Book Online

those cuts for you?” June called out.
    She didn’t stop or look back. “No thanks , June. It’s just a few scrapes nothing to worry about. I’ll take care of them myself.”
    “Call me if you need anything , dear.”
    She gave a passing wave over her shoulder as she hurried home . Never breaking stride , she snarled at her broken car, popped open her front door , and the gray weather stripping peeled off the doorframe and smacked her on the side of the head just as she crossed over the threshold. “Great , one more thing to fix in this damn rental.”
    She flicked on the lights , locked the door behind her , and froze in front of the entry room mirror. She had several bloody nicks around her neckline and jaw and up both arms. Until she saw them, the sting wasn’t too bad. Now looking at them, they burned. She dropped her coat , stripped off her clothes , and hurried down the hall to the shower.
    Steam filled the room , and she squealed each time the warm spray made a direct hit on one of the many wounds, and there were lots. But she figured it was the best way to clean them out.
    After she toweled off, she applied antibiotic ointment on all the cuts. “Holy shit that hurts . Ow… ow … ow!” Hopping around on one foot, she panted until the sting receded. Then she held her arms stiffly as she took a good hard look at her wounded reflection. “Damn fucking cat. Why do I need to save the day?” But she already knew the answer. With any kindness paid to her by someone, she felt the need to pay back ten times , and then some. Otherwise , she wouldn’t be able to sleep. And as of late, no matter how hard she tried , she couldn’t get past it.

Chapter Seven
    Richard called seven times the next morning before Maggie went out, and she let everyone of the calls go directly to voicemail. She couldn’t talk to him, not after yesterday. Because yesterday , they’d met at his lawyer’s office to discuss settlement prior to the divorce. She had been so worked up before the meeting because of their illicit tryst against the kitchen wall—afraid Richard would bring it up and somehow block the divorce.
    She chewed on a piece of nail hanging from her thumb. “Think, think.” But try as she might , she couldn’t make sense of what happened in that boardroom as she sat beside her lawyer, across from Richard. And the only thing she was clear about was how much she hated that God awful painting of some ancient battle and resulting carnage that appeared to take up half the wall in that male dominated boardroom . She remembered not one word of what was discussed, decided , and agreed upon.
    Today her head was clear, thank goodness. Maybe this was her wake - up call. And while Diane, a state trooper and her friend, hadn’t questioned her yet on what came out of yesterday’s meeting, she knew before this day was over , Diane would know everything.
    A branch snapped over to her left. Dressed in full cammie gear with a loaded paint ball gun in hand, Maggie peered over the log she crouched behind. She stared into the thick brush but couldn’t see anything. Then something rustled the underbrush about a hundred yards in front of her. Her hands were damp as she gripped the loaded gun. Her heart pounded in her chest , and the adrenaline roared long and loud in her ears.
    Diane told her when she picked her up this morning this was exactly what she needed. It would be therapy and so much fun. But crawling around in the dirt and hiding behind a rotted out log as something tickled her back was not in her idea of fun. “Oh this is just great.” Branches snapped , and it sounded right in front of her. She peeked over the top of the log just as two large guys approached all decked in faded green cammie gear. She suppressed the urge to giggle, and propped her loaded gun on the log and waited for them to come closer. Then she pulled the trigger and nailed both of them boom, boom , with bright orange paint dead center in their