2 Lady Luck Runs Out Read Online Free Page B

as they worked on opening the door.
    Crack! The officers popped the door opened.
     "Whoa!" They all took a step back, covering their noses and drawing their guns. Will stepped through the front door behind them. One of them called out, identifying the group as police officers.
    This was it. I had to do something. I ran up and sat Lucky in the doorway. Then I screamed as only a southern gal can and scooped her back up into my arms. Her large round eyes stared at my face, ears back. I was pretty sure if cats could talk, this one would ask me if I had lost my mind.
    The officers wheeled around, startled. "She tried to run in!' I pointed into the living room. "Snake! I just saw a big snake!" Then I took a few steps backwards, off the porch and out onto the lawn. Thankfully they all followed me.
    "Darwin, are you sure? It's pretty dark in there," Will said, his voice full of skepticism.
    "Yes! I know a snake when I see one." I was stroking the cat nervously, hoping to heavens if the snake had escaped again, and wasn't still in the house, this wouldn't be another notch on the crazy belt for me in Will's eyes.
    "What kind of snake?" One of the officers asked with a touch of panic in his voice.
    I closed my eyes and recalled the vision from Lucky. "Dark colored with white patterns on it. Big. Very big." I opened my eyes, hoping that was enough information for them to know it was the dangerous kind.
    They had re-holstered their weapons and were staring at Will, waiting for a verdict.
     Finally, Will nodded. "All right. Something has definitely gone wrong in there. Let's not take any chances. We'll get a trapper out here to go in first." He walked over and pulled the door closed. I breathed a huge sigh of relief.
    As we waited for the trapper, Will and I chatted by his car. "We still on for dinner Saturday night?"
    I looked over at Mallory, who was having her own little chat with a young officer. Oh boy, I wasn't sure I could handle Mallory loose in St. Pete. I wasn't sure St. Pete could handle it either.  "Sure. I guess I'll have to bring my little sister if she's still here." And just hope that she'd behave herself.
    "I don't mind. I enjoy the alone time with you but it'd be nice to get to know someone from your family. Since you never talk about them."
    I saw the teasing glint in his eye. There's a reason I don't talk about them. Will has made it clear he doesn't believe in psychics or paranormal stuff of any kind. I'm not ready to possibly lose him over the things about my family I can't control. I made a tactical move and changed the subject. "You don't talk about your family, either."
    Before he could answer, a white pick-up truck rambled up and parked in the driveway. A man hopped out wearing cowboy boots, his gray hair pulled back into a ponytail and holding a long, metal stick in his hand. He strode over and held out the other hand to Will.
    "Name's Duncan. Someone call about a snake?"
    Will shook his hand. "Detective Blake."  Then he pointed to Rose's condo. "We're not positive, but don't want to take any chances. Miss Winters here thinks she saw a large, dark snake with a white pattern in the living room. We're not sure if the owner of the condo is home. There's been a report of a foul odor from her residence and no one has seen her for a few days. So..." Will's mouth pinched into a worried line.
    "Gotcha." The man said, nodding. "All righty. I'll check it out." The other officers gathered around as we all watched him open the door.
    "Pfffweeey!" His reaction easily carried through the night air. He pulled the bandana around his neck up over his nose and then disappeared inside.
     Some of the other neighbors had started coming out to see what all the fuss was about. Will questioned them about the last time they saw Rose Faraday. The same answers. Not for a few days.
    Suddenly the gathered crowd took a collective breath inward as Duncan stepped back through the door holding up his pole. On the end of it hung a large, fat