Deep Shadows Read Online Free Page A

advantage of this situation, and you have a right to protect yourself. That’s what the castle law says, and I for one plan to take full advantage of my rights if need be.”
    â€œThat is not what the castle law says,” Max said.
    Patrick put a hand on his arm, as if to pull him back.
    â€œAnd who are you?” The man’s tone and expression were far from friendly.
    â€œMax Berkman. We live over in Abney, and I’m a lawyer.”
    â€œIs that so?”
    â€œIt is, and you should each realize that the castle law is basically a stand-your-ground law. It means you do not have to retreat if you feel threatened in your place of residence.”
    â€œOr my truck or my place of work.”
    Everyone started talking again, but this time Max silenced them by taking another step toward the center of the room.
    â€œYou’re right about that, Mr.—”
    â€œJim. That’s all you need to know.”
    â€œAll right, Jim.” Max glanced around the room. He’d meant to stayquiet, but he’d never been able to abide people misinterpreting the law. “You are only authorized to use deadly force if there is imminent danger. That doesn’t include someone passing across your field.”
    â€œHow do I know they’re not coming to kill me?”
    â€œStop stirring the pot, Jim.” Toby glanced out the window and then back at the group. “Hasn’t even been a couple of hours, and you sound like you’re making a second stand at the Alamo.”
    â€œMaybe I am, and maybe you need to take this a little more seriously. You know as well as I do that there are folks who wait for situations like this so they can prey on the weak.”
    â€œWhich we are not,” Toby muttered.
    â€œNo, but some of us can be gullible.” Sam stepped forward, shouldering Jim out of the limelight and throwing a pointed look at the teenagers. “This ain’t the zombie apocalypse. It’s real and it’s happening now. If the electricity comes back on, even for a few minutes, use the time to fill what containers you can find with water—”
    â€œMy well has never gone dry,” said the woman with the shotgun.
    â€œTrue, but unless it’s hooked up to a windmill, you won’t be getting any water out of it. Most of the wells around here are basically small pipes dug deep into the ground and operated by electrical pumps. Without electricity, we’re going to have a problem.” This caused a smattering of conversations to erupt.
    Max could only make out what the people standing closest to them were saying, and they were debating everything from ammunition to water supply to anarchy.
    â€œGo home,” Sam said more loudly, his tone silencing everyone in the room. “Watch for strangers, don’t trust anyone you don’t recognize, and we’ll meet back here at six tomorrow evening. By then we should know more.”
    A few folks had additional questions. One or two on Max’s side of the room turned and glanced their way.
    Max touched Shelby’s arm and motioned with his head toward the door. He didn’t want to still be in the building when the impromptu meeting broke up.
    â€œNot exactly a welcoming group,” Patrick said. “And I thought we were going to play it low-key.”
    Max shrugged. “That was the plan.”
    â€œWell, someone forgot to follow it.”
    â€œI was clarifying the law.”
    â€œYou could have picked a better time.”
    The four of them hurried toward the truck, piled in, and pulled back onto the two-lane.
    â€œPeople need to understand that the law doesn’t change simply because there’s an emergency.” Max pushed the transmission into drive and accelerated as fast as he dared. He’d feel better once they were within the town limits of Abney.

F IVE
    S helby tried to tamp down her impatience. They’d driven away from the store and turned east, toward