Devil in Disguise

Read Devil in Disguise for Free Online Page B

Book: Read Devil in Disguise for Free Online
Authors: Heather Huffman
Tags: Suspense, Romance, romantic suspense, Mystery & Suspense
on the loveseat, gulping in air and trying not to cry. When at long last she regained her composure, she squared her shoulders and tilted her head at its haughtiest angle.
    “If you hate me so very much, then please leave. I appreciate you being here for my mother, though I apologize for bothering you in the first place. I can assure you, it won’t happen again. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I even spare you another thought, Conrad Langston.”
    He turned to study her so intently that Rachel was left with the impression he was memorizing her. Then he nodded and let himself out of the house without so much as a word.
    Rachel’s jaw fell open. She hadn’t expected him to actually leave, especially without a good verbal spar first. The Conrad she knew would have gotten a wholly stubborn look in his eye as he informed her she was being petulant or rash.
    Veronica interrupted Rachel’s quiet indignation by bursting into the room. “We know where she is.”
    “You do?” Rachel popped out of her seat.
    Joining his wife, Rick glanced around the room. “Wait, where’s the big guy?”
    “Conrad? He left. I guess I kind of kicked him out, actually.”
    “Kind of get him back, please,” Rick ordered.
    “I promised him I’d never call him again.”
    “Your sister’s life depends on it.”
    “He’s still in the driveway.” Veronica tugged her husband’s sleeve and pointed. Without a word, Rick darted out the door.
    “What’s going on?” Rachel turned to Veronica.
    “Rick picked up some chatter about a girl matching your sister’s description, taken about the time Julia went missing. The girl was wearing a blue-and-white dress; does Julia have anything like that?”
    Rachel felt like she’d been punched in the gut. “I gave her a blue-and-white sundress as a gift last night,” she confirmed, her voice cracking.
    Veronica nodded. “The good news is she’s still close. If we move quickly, we can get her back before she’s moved down the pipeline.”
    “Then let’s go get her.”
    “Sorry, Rachel.” Veronica held up a hand and shook her head. “I need you to stay here to be sure your mom stays put. Having family along would only hurt our chances of getting Julia back. I promise you, if we get her, I’ll call you first thing so you can meet us at the hospital.”
    Rachel nodded slowly, seeing the truth in Veronica’s words, no matter how badly she wanted to be the one to bust down the door to get her sister back. One thing still nagged at the back of her mind, though. “Why did Rick need to talk to Conrad?”
    There was a flash of hesitation in Veronica’s eyes before she responded, “He has some connections that might get us in the door where Julia’s being held.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean? Where is she being held?”
    “I’ll explain later,” Veronica laid a reassuring hand on Rachel’s arm. “Right now, I need to go with them to get your sister back. Keep your phone close, lock the door, and be ready to go when you get the call. In fact, I think I’ll send some Feds by to pick you up. I’ll call to let you know for sure, though, okay, sweetie?”
    Without waiting for Rachel’s nod of assent, Veronica kissed her friend on the forehead, gave her a quick hug, and grabbed a black case on her way out the door. Rachel was left with nothing more to do than watch the three of them load into their respective vehicles and drive off.
    With a million and one worries over her sister chasing each other around her brain, one additional thought kept bubbling to the surface: What exactly had Conrad gotten himself mixed up in?
 

C HAPTER T HREE
    RACHEL WAS ENVIOUS of her mother’s drug-induced slumber. Exhaustion made Rachel’s entire body hurt; adrenaline kept her wired. After a couple of excruciatingly slow hours, she got a call from Veronica stating that she couldn’t give an update, but Rachel should get ready for someone to come pick her and Rosemary up.
    “Pack anything you

Similar Books

How to Disappear

Ann Redisch Stampler

The Oriental Wife

Evelyn Toynton

Silent No More

N. E. Henderson

A Single Eye

Susan Dunlap

Savage Winter

Constance O'Banyon

So Totally

Gwen Hayes

Spirit On The Water

Mike Harfield

The Ladies

Doris Grumbach