Read Her Darkest Nightmare for Free Online

“You don’t belong in Alaska” statement. “They’d be better than going without,” she said.
    â€œI’d have to agree with you there. Let’s go.” He grabbed the four bags she couldn’t carry and toted them to his truck. She followed, letting him break the wind, but her face and ears were numb before she could even get in and close the door. Fortunately, he’d left the heater running along with the engine and wipers.
    â€œWhy do you live in this godforsaken place?” she asked.
    â€œI was born here,” he said as if she didn’t already know. Then he got on his radio. “Phil, this is Amarok. Do you copy?”
    â€œI copy, Sergeant…,” came the static-filled response.
    â€œHow’s the removal going?”
    â€œNot so … can’t keep … on my own.”
    â€œJust do your best.”
    â€œâ€¦ Going … long night.”
    â€œListen, Phil, when’s the last time you were over by Dr. Talbot’s place?”
    â€œDr. who?”
    The radio crackle increased, making it difficult to decipher his words. “Talbot. The woman who runs Hanover House.”
    Nothing. No response.
    â€œTalbot. Do you copy?”
    â€œYes, Sarge. Haven’t … More than I can do … But I finished that road that leads to where the other shrinks live up the hill, if that helps.”
    It didn’t, but Amarok didn’t say so. “Any chance you can get over her way?”
    â€œNot unless you want … people stranded … this side of town.”
    â€œNo. That would only make things worse. Thanks.”
    â€œâ€¦ keep … what I’m doing?”
    â€œRoger that.”
    Evelyn eyed Amarok as he hung up. “No plow?”
    â€œNo plow,” he repeated.
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œIt means we’d be crazy to head over to your place and risk getting stuck in drifts that have to be three or four feet high by now.”
    She gripped her purse tighter. “You don’t think we can get through? Even with chains?”
    â€œI’d rather not try. I wouldn’t want to wind up in this all night; would you?”
    â€œDefinitely not.” He made a good point, but … “What else can we do? Head back to Hanover House?”
    â€œThe prison is even farther out.”
    â€œBut I’d have to go all the way to Anchorage to get a motel.”
    Popping the transmission into reverse, he started to back up. “That’s not possible, either. You’ll have to stay at my place.”
    She felt her jaw drop. “What?”
    He stopped the truck and gestured to the pay phone attached to the side of the building, which she could barely see, thanks to the snow. “This isn’t some ploy on my part. If you’d rather get out and call one of your doctor friends, feel free.”
    With the possible exception of the sixty-three-year-old Stacy, who was sick, she didn’t really have any doctor friends. She had professional associates. They were unfailingly polite to each other, but she wouldn’t feel comfortable imposing on them. Running a place like Hanover House could get difficult with so many egos involved. She suspected some of her colleagues resented how hard she pushed them and the rest of the staff. It was almost as if they thought she was trying to upstage them when she was merely determined to get results. “I’ve made a friend who lives between here and Anchorage,” she suggested, thinking of Lorraine.
    â€œCloser to here or closer to Anchorage?” He almost had to shout to be heard over the voices that were cutting in and out on the radio, the whir of the heater, the chug of the motor and the wail of the storm.
    â€œCloser to Anchorage,” she admitted. A lot closer to Anchorage.
    His eyebrows slid up. “That’s your closest friend?”
    She glanced away. “I don’t socialize a