Alone In The Darkness Read Online Free Page B

someone down, but ended up getting it in the end.”
    Conners kneeled down, his legs cracked and groaned with age. His hand ran over the heel marks, he could feel the grooves cut into the flooring. He thought to himself that whoever was here was kicking awfully hard to do this. His eyes drifted to the plastic crumpled on the ground near the woman. He picked it up and carefully unfolded it to its original shape. "Looks like they were trying to strangle someone.” Conners could see the outlines of a face in the plastic. His fingers gently touched the depression where Steven's mouth struggled for air.
    He glanced over to the man slumped against the wall, his eyes staring at the far wall blankly into space. The blood had pooled around the bodies forming an irregular outline on the white floor. The officers quieted down and looked at Conners. “So from the shoe marks it looks like we have a man, likely nearly died by plastic wrap, from these two meth heads. He got free from them, shot both of them and is now somewhere in a 20 mile radius of here in a dark colored Honda Civic. Have we put out a notice to patrols in the area?”
    “Yes, sir. We sent the notice out moments ago.”
    “I think we understand motive here. We need to know if there was anyone else in the house when this happened, other than the innocence that was carried out of here a few minutes ago.”             
    “The neighbor says she only saw the one white male leave.”
    “Looks like these guys didn't want to pay. I don’t care what the circumstances are I want this guy brought in tonight. He’s already shot two which tells me he is either out of control or desperate.”

CHAPTER SIX
     
     
    The bar counter had a smooth wood finish with groves and worn creases from elbows and glasses. The finish was faded around the falling lip, pointing to the red topped swivel chairs lining the counter along the one side of the narrow room. Dart boards were occupied by focused drunks. Holes and loose darts lodged in the wall proved their skill. Large flat screens flickered with athletes, held a grip on the patron's eyes.
    Behind the counter Jennifer worked to maintain the drink levels. Rows of bottles hung along the wall bathed in orange accent lighting. Her hair was pulled back in a tail and the blue and green ribbon told the attendees it was football season. Her hands glided washing shot and beer glasses in the sink. Her eyes drifted up to the man staring down at the empty glass, “Honey you want another Jack?”
    The man arched his back, sucked in his lips, and let out a hiss, “It's early and a Friday and I spent the day putting bolt assemblies on fuselages, so I think I will.”
    Jen smiled pulling a fresh glass from under the counter and swinging the bottle. She turned and the brown liquid fell out into the glass. She winked, “A little extra for your hard work today.”
    The man leaned back, pulled out his wallet, and dropped down a five, “That is all yours.” His arms curled around the glass and he raised it up and sipped.
    “Thank you hon.” She pulled the five and placed it into the register pulling out two ones and placing them into the tip jar. “I've had a long one too.”
    “Oh yeah, I'm sure this place was filled with the early shifters. They are grinding on us right now. Always wanting more planes pushed out the back”
    “I hear you. This is my second job. Worked the coffee hut this morning on the south side and I finish the day here at the bar. The end of the day you can just feel it. I think I've served almost a thousand drinks today. Drink after drink after drink.”
    He lifted his glass to Jennifer, “Cheers to you. I thank you for my drink. You power the city in the morning and calm us in the evening.”
    The door opened and a figure walked in from the cold night. His shoulders were slack and his eyes were dark and empty. Shaking off the rain from his shoulders he let his jacket open up to the warmth. Steven walked up to the