After the Evil – A Jake Roberts Novel (Book 1) Read Online Free

fooled into believing that luck got you
this far and will take you the rest of the way. Many have stood
before a magistrate because of such flawed thought.
    “I know, I know,” Lori said.
    Don’t take that attitude with me.
    The voice was demeaning and punishing. She hated the
voice, and would have done anything to make it stop. She whispered
like a scolded child.
    You listen to me. No one cares about you, but
me.
    “I won’t disappoint you.”
    Lori was apologetic having heard the lectures
before.
    You have to follow the rules.
    “Yes I know, no records. Don’t leave anything
behind. Don’t attract attention. Know the geography. And alcohol is
a truth serum––I got it.”
    Well if it’s all so clear then what did you think
you were doing in Gulfport.
    “He was an authority figure just like the
rest––”
    Lori wanted to argue, but she knew it was
useless.
    Murder is as empowering as it is compelling.
    After that, Lori didn’t hear the voices. The other
mourners had all gone, and she was sitting alone in the cemetery
shading her eyes from the bright, unrelenting sun. Before she left,
she took one more look at her daughter’s name on the headstone.
Then another voice, an unfamiliar voice, interrupted her
daydream.
    “Ms. Powers, the doctor will see you now.”
    * * *
    Terrorism had hit home, and was on everyone’s mind.
Outside the terminal, airport traffic officers ordered the towing
of unattended cars no longer permitted to park curbside. As Captain
Parker walked briskly out of the terminal, and into the noonday
sun, the last thing on his mind was terrorism. Nick was much more
concerned about unintentionally revealing any evidence the sweet,
young Tricia had left behind. She had kissed him goodbye only
minutes before with a heavy smear of lipstick then headed out the
opposite side of the terminal. He wasn’t sure he had gotten it all
off. He rapidly surveyed the roadway to his left and right
searching for the new Mrs. Parker, but she wasn’t in sight.
    Trisha had a wonderful two days in Los Angeles. Nick
bought her expensive gifts, and took her to dinner at an exclusive
restaurant. She screwed his brains out in return, which made them
even she figured. The next time he called though, she planned to
tell him to drop dead, unless there was nothing else to do in
town.
    Seeing his new bride, Nick waved as if she was the
only woman on earth. She pulled up in the macho SUV and stopped at
his feet. He liked it when women deferred to him. He expected them
to treat him like God. After all, pilots thought they were. Mrs.
Parker leapt out of the car, and rushed toward him, throwing her
entire perfect body into him causing the air to burst out of his
lungs.
    “Oh baby, I’ve missed you so much,” Susan said.
    “It feels like a millennium since I’ve been able to
hold you,” Nick said.
    He knew what to say, to get what he wanted.
    “I’ve got to have you right now, Susan.”
    It fascinated Nick how easily women fell for his
smooth talk and lies. They were willing to do just about anything
to have someone to call their own. They would clean, cook, iron and
even squeeze out babies, for love. What was even more amazing, he
thought, was they couldn’t see it, didn’t get it. To him, love was
a fabricated concept created simply for a man to justify the
fulfillment of a biological need to release millions of
microscopic, aggressive sperm. A woman was nothing more than a
late-night depository.
    “Where’s Wendy?”
    Parker asked knowing that Susan’s young daughter was
an object of his degenerate affection. Susan made up a story
because she knew Wendy detested him, but she could never figure out
why. He would constantly spoil Wendy with lavish gifts that often
made Susan jealous. She found his constant concern about Wendy’s
well being reassuring, and believed that Nick was the perfect
father figure for her.
    “Home, she had homework to finish. You know how kids
are.”
    Nick’s face exhibited contrived