Bad Land Read Online Free Page A

his mind was seeing anything but his cup.
    “You have to be careful on this one, Marshall,” Joseph said, catching Marshall’s gaze with his own sharp stare. “Be careful, dude. I know how you are when you’re on a story.”
    “I will. But someone has to figure out what happened to her. She deserves that much.”
    Joseph chose his next words carefully. “I get that you’re a reporter and that you see this as your job. I get that you want to find out what really happened to her. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reason. Don’t beat yourself up about things you can’t change. Things that happened in the past.”
    Like a switch, anger rose in Marshall’s heart. He knew exactly what Joseph was talking about. “This has nothing to do with her. I haven’t even thought about her during this—not until you brought it up just now.”
    “All right,” Joseph said. “All right, man. I’ll let it go. Just be honest with yourself.”
    Marshall shot Joseph a look of controlled aggression. “I gotta get going. Thank you for the info. And you keep your head down, too, big guy. I can imagine that this situation could get sticky for you if whoever it was that called your boss found out you were talking to a reporter.”
    “I will.”
    Marshall threw down a few dollars and left the diner, angrier than he thought he should be. Deep down he knew Joseph had his best interests in mind, but the thought of her sent him into a tailspin every time. It was a memory he had worked for years to bury, and when it did surface, all he felt was anger and bitterness.
    Marshall opened his car door and slammed it shut harder than he intended. The engine roared to life and Marshall sped through the streets toward his apartment. The sky was dark now, matching Marshall’s own mood.
    Why did he have to mention her? Why did he have to bring her up? This had nothing to do with her.
    Marshall was still struggling to silence his memories as he pulled up to his apartment building and walked toward his door on the bottom floor. The complex was well groomed and taken care of on a weekly basis. It boasted a swimming pool and all the units were air-conditioned. Marshall had moved in almost two years ago. His promotion to being a full time reporter had come at the perfect time, just as he was graduating from college and looking for a place to live.
    George was barking as Marshall walked to his door, his deep beagle howl shattering the quiet night. George was a great dog and other than a handful of instances when he had cause too, never barked. Marshall quickened his pace, unlocked his door, and stepped inside.
    The apartment was dark except for the moonlight that came in the windows. George was barking like he had a vendetta. His growls were coming from the opposite side of the apartment, where a sliding glass door opened onto a small patio.
    “George?” Marshall called out as he flipped on lights on his way to see where his roommate was directing his anger. “George, what’s wrong?”
    Even before he saw George he felt his skin prickle. His hair stood up straight as he caught the first glimpse of his dog and the shadow outside.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
     
     
    George’s hackles were raised as he stared out the sliding glass door. Outside was dark. The moon was partially hidden by clouds. Marshall squinted to get a better look at the shadow like thing that crouched on his patio. Marshall forced himself closer. It’s just your imagination—there’s nothing there. It’s the shadows. Calm down, don’t panic.
    Marshall stood next to George now. Blinking, he looked at the area in the corner of the patio where he had first seen the shadow, but there was nothing there. Marshall wasn’t much of a decorator, and all that stood on the small patio were George’s food, a water bowl, and a few dog toys.
    Still, Marshall could feel a presence, like he was being watched. Like someone or something was measuring him. He fought