Sticks and Stones by Kerrie Dubrock Read Free Book Online

him from her apartment, saying she was sick and needed help. But the
thing that struck him the most was the scene in Janice’s apartment when he
arrived. Candles were lit in every nook and cranny and incense smoke filled his
nostrils. He shuddered when he remembered the maniacal grin on Janice’s face.
After that, it was all a blur.
              He drove home
as quickly as he could, needing to confront Janice.
              When he entered
the condo he called out her name even though her car wasn’t in the driveway. He
moved swiftly through the rooms and stopped when he noticed the door to her
office ajar. Hesitantly he entered, flipping the light switch in the process.
              His eyebrows
knitted together. He touched a large leather bound book while his other hand
reached into his pocket for his cell phone. He snapped photo after photo of the
pages in the book then he rifled through the maple desk drawers.
              His nose
scrunched when he found a clear plastic box with strands of his hair along with
nail clippings. He snapped a photo of that as well and pushed the box back into
the drawer.
              Ben turned to
leave the creepy room when from the corner of his eye he spotted an altar,
similar to the one Grace had. He took a picture of that too.
              As he headed
for the door he felt the hair on the back of his neck lift. He quickly turned
expecting someone behind him and scoffed when he found he was alone.
              Ratman watched the man
leave and chuckled softly.
    *        *        *
              Grace’s eyes
widened. “ You’re Blake’s brother?”
              Rick smiled,
exposing deep dimples. “Guilty.” His upper body moved side to side and he
extended his arms out. “So? Hockey fan?”
              She couldn’t
contain her grin. He was awfully cute. She shrugged, “Never watched a game in
my life.”
              Rick placed a
hand over his heart. “Ack! You wound me!”
              She giggled and
held her palm up. “Sorry.”
              He took her
hand into his and turning it, he placed a kiss on the back of her hand. “So…how
do you know my brother?”
              She blushed.
“We’re business partners.” She shifted nervously on the bench. “And does
Blake’s brother have a real name or did your parents not like you when they
named you Ricochet?”
              Rick released
her hand and sat next to her. “Rick. O’Shea,” he shrugged. “Ricochet.”
              A smile curved
on her lips. “It’s very nice to meet you, Rick. Are you here to see Blake?” she
asked when she began to stand.
              “Um, you
shouldn’t walk on that,” Rick cautioned.
              A small yelp
escaped from her lips, causing her to sit in a huff. “How am I supposed to get
to my office if I don’t walk?”
              He wiggled his
eyebrows. “I could carry you.”
              She giggled and
shook her head.  He was quite the flirt!
              “Grace?”
              She swallowed
hard. It came from a voice that’d forever be etched in her memory. Her entire
body stiffened and she lifted her chin. When she gathered enough strength, she
turned her head. “Ben.”
              Rick shifted
uncomfortably on the bench. He studied the man before him. Mr. Three-piece
suit. Black suit, to be exact. Black hair, hazel eyes and smooth skin. His eyes
narrowed at the bouquet of purple flowers in his hand.
              Three-piece
gasped. “What happened to your ankle, Gracie?”
              A flood of
emotions hit Grace hard, but she swatted them back. But, man, how she loved
that suit on him! Her throat felt raw, and gritty. “My heel broke and I twisted
my ankle,” she rasped.
              Ben looked at
the young man next to Grace and lifted an eyebrow. His eyes