Read Illusions (Night Roamers) Book Four for Free Online Page A

almost six, and he still hadn’t shown.
    “You said you could eat vegetables. Why not order a salad?” he asked.
    “It just doesn’t sound good,” I replied. Nothing sounded good. All I could really digest without throwing up was nuts and greens. It was irritating. “And it’s not like I can have any dressing on it. I don’t care who you are, salad without dressing is disgusting.”
    “Sucks to be you,” he teased, holding a forkful of salad drenched in Caesar dressing.
    I grunted. “Thanks.”
    I watched him devour the rest of his food and was relieved when he was finally finished.
    Nathan picked up his strawberry milkshake. “Okay then. Let’s go,” he said before guzzling it down.
    “I should go alone,” I said, lowering my voice. “I can fly there. Be discreet.”
    “Oh, hell no. I don’t need you missing, too. We’ll go together. Don’t try and argue about it either.”
    I groaned inwardly . He was so stubborn. “Okay. Let’s get moving then.”
    As Nathan paid his tab, Marilyn walked into the restaurant. She was Rosie’s cousin and owned half of the diner. I’d met her in the restaurant a couple of times before Rosie had been murdered by Faye. Rosie’s body had never been recovered, and I still wasn’t even sure what had happened to it. After Duncan and I had returned to the cabin, there had been no sign of it anywhere.  
    “Wow, it’s really coming down out there,” she said, stomping the snow off of her boots. She was short, rail-thin, and feisty. She reminded me a lot of Rosie, although she wore her bleached blonde hair in a bun and hardly wore any makeup. She turned to me and smiled. “Oh, hey there, Nikki.”
    “Hi.”
    Her eyes softened and she stepped closer, touching my shoulder. “Honey, I’m so sorry about your mother.”
    I nodded. “Thanks. I’m sorry about Rosie, too. Have they found out anything?”
    She shook he r head. “No. The FBI is involved with the case, now. Hopefully they’ll come up with something.” She let out a ragged sigh. “I almost want to sell this place and move. There have been far too many deaths in this town. Even that good sheriff, Caleb, gave up on it and moved to Vegas, I hear.”
    “Yeah. That’s what I heard too,” I replied, forcing a smile.
    “What are you goin g to do now that your mom’s… passed on?” she asked.
    “Probably move ,” I said. “Now that mom is gone, there’s really nothing holding us here.”
    “ It’s probably for the best. If you ask me, it’s just not safe here,” she replied, lowering her voice. “Especially for young women. That’s why you should never go anywhere alone, Nikki. Fortunately,” she nodded toward Nathan, “you have a strong brother to help protect you.”
    “I agree,” I murmured back, trying to keep a straight face. If she only knew.
    She studied my face and then frowned . “Nikki, are you okay? You look a little gaunt.”
    “ My appetite isn’t what it used to be.”
    She sighe d “I don’t blame you. Food must be the last thing on your mind right now.”
    “ You could say that,” I replied, although I glimpsed an old man drinking a tall glass of tomato juice and my mouth watered.  
    “Hi, Marilyn ,” said Nathan, now standing next to us. He popped a mint into his mouth and grinned. “Long time no see.”
    “I know. We’ve missed seeing you in here, Nathan. I’m definitely going to have to shut these doors if you two move away. You and your healthy appetite have certainly kept this place going,” she teased. “You were Rosie’s favorite customer.”
    His face fell. “Rosie. Man, I miss her. Have they found out anything yet?”
    She told him what she’d told me.
    Scratching the five o’clock shadow along his chin, he shook his head sadly. “It’s a shame. She was such a nice woman. Always friendly and putting up with Nikki’s whining.”
    I elbowed him in the ribs. “Funny.”
    He smirked. “Wasn’t trying to be funny.”
    “ Oh, you two… Did you both