Read Crimson Falls (The Depravity Chronicles) for Free Online Page A

this, Father,” Dean said.
    “I trust you. If
you need to move some money, you have my blessing. I think it’s time for me to
retire for the evening.”
    “Good night, Father,”
a chorus of voices sang.
    “Good night,” he
repeated. “I’ll be back to my normal self by the morning.” He laughed again for
good measure, then left the room. He prayed that no one would call him into the
Social Room. After briskly walking down the hall, he was happy to see Martha
walking out the front door. He slipped into the church office and then through
the door that led to the residence. Without slowing down, he walked through the
living room and into the small kitchen. He fed his dogs then grabbed the
cordless phone and dialed quickly as he walked through the dining room and into
his study.
    “Pronto?” the
voice on the other line said in Italian.
    “Buona sera,
Monsignore Bonatelli! Come sta?” Father Matthew said cheerfully.
    “Ah, Padre
Matthew McMillan! I recognize your terrible accent anywhere!” Monsignor
Bonatelli shouted with glee in a thick Italian accent.
    “But of course,”
Matthew laughed.
    “What is
troubling you, my friend?”
    “What makes you
think I’m troubled?” Matthew asked.
    “The late hour,
Matthew. Or did your advanced mind forget that we are several hours ahead?”
    Matthew slapped
his forehead in regret. “Oh, Monsignor. My apologies.”
    “It is no
matter,” he said.
    “I need your
prayers, Monsignor.”
    “Go on,” he
urged.
    “I believe that
darkness is descending upon our small town again.” For a moment, neither man
spoke.
    “Phone again
when you are certain. Go with God, Matthew, you have the order’s prayers.”
    “Grazie,”
Matthew said as he laid the phone on his desk. He started a fire in the
oversized fireplace, grabbed a book on demonology, and sat down in his favorite
reading chair.
     
    * * * * * *
    3
     
    Anna pulled into
her driveway, expecting Tommy and Trisha to be waiting on the porch.
    “I told them to
be ready to go,” Anna said to Trevor. “Go get them.”
    “I ain’t getting
out of this car, dude,” he laughed. “And if I do, I’m taking your gun.” Anna
rolled her eyes and honked the horn. Tommy stuck his head out the door and
nodded. A moment later they filed out the door, backpacks in tow, and climbed
into the back of the cruiser.
    “What’s the
deal, Mom?” Trisha asked, slightly annoyed. “I had plans to Skype with Levi
tonight.”
    “I think you’ll
manage to skip one night,” Anna said. “Besides, isn’t he going to the football
game to see his brother play?”
    “Nice,” was all
Trisha said. She was so much like Anna when she was thirteen that she knew the
old adage was true. You have one just like you.
    “Mom, what’s
going on?” Tommy asked, concern in his voice. Of her three children, he was the
most expressive and supportive. Ever since her husband left, Tommy had tried to
be the man of the house. She felt the wave of guilt roll over her for letting
him play that role. That’s a lot of responsibility to put on any kid, especially
a sensitive one.
    “Old man Alan
Brickton is dead,” Trevor said flatly. “And there’s some sort of f’ed up beast
running through the woods.”
    “Language!” Anna
shouted so loudly everyone winced.
    “I didn’t even
say the whole word!” Trevor shot back.
    “A beast!?!”
cried Trisha.
    Trevor grinned.
“Yeah, and it almost killed me, too. It started running beside the truck…” but
he was cut off by Anna grabbing his arm.
    “Enough, young
man,” she snapped. “I know you’ve been through an ordeal, but I won’t tolerate
you trying to scare your sister.”
    “I’m not
scared,” Trisha insisted. But her voice was trembling.
    “How did Mr.
Brickton die?” Tommy asked softly.
    “We’re not
sure,” Anna answered, giving a harsh look to Trevor. “But I would just feel
better if you were with me at the station tonight.”
    “Well if he
wasn’t murdered, then why would you