Malevolent by Jana DeLeon Read Free Book Online Page A

walked.
    “I’m doing all right,” Emma said. “Thanks for asking.”
    “I’m glad to hear it. You’ve had a rough time of it lately, and I’m sorry for that.”
    “Things will get better, right? Isn’t that what you always tell the victims—that time heals everything?”
    “I reckon that’s what we say.”
    Emma looked up at him. “You don’t think it’s true?”
    Jeremy frowned, his dark eyes troubled. “I don’t guess I do. I don’t think there’s enough time to repair some things. Some things just become part of a person, like their skin color. It doesn’t have to define them, but it’s always with them.”
    “That’s an interesting way to look at it, and I agree with you. I don’t doubt that at some point I’ll be as happy as I was before, but I don’t think I’ll ever be the same, if that makes sense.”
    “Yes, ma’am, it does. Most people go through life with a false sense of security…until something happens. Then you start to take a closer look at the way you do everything and the risks involved.”
    “Like walking to my car alone at night in a dark parking lot?” Emma smiled.
    “Two weeks ago, you’d have been waving and hurrying out that door without so much as a backward glance.”
    Emma stopped in front of her car. “Well, I appreciate you walking me out here.”
    “Any time. And I mean that. You don’t go traipsing around here like you’re some superhero. They gave me a badge and a gun for a reason.”
    Emma placed her hand on his arm and gave it a squeeze. “You’re the best, Jeremy.”
    He smiled. “I’m going to tell my wife you said so. Sometimes she needs a reminder. Now, go on and get out of here.”
    He took a couple steps back from her car but stood and waited as she pressed the button to unlock her car door. Clearly, Jeremy didn’t consider the job done until he saw taillights. She pulled on the door handle, but the car was still locked. She pressed the button again, waiting to hear the click that indicated the lock has disengaged, but it never made a sound. She pulled on the handle again, just to be sure, but it didn’t budge.
    “Is something wrong?” Jeremy asked.
    “The keyless entry isn’t working. Something else to take care of, I guess.” She pulled her car keys out of her purse, disengaged the slave key, and manually opened the car door. “I can’t remember the last time I used a key to do this.”
    Jeremy nodded as he pulled her door open. “Technology has taken over the world. Not that I’m complaining, mind you. I’m not one of those old people always bitching about progress. Last night I talked to my granddaughter in Tokyo on the computer. Nope, you won’t hear me complaining at all.”
    “That’s great,” Emma said, trying not to think about all the times she’d Skyped with David. All the emotions she felt seeing her husband so far away and in a war zone. Back then, she couldn’t wait to see him again. Now she was afraid she’d never stop seeing him.
    Jeremy shut her door and stepped back from the car. She tried to start the car, but it didn’t make a sound. She tried again. Nothing. She opened the door and stepped out. “It won’t start.”
    “Probably your battery,” Jeremy said, “which would explain the remote not working. Pop your hood and I’ll take a look.”
    She reached back into the car and released the hood latch. Jeremy lifted the hood and shone his flashlight onto the battery cables.
    “One of your cables is loose,” he said. “I don’t suppose you have any pliers?”
    “I’m afraid not.”
    “No worries. I can get it fixed up well enough to get you home. You got pliers there?”
    “If I don’t, I can get them.”
    Jeremy pulled a package of gum from his pocket and popped a piece in his mouth. He offered Emma one but she declined, then watched in confusion as he carefully folded the foil wrapper. Her confusion cleared when he stuffed the wrapper in between the terminal and the wire cap to hold it in