Pandora's Box by Natale Stenzel Read Free Book Online Page B

well.
    Now . . . hell, now she might even prefer living on that deserted little island. It was all gone. Everything she’d ever wanted
     had almost been hers, and boom, it was gone. Not just the boyfriend who, she now admitted, had probably been a mistake. But
     everything else that had felt so blessedly normal. People, for pete’s sake. Small talk, smiles, friendly gestures. That was
     gone, too.
    Busy with work, a new house, and her now-defunct romance, Mina had lost touch with friends she’d made in college. No doubt
     they were all pursuing their own, very different lives as well. As for her more recent acquaintances, well, losing her job
     due to her great acts of immorality tended to stigmatize a woman who lived in the same neighborhood where she worked. Ever
     since Mina’s professional fall from grace, the coworkers and near neighbors she’d once called friends—or at least acquaintances—had
     given her a wide berth. Friendly greetings had turned to speculative, even suspicious glances. So Mina was the neighborhood
     freak all over again. She had no one.
    Well, except for her mom. And tonight Mina just didn’t feel up to enduring a séance or exorcism or whatever horror her mother
     would deem appropriate to banish the voice and hoof problem. Wouldn’t the neighbors just love that?
    Silently cringing, she forced a smile for Teague. “No, you don’t need to call anyone. I’ll be fine. But thanks anyway.”
    His brow furrowed briefly, then cleared a little. “Look, call me crazy, but would you do me a favor?”
    “Um, sure. I guess. What?”
    He dug in his back pocket, retrieved his wallet, then slipped out a worn-looking business card. He handed it to her. “This
     is my number at home. And Janelle left hers on the little table here. You start to feel weird at all—I mean anything —call me or call her. Promise?”
    “Aw. Just Teague. Are you worried about me?” She was touched, damn it. The man didn’t have to go this far.
    “Well, do you blame me? You took a brick to the head just a while ago, fell down unconscious. I don’t feel right about leaving
     you here.”
    “I appreciate it. Really. It’s . . . a lot more than a lot of guys would do. Even ones on the payroll.” She smiled. “I’ll
     be fine. But, yes, if I start feeling like my head’s really busted, I’ll call. Okay?”
    He didn’t look happy, but he nodded. “See you tomorrow, then, if not before. Honestly. Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone.
     It’s no trouble at all and I don’t live that far from here.”
    She raised both hands helplessly, palms out. “I believe you.” She smiled again. No doubt she looked like a love crazed—or
     at least lust-crazed and soft-brained—idiot. “Thanks.”
    Reluctantly, he gave her a little wave and left, locking up as promised. He really, really was a nice guy. If it weren’t for
     the wonky head and another woman’s dibsies, she might try following up on that one.
    Shameless hussy. I saw the way you were looking at him.
    She jumped, then sank slowly into the cushions. Right. That little problem she’d been having. To think she’d actually dreaded
     the dead silence of an empty home. “You’re still here.”
    Well, yeah. It’s not like I have anywhere else to go.
    Gee, that didn’t sound promising—and this hearing-of-voices-in-the-head really had to go. The least her twisted mind could
     do was provide an acceptable visual to go with the aural half of this figment of her imagination. Still, any visual was better
     than no visual. “Okay. I’m ready for it. Show yourself again. If I’m having a nervous breakdown, I’d like proof from at least
     two of my senses.”
    Sure about that? You really freaked last time.
    “Oh, no. I’m braced for it this time. Give me your worst.” She stared, hard, at the place where he’d last appeared.
    The air in front of her TV seemed to thicken, the colors and lines blurring and darkening. Hooves shimmered into view, followed
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