The Other Side by Joshua McCune Read Free Book Online

close range. It’ll be the end of the road for all of us, but I won’t be a prisoner—
    The tablet beeps. He appears mildly surprised. “Whereyou staying, Ms. Cosgrove?”
    â€œWith our uncle.”
    â€œWhat’s his name?”
    My heart flutters. I spit out the first thing I can think of. “Preston Keith.”
    â€œDon’t know him.”
    â€œHe just moved here. From Michigan. Tired of dragons and everything.”
    â€œHmmm. Now tell me what happened again?”
    â€œWe were out late . . . partying,” I say.
    He glances toward Allie. “Partying, huh? And after you left this party, that’s when you were shot at?”
    â€œI don’t know if it was someone aiming for us, or just . . . like a hunter.”
    Sheriff’s looking at me hard, like he knows my thoughts, but he’s still holding his tablet, his own gun holstered at his side. Can I kill him without warning?
    â€œA hunter? Mistook you for a bear? What kind of car were you driving?”
    Do I have a choice? “Prius.”
    He fixes me with a stare I saw many a time when Dad was about to lecture me or Sam for screwing up. “My deputy has yet to find this mysterious car of yours. This magic Prius that looks like a bear and can drive through Alaskan snow. My deputy did, however, find this near the end of C Street.Very close to where you got picked up.”
    He shows me the tablet screen, and I slide my right hand beneath my jacket. There’s our crate, wide open. “What is that thing?”
    â€œI would reconsider,” he says. I’m not sure whether he means my story or if he knows I’m carrying, but I hesitate. “Found blood inside. Now, if I wanted to, I could throw you in holding while I run some of that blood against some of your friend’s.”
    â€œThat’s not necessary, sir.”
    He purses his lips. “I don’t know what strangeness you’re up to, but we don’t want any of it here. You got twenty-four hours to clear out. We understood?”
    â€œYes, sir,” I say, redirecting my hand into my pocket.
    â€œSmartest choice you ever made. Now give me the piece. Slowly.”
    I don’t delay.
    â€œThis ain’t bear insurance,” he says, examining the Beretta. “Don’t ever come back here, Ms. Cosgrove.” He calls over a nurse whose mouth seems set in a permanent frown. “Get these two cleaned up. And this one’s got some busted ribs that need tending.”
    â€œWhat about the GSW?” she says.
    â€œAfter he’s fixed up, discharge him. Off rec.” He gives me that stare again as he walks past. When I turn to track him,I see a second cop holstering his gun. He grins, tips his hat, and leaves with the sheriff.
    Nurse Frown uses her ID badge to get us through an automated door that opens into an antiquated section of the hospital. Track fluorescent lighting, half of it flickering or burned out, illuminates peppered tile that was probably last in fashion fifty years ago.
    Puckered scowl never faltering, the nurse leads us past an office and an emergency stairwell, then through a swinging door into a room with a half-dozen lockers and a single shower. She provides us towels, orders us to meet her back in the lobby in twenty minutes, and hurries off.
    While Allie heads into the shower, I return to the hallway, make sure it’s empty, then power up the phone. I dial the number Preston made me memorize. I don’t expect anybody to answer, but when someone picks up on the third ring, I’m so happy I almost forget the ridiculous code phrase I’m supposed to provide. “Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re our only hope.”
    â€œSarah?” Preston says, sounding worried. Preston never sounds worried.
    â€œYes. Pres—” I begin before remembering that’s not his identity anymore. “Michael, we’re in trouble. We used the crate. We’re