Read Online Adam's Thorn by Angela Verdenius - Free Book Online Page A

a surprise.”
    “Oh yes, that makes me feel so
much better.  Do you have security screens on the windows?”
    “There are security screens on the
door.”
    “Oh, this just gets better and
better.  Barbie, you have to call the police and let them know someone was on
the property.”
    “They can’t do anything about
ghosts.”
    “Now you’re saying its ghosts and
not intruders?”
    “Ghosts are intruders.  They
intrude on the living.”  Barbie rubbed her head, wishing she’d never broached
the subject with her sometimes over-protective friend.  “I’ll get sage and burn
it.  Probably burn the house down at the same time because it’s so old, but why
worry, right?”
    “Don’t be so flippant.”  Suspicion
was clear in Laura’s voice.  “Why won’t you call the police?”
    “There’s no need.  It was just the
one time.”
    “What aren’t you telling me?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Exactly!”
    “Laura, it’s nothing, all right? 
Stop stressing.  I’m not.”
    “Call the police.”
    “No.”
    “Why?”
    “No need.”
    “We can keep going in circles
here.  I can do this all night and you know it.”
    “I can hang up.”
    “I’ll just keep dialling you.”
    “I’ll ignore the calls.”
    “You can’t sleep with the phone
ringing noisily.”
    “I’ll just put the answering machine
on.”
    “Fine, then I’ll call the cops
myself.”
    Barbie straightened on the sofa. 
“No!”
    “So you tell me why.”  Laura added
warningly, “Truth.”
    Shit, her friend wasn’t going to
let this go.  Rubbing her forehead again, she mumbled, “Because Adam’s there.”
    “What?”
    “I said, because Adam’s there.” 
She flopped back on the sofa.
    Fred jumped onto the coffee table,
strolled across it like he had all the time in the world, which he did, and
jumped onto her lap.  She winced when he started kneading her, his nails sharp
through the thin cloth of her skirt.  Gently she stroked his head, and he
closed his eyes and purred, rubbing his big, scarred head against her palm, his
one remaining ear flattening against her hand.
    “Adam Moor?” Laura breathed.
    “Yes.  I didn’t know he was here. 
Apparently he grew up in Peeron and came back at some time.”
    “Wow.  How’d the meeting between
you two go?”
    “Let’s just say we’re not friends. 
Big surprise.”
    “Wow again.  Does Melissa know?”
    Barbie stared down at Fred, who’d practically
melted into her lap and now sprawled across her, back legs on the sofa on one
side of her knees, his head and front paws flopped over on the other side of
her knees.  “No.”
    “Probably wise, given the circumstances. 
Mind you,” Laura pondered, “It was a long time ago.”
    “I don’t want to bring it back
up.”
    “Sure, I understand.”  Laura
paused.  “Even though she doesn’t hold it against you anymore.”
    “It doesn’t matter, Laura.  Once
the house is fixed up and sold I’m out of here.  Home sweet home never looks as
good as when you’re away from it.”
    “Okay.”  Laura returned to the
other matter.  “But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t notify the police that
you’ve had trespassers.”
    “Maybe they’re not human,” Barbie
pointed out.
    “You’re alone out there with just
Fred and Barney.”
    “They’re street cats, tough and
all, you know,” she joked.
    “This is no laughing matter, Barbie. 
You get on the phone and let the cops know.  They can have a look around, cruise
past there at night.”
    “I’m not-”
    “If you don’t, I will.”
    Barbie scowled.  Her friend didn’t
make idle threats.  “I’m sorry I even told you.”
    “Don’t give a rat’s arse.  You or
me, which is it to be?”
    “Fine,” Barbie snapped.  “I’ll do
it.”
    There was silence on the other end
of the phone before Laura replied, “You’re not going to, are you?”
    “Yes I will.”  Barbie sighed. 
“I’ll call them, make an idiot of myself, make you feel