The Banshee's Desire by Victoria Richards Read Free Book Online Page A

the words had come from him.
    "She's alright. Not talking very much," Jacqueline said. "The doctor told me she is suffering from depression."
    "Her ribs were broken?"
    "Yeah, a few of them. And her arm, too."
    Gabe's face darkened with anger.
    "I should have got there quicker."
    "What do you mean? It's not like you knew what was happening."
    "Toby had asked me to take out the trash. I was being stubborn, taking my own sweet time to do it. If I'd gone out when he told me to, maybe she wouldn't be so banged up," Gabe said.
    Jacqueline looked at him for a moment, understanding exactly what he was going through. She had done the same thing countless time in the week since the attack.
    "Gabe, if I'd just walked her to the car like a good friend would do, I could have prevented it, too," Jacqueline said.
    "He would have just got you."
    "Maybe. But I have special skills that Angela doesn’t." She gave him a pointed look. "That creep wouldn't have stood a chance against me and I would have been justified in defending myself."
    "You don't think you were justified in what happened later?" Gabe asked, his eyes darting around Merlyn's Bar to make sure Toby was nowhere in sight.
    Jacqueline looked away.
    "I don't know," she said softly. "Justice was served."'
    "Yes, it was," Gabe said. "I think you did the right thing."
    Jacqueline wasn't so sure. In the light of day, her action seemed impulsive. Yet, every time she looked at Angela's battered face, every time she thought about the haunting faces of the murdered women, Jacqueline felt she'd done the right thing, though she knew Toby would disagree.
    She hadn't mentioned this new talent, the ability to see the murdered souls of a killer. It confused her. If they were souls, shouldn't they want to cross over? The two women had been more intent on the death of their killer.
    She found herself looking even closer at Gabe, wondering if the soul of Derek Spark lingered around him.
    Or her husband.
    "You okay?" Gabe frowned. "You're staring."
    "Maybe you should go by and see Angela," Jacqueline ignored his question. "I know she wants to thank you for saving her life."
    "It's not necessary." Gabe turned away, but she thought there been a hint of red on his face, as if the thought of being thanked embarrassed him. "I'm sure she'll be back here soon."
    "I don't know. She seems pretty bent on staying locked in her apartment. I'm worried she'll never come out again."
    Gabe went behind the bar and lifted a few beer boxes.
    "Give her time," he said. "She'll be okay."
    As he carried the boxes into the back room, Jacqueline stared after him, looking for the same type of gray shadows attached to him that she'd seen with Jacob Fortensky.
    There was nothing.
    She was distracted from her thoughts as Toby and a Siberian Husky came into the bar. Toby glanced around and seeing only Jacqueline, locked the door.
    "Okay, mom. It's safe," he said to the dog.
    In an instant, the dog shifted, transforming into the familiar human form of Matilda Williams.
    "Hope you enjoyed that," Toby said to his mother. "Because you won't be doing it again for a while. If ever."
    "Don’t say that," Matilda frowned. "My hip will be fine after the surgery."
    "Your hip is messed up because of shifting."
    "I'm a shifter. It's what I do. Can't fight my nature," Matilda hobbled over to the table where Jacqueline sat. "Geez, my son can be a pain in the ass."
    "I know," Jacqueline agreed. "But he sure has a cute ass."
    "Gets it from his father," Matilda said. "He was a pain in the ass too, but he definitely had a cute tushy."
    "Mom, please," Toby said. "You really don't have to share so much information."
    "Why not?" Matilda asked. "Jacqueline is practically family now. She has a right to know about these things."
    "What time is your surgery tomorrow?" Jacqueline asked before a verbal sparring match between mother and son could begin. "I'm planning to stay with you tomorrow night."
    "It's at six thirty in the morning. Too early." Matilda