TICK TOCK RUN (Romantic Mystery Suspense) by H Elliston Read Free Book Online Page A

is an advertisement, a software scam or event reminder, something to be ignored.”  Lee gripped my arms.  His biting tone to my ears was as jolting as ice water to naked skin.  ”But, it’s not.  Chelsea, I don’t understand why, but whoever killed my brother, is now after you.”
     

CHAPTER 5
     
    N eeding comfort, I leaned my cheek against his hand then stared down in disbelief.  This can’t be happening.  A death threat?  Even though it had stopped, the tick, tick, tick of the countdown timer grew louder in my head.   My shoes hammered the floor, my whole body quivered with agitation.  Half of me believed it, half of me didn’t.  I jumped up and ran for the exit.  I slapped my palm on the door, pushed it open and hightailed down the street.
    Footsteps pounded the pavement after me.  “Wait up, Chelsea.”
    I ran flat out past shops, cars, and gawping pedestrians, tears on my cheeks, hair flapping in the wind.  My breathing quickened in time with my raging heartbeat. 
    “Stop!” Lee shouted.  “Let’s talk about this.  Look, there’s a chance we could stop the timer, Chelsea.”
    I slowed to a jog, surprised he’d chased me this far.
    “Maybe it’s some type of sick game.  And Daryl... well, maybe he lost.”
    “Stop it how?  Sick game for what?”  I glanced over my shoulder at him, then slammed arm first into a lamppost.  “Ouch!  Goddammit!”  I dropped to my knees on the concrete pavement and clutched my shoulder which hurt.
    Lee came close enough that I could smell his aftershave.  “Are you okay?”
    Gritting my teeth and rubbing my shoulder, I looked up, undecided on whether my head was spinning or the street was a merry-go-round.  “What do I do?  How do I stop this?”
    Lee slid his hands around my waist from behind.  He helped me to my feet and spun me round to face him, as though I were on rollerblades.  He dusted dirt off my jeans.  “I’ll help you.  We’ll wait for the next email.  Let’s face it, you’re bound to get sent more.  There might be another puzzle.” 
    This wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for.  I pushed his hands away.  “I don’t care about dirty knees.  Is that the best solution you’ve got?”  The brief trace of optimism left me and instead of feeling lifted, I felt like I was on the floor again.  I back-kicked the lamppost, fumbled and dithered, trying to think of a better solution. 
    Lee gripped my shoulders, shook me, then held me still.  “We need to work out who’s got a grudge against you, before the clock reaches zero.  Are you listening?” 
    I wasn’t equipped to handle a death threat.  Who is?  Nevertheless, options crisscrossed in my mind as though it functioned all on its own.  I nodded.  Lee was right.  What else could I do?  Wait for the next email and call the police.  In the meantime, instead of running off in a panic, I had to investigate who was after me, because clearly somebody was.
    I patted Lee’s arm.  “Sorry.  I didn’t mean to shout at you.”
    “I understand.  It’s a big shock.”
    A young couple walked past us and stared.
    “Let’s go to my place and think this through.”  I took several deep breaths then made straight for the car park and drove home in my white Corsa.  Lee followed in his silver Leon. 
    During the quiet, thought-provoking journey, my feelings began changing.  They turned a half circle.  Strangely, I wanted the next email to come without delay.  The messages were a warning, and at this point, my only lead.  Without them, I’d have been blind to my future.
    I peeked into the rearview mirror.  Lee was driving close behind me.  I indicated to turn left and steered into my street.
    After parking, I stepped out onto the pavement and pointed at my front door.  “This is my house.” 
    I stepped inside, flicked on the hall light, then moved into the dining room that housed my computer.  I felt as though I had a red target with the number two in its