Read Empty Bodies (Book 5): Damnation for Free Online Page B

into one of the driveways. Will came to a stop at half of a car length behind Karl’s sedan. Laurie stepped out of the passenger seat and Karl exited the driver’s seat.
    “Stay here with the children, Holly,” Will said. He looked over to Charlie. “Come on.”
    Will opened the door and stepped out of the SUV. He looked around, seeing now that more people had come outside from the houses.
    There were people of varying age, ethnicity, and gender. Will counted at least a dozen people. At the end of the cul-de-sac, a man and a woman, each looking to be in their mid-50s, walked outside. Karl approached, meeting them halfway through the front yard. He spoke to them, pointing back to the SUV. Looking over Karl’s shoulder, the woman stared at Will. She didn’t smile, instead holding an expression that asked a thousand questions.
    When she looked back to Karl, she slapped him across the face.
    “Oh, shit,” Will said. Karl raised his hand to his face, massaging it. The man stood in Karl’s face, his finger pointed at him. When he was finished, both he and the woman walked past Karl and approached the SUV.
    “Just stay calm,” Will said.
    “This was a mistake,” Charlie said. “We've got to get out of here, now.”
    “Everything's going to be fine,” Will said. “We have a child with us. They’ve got to help us."
    As the man and woman approached the SUV, Will took another glance around the cul-de-sac. More people had emerged from their houses. He was sure that it was least two dozen now. People had also gathered in the street behind the SUV, forming a sort of wall. Even if Will wanted to jump back into the vehicle and try to race out of there, it would prove nearly impossible. They were trapped.
    Will looked through the windshield of the SUV to Holly in the back seat. She held Dylan in her arms, her eyes wide as she stared out at him. Mary Beth had joined her and Dylan on the back seat. Will mouthed the words, “Stay in the car.”
    The man and the woman stopped just a few feet away from Will. The man looked Will up and down, and then he smiled and extended his hand.
    “Hello,” he said. “My name’s Timothy.”
    Will hesitated before he reached out and shook Timothy’s hand. He still didn’t understand why the woman had slapped Karl.
    “This is my wife, Samantha.”
    Samantha didn’t offer a handshake. Instead, she simply smiled at Will and Charlie.
    Timothy was silent for a moment before he shrugged his shoulders. “Well, do you have names?”
    Charlie started to respond before Will butted in.
    “Why’d she slap Karl?” Will asked.
    Timothy looked over to his wife, and then chuckled, turning his attention back to Will.
    “Ya know, it’s awful rude for you to not tell us your names. You are, after all, asking for our help.”
    Will furrowed his brow. “I’m just not sure I can trust you yet.”
    Timothy looked past Will, into the SUV, shaking his head.
    “From the looks of it, you don’t seem to have much of a choice.”
    Will glanced back over his shoulder. Holly was kissing Dylan’s forehead while holding Mary Beth tight to her chest. Their eyes met again and her look told Will everything he needed to know. He turned around to face Timothy again.
    “My name’s Will. This is Charlie.”
    “Hello, Will. Charlie.”
    “Do you have a doctor here who can help us?” Charlie asked.
    Timothy walked to the side of the SUV. Will wanted to reach out and stop him, but Charlie grabbed his arm before he could.
    Opening the driver’s side rear door, Timothy looked into the back seat. Holly continued holding Dylan and Mary Beth tight. Timothy ducked inside, observing the boy. Will clenched his fist, ready to go after Timothy if he made any sudden moves.
    When Timothy pulled his head out of the truck, he looked to his wife.
    “Samantha, go get Doug. Tell him it’s urgent.”
    Samantha nodded, and ran toward one of the houses.
    “Is Doug the doctor?” Will asked.
    “No,” Timothy said. “I