Melody (THE LOGAN FAMILY) by Stacy-Deanne Read Free Book Online Page A

“Sarah, a woman has the right to do what she wants. No creep has the right to take that away. Is a woman supposed to stop living her life because this man is terrorizing people?”
    “Yes, if they don’t want to end up on the evening news as one of his victims. I know you don’t agree with this curfew, but it’s a guaranteed way to keep women safe.”
    “No, it’s not. Sarah, a lot of the victims were raped at home. How the hell is a curfew going to help them? It’s not like the man is just picking women out on the street! I mean, you think it’s fair that the mayor set rules for the women like it’s their fault that this man is raping people? Come on, Sarah.”
    “Look, it may not be the best solution, but it will keep at least a fraction of women safe. That’s better than nothing, Mel.” Sarah finished her float. “If a woman expects to stay safe, sometimes she has to play by someone else’s rules.” She left the room.
    Melody sighed. “Spoken like someone who’s never been a victim.”

Chapter Three
    M elody awoke to Sarah scrounging in her bedroom during the night. Seconds later the hall light popped on. Melody peeked from her room. She straightened the long T-shirt she wore as a gown. “Sarah, are you okay?”
    “Ah shit!” Sarah yelled down the hall. Melody rushed toward her.
    “Sarah, are you okay?”
    “Yeah, I just stubbed my toe!” She shoved the chair out the way. “How many times I gotta tell you not to leave chairs in the hallway? It’s too damn narrow as it is.”
    “I had to change the hall light. It’s your damn fault since it was your turn to change it, anyway. Why are you up?”
    “I heard something downstairs. I thought it was you.” Sarah edged to the stairs. They heard a thunderous bump against the front door. “Shit, what was that?”
    “I don’t know.” Melody shook. “Sounds like someone’s trying to break in or something.” Sarah ran downstairs. Melody tipped into the dark living room behind her.
    Sarah listened at the door. They heard the sound again. She turned the doorknob.
    “Sarah, what in the hell are you doing?” Melody grabbed a book. “Don’t open that door! You, idiot we could both end up on the news tomorrow! It could be that rapist.”
    The doorbell rang.
    Sarah glared at her sister. “A rapist who rings the doorbell, Mel?” Melody lowered the book. She still wasn’t convinced, and she didn’t care how stupid she seemed. They weren’t accustomed to late-night visits. These days a woman couldn’t be too careful whether she fit a rapist’s victim profile or not.
    “Sarah, don’t open it!”
    She laughed. “Just keep the book high and hit him when I let him in.”
    “You think it’s funny, but I’m practically pissing here.” Sarah opened the door.
    Keith waved, drawing attention to his elaborate Cartier watch. Melody would have rather it been the rapist. “Fuck,” she whispered. She still wanted to hit him.
    “Hey, babe.” He stared at Sarah’s flimsy nightgown.
    “Keith.” She brushed her hair down. “What’s going on?”
    “I’m sorry.” He looked at Melody. “I must have scared the shit out of you both, huh? Well, you won’t believe the luck I’m having tonight. I had this killer migraine so I went to the corner store. Well, when I got home, I couldn’t find my house key anywhere.”
    “Oh no,” Sarah sighed.
    “Yeah, so I am locked out of my house, and I still got this headache.” He rubbed his forehead. “There was no way I was calling a locksmith or something at this hour so…” He looked at Melody. “What’s with the book, Mel?” He grinned.
    “Melody, put it down.” Sarah walled her eyes.
    “Maybe I don’t want to.”
    “So your brother wasn’t home either, Keith?” Sarah rubbed Keith’s forehead.
    “You have a brother?” Melody grimaced. She wondered if he liked to spy on naked women too.
    “No, he had plans. I tried to call him but my damn cell phone isn’t working.”
    Melody crossed her