One Millhaven Lane by Bliss Addison Read Free Book Online Page B

with him and left with it too."
    Nate mentioned Bobby's love for a switchblade. He could hear the shuffle of paper on Carter's side of the phone.
    "That makes sense. According to several police reports, it's his weapon of choice." The chief cleared his throat. "Why now? Why didn't he make a move on Asia sooner? Joanna's gone six months and some."
    "Who knows with Bobby? Something's misfiring in his brain. Always has been."
    "Watch your back, Nate. That's where Bobby will strike. Expect his return real soon. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed."
    "Smart enough to plan an attack here rather than Boston."
    "He probably thinks we yahoos won't be a match for him."
    "Yeah."
     
    ***
    Asia was tired, too tired even to open her eyes. A hand held hers, warm and soft. "Nate?"
    "I'm right here, love."
    A chair scraped the floor and she felt him coming to his feet. "Don't leave."
    "I won't. I promise."
    His words comforted her. No one would hurt her with Nate at her side.
    "Are you ready to blow this joint?"
    Her eyes flew open of their own volition, it seemed. "I can leave?"
    "Sure can."
    "Well, hell. What are we waiting for?"
     

 
     
    Chapter Five
    Asia lifted her head from the pillow and looked at Nate standing in the doorway with a tray in his hands.
    "It wasn't necessary to put me to bed." She sat up. "I'd be just as comfortable on the sofa."
    "The doctor was implicit. Bed rest and sustenance. By the way, your cupboards are barer than Mother Hubbard's."
    "I packed up everything for Romero House on my last visit."
    He set the tray on her lap. "Tomato soup, crackers and milk, compliments of The Haunted House."
    "No chicken soup?"
    "You like tomato. What's the matter with tomato?"
    "Nothing, other than it's red."
    "Oh God, I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me. I'll have Madge send over some chicken soup."
    Clearly, Nate would cater to her. He'd been so considerate, taking her in through the kitchen door and up the back staircase so she wouldn't see her blood on the floor. He probably had elves cleaning up the mess already.
    "The soup's fine. I was joking."
    "Are you sure?"
    "Uh-huh. Did you tell Madge what happened?"
    "I didn't have to. She knew."
    Asia grimaced. "I keep forgetting how small a town this is."
    "News, good and bad, travels at the speed of light in the Grove." He sat on the edge of the bed. "We should talk about what happened."
    "Give you my statement, you mean." Ravenous, she greedily spooned soup into her mouth. Her hands shook; a combination of low blood sugar and anxiety. She broke a cracker in two and ate one half, washing the crumbs down with milk.
    "Can you talk about it now?"
    "Sure. No problem. After I left you at the lake, I drove straight here. I came in the front door and removed my shoes. Then, in my peripheral vision, I saw the glint of metal." She stammered as she envisioned the knife coming through the air at her. "A second later, I realized there was an intruder in the house." She paused. This was more difficult than she'd anticipated. She wiped the moisture from her upper lip and let a few seconds pass before continuing. Nate must have sensed her unease because he clasped her hand and offered to let the statement go for a while.
    "No, I'm all right." She ate more soup and crackers and, feeling stronger, continued her story without another hiccup. "And that's it."
    "You weren't able to get a look at your assailant at all?"
    She shook her head.
    "Did you get a sense of his size?"
    "I didn't hear him approach, so he may be a light walker." She didn't want to talk about the assault anymore. "Tell me about your ex-wife?"
    He jerked his head back and looked her squarely in the eyes. "Why?"
    "I don't know. The question just popped into my mind." That was a lie. Truthfully, she often wondered why his marriage had failed. Her marriage didn't work because she could never get over Nate and no man would ever measure up. Her ex-husband had been right. Maybe the time had come to admit the truth. Before she