2 Lady Luck Runs Out Read Online Free

glanced at Mallory, my stomach tightening. Not home or not able to answer the door? "Come on, let's check around back. Stay behind me." I picked my way carefully through the thick, damp grass, watching for any sign of slithery movement. Alligator calls from the golf course lakes echoed through the night air. A few bat silhouettes fluttered in the sky above. Florida at nighttime seemed to be just as active as Florida in the daytime.
    We reached the backyard without any reptile run-ins. The back of the condo units had attached screened lanais and this one had the porch light burning bright. I tugged at the door. Locked from the inside.
    "Ow, ow, ow," Mallory whispered. I looked behind me to see the cat clawing its way back onto Mallory's shoulder to hide under her mass of red hair.
    "That's not good," I whispered. "She can probably smell the snake if it's still here."
    "The snake can probably smell her, too," Mallory shot back. "It was probably looking for a meal."
    I walked the parameter of the lanai. A plant stand had been knocked over. A broken pot lay on the tile, its contents of dark dirt and pale plant strewn across the floor. I brought back the images from the vision. How exactly did the snake get in and Lady Luck get out? I crouched down and activated Malloy's phone, shining the light across the bottom of the screen. There! Crab walking to my right, I stuck my hand beneath the part of the screen at the bottom that was fluttering slightly in the breeze and lifted it. "Big enough for a cat to run out."
    "So, she spotted the snake and tore through the screen?" Mallory asked.
    I shook my head. "I think it was already torn open."
    "By the snake?"  
    I ignored her sarcasm. "Something like that." Maybe a snake of the human variety.
     This just didn't seem right. Lady Luck witnessed a man-sized shadow in front of the screen before the snake slithered in. Did that person cut the screen and let the snake in? Why would someone do that? I snapped a picture of the ripped screen. It was time to call Will. Using Mallory's cell phone, I dialed his number.
     
     

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    The breeze held a chill. I was glad I had worn a sweater as we sat, huddled on the curb. Lucky seemed content in Mallory's lap but her whiskers and ears kept flicking nervously. I couldn't even imagine what the poor thing was thinking right now. So close to her home, yet she couldn't go in. Someone was grilling. The smell of charred beef wafted through the night air.
    Will's sedan rolled around the circle, its headlights raking us before he pulled up and shut them off. I suddenly remembered I hadn't told Mallory about Will. Oops. Too late now.
    We stood up as he approached. "Hey." He slipped his hand easily behind my neck and gave me a quick hello kiss. "What's going on?"
    "Yeah, sis, what's going on?" Mallory's eyes narrowed as she adjusted Lucky in her arms and gave Will the once over.
    Here we go. "Will." I held out my hand. "Meet my sister, Mallory. Mallory...Will."
    They shook hands over the cat. Mallory shoved her tongue in her cheek. "And you are Darwin's—"
    "Friend." I cut her off. Our relationship was awkward enough without my sister trying to define it. I had fallen for Will hard but had to slow things down or let him in on our family secrets. I wasn't ready to do that. He was way too skeptical of all things supernatural. Why risk losing him? Things were good the way they were. "We found this lost cat tonight and this is the address on her collar." I pointed to the end condo. "But, no one is answering the door."
    "Well, I'm not sure there's anything I can do here." Will stroked the cat, his clear blue eyes full of unasked questions. "You'll probably just have to wait until they come home."
    "But, the cat was traumatized by the sn—"
    "Scenario." I jumped in, cutting Mallory off again. "Yeah, some scenario that happened inside has her really freaked out. You should check it out. I think there's something really wrong in there." I snuck a