Read A Reason to Kill (Reason #2) for Free Online Page A

braided down her back. As if she’d been doing it her whole life she raised the hand axe, concentrated on the target, and then wound up and let it fly nailing the bull’s eye dead center. More than impressed, I stuck my fingers in my mouth and whistled loudly for the woman as the announcer shouted “Bull’s eye for Maxine.” When she stepped back to let another woman have a go, I walked over to her smiling and told her “That was impressive, have you been throwing all your life?”
    “I have, young lady. I was raised in Colorado and then swept off my feet by a dashing Alaskan who chopped trees for a living. I’m Maxine, by the way, and you must be Mia.”
    Well, that confirmed it, small towns have no secrets and apparently my performance and subsequent puking on Max’s boots had made the rounds. Trying not to blush, I shook the woman’s hand while ignoring her knowing smile.
    “It’s nice to meet you and yes, I’m Mia Roberts with SIOZ.”
    Maxine was about to say something when her attention seemed to wander over my shoulder. I was about to turn to see what she was looking at when she moved to my side and asked “You ever throw an axe?”
    “Oh, no, I’m not athletic. I’m pretty sure my parents removed all sharp objects from our house when I was growing up.”
    “Nonsense, it doesn’t take any special skill to throw an axe, you just gotta envision someone you hate in the center of the bull’s eye. Works like a charm. I usually think about Mayor Madison when I’m aiming,” she explained as she grabbed my hand and hauled me into the throwing ring.
    “Oh, no, no, really I . . . wow, that’s heavier than I thought it would be.”
    “Now, just keep your eyes on the center of the bull’s eye and think about someone you hate.”
    “But, I don’t hate anyone.”
    “Sure ya do, everyone hates somebody.”
    My eyes drifted over her shoulder as she spoke and saw Max heading our direction as the blonde from the bar kept pace with him. He was gorgeous, like a romance novel hero, and God help me, at that moment I hated the blonde.
    For the first time in my life, I was jealous, even though I had no right to be. Therefore, when I turned to throw, I pictured the blonde's face on the target and let the axe fly. Then I watched in horror as it hit the side, flew a fair distance sideways, and buried itself in the ground near the feet of spectators. Everyone gasped when the axe landed and then jumped back.
    Maxine chuckled “Mercy, never seen one take flight like that,” and I thought, of course, you haven’t, I’m a walking talking danger most days.
    Unfortunately, before I could say “I’m so sorry, I tried to tell you.” I heard a deep voice rumble, “Jesus, Mom, are ya tryin’ to get everyone killed?”
    I may have only heard that voice once, but the sound of it was burned into my cerebrum. So on the word “Mom,” I spun around and found Max scowling at the both of us as I whispered “Your mother?”
    “Yeah, my mother, though her lack of common sense makes me wonder.”
    “Funny, Maximilian. Give me that axe and let her try again.”
    “Were you not just standin’ here when she threw the last one?”
    “And? She just needs to focus. Mia, next time visualize Max as the bull’s eye. Somethin’ tells me you’d hit it then.”
    “Really, I don’t need to throw again,” I explained, but neither one of them seemed to hear me.
    Beyond humiliated and maybe even a little pissed at Max for assuming I’d kill someone, I started to move away as Max and his mother, continued to argue. When I turned to leave, and looked up the hill I saw (and it could be said I saw red instantly) Donald Zimmer talking with a pudgy man who looked fit-to-be-tied. I couldn’t believe my eyes, he was supposed to be in a meeting, it was the sole reason I’d come all the way out here in first damn place. Without so much as a goodbye to Max or his mother, I headed straight for Donald. My head was still pounding and it seemed