Mark of the Beast Read Online Free Page A

Chicago and the visit to the Oak Lawn facility.
    She was most impressed with the exclusivity of their project. The special crate arrived through United Parcel Service to section E of the Oak Lawn medical research facility.
    Dr. Hamish K. Shah, the medical director, was very cordial. He assured Stella of the high level of security for their project and the difficulty anyone would have in attempting to get them to divulge information.
    He showed Stella the processing labs, the deep freeze, and the dedicated group of loyal employees. Finally, Dr. Shah asked whether she was happy with the money she made on the last delivery. Stella was certainly pleased with the $250,000 she received from Dr. Shah for their latest business deal. She couldn’t wait to get home and show the check to Martin.
    When Stella finally reached home, she backed the Toyota Highlander into the garage.
    Inside, Martin was playing with Trianna and Joseph. Lisa, grouchy as usual, was sitting at the kitchen table writing in her secret diary, which nobody had read but everybody wanted to read.
    â€œHi, honey,” Martin said as Stella entered through the garage door into the kitchen.
    â€œHi!” Stella replied, putting her suitcase down between the kitchen and the living room door.
    â€œHow was your trip?”
    â€œBrutal! Between the snowstorm in Chicago and the traffic, I thought I would never make it home.”
    â€œI know. They were talking about the storm in Chicago on TV. I was surprised they let the plane fly.”
    â€œThat’s why I like parking the car at the airport for those short travels.”
    Trianna and Joseph were leaning against Stella’s business suit, waiting for attention.
    â€œHi, kids!” Stella greeted the children. She leaned down and gave each one a bear hug.
    â€œHi, Mom, nice to have you home,” said Trianna.
    â€œWe missed you, Mom,” Joseph added.
    â€œWhat were you doing in Chicago, Mom?” Lisa said, not bothering to get up from the kitchen table where she was sitting.
    â€œWell,” Stella answered, “I went to Oak Lawn, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, to visit Dr. Shah. He is the Chicago affiliate of my company.”
    â€œWhat’s affiliate mean?” Lisa asked.
    â€œSomebody you do business with who stays somewhere else.”
    â€œDinner is ready, honey,” Martin said in an attempt to break the icy conversation.
    â€œWho cooked?” Stella asked, diverting her attention to Trianna and Joseph.
    â€œDad!” Joseph said, pointing accusingly at Martin.
    â€œWhat are we eating?” Stella asked.
    â€œSpaghetti and meatballs,” Martin replied.
    â€œYummy, let’s eat. I’m starved.” Moving her luggage to the stairway, Stella sat down at the dining table.
    Dinner had a routine at the Montgomery family. Stella would ask the kids about school. Trianna would be happy to tell all about Mrs. Parker, the mean English teacher, who delighted in giving them daily homework. Lisa, on the other hand, usually remained quiet at the dinner table, answering questions sparingly, only when asked.
    Ever since Tom’s death, Lisa had not been the same. Tom and Lisa were buddies. Separated only by twelve months, they looked like twins, especially when they were playing.
    I think Lisa must still be in mourning or is hiding something, and besides, what’s up with that diary, anyway? Martin, always suspicious, wondered. Lisa is only eight years old, and since when do eight-year-olds keep secret diaries?
    *   *   *
    After dinner, Lisa went quietly to her room. She had been given her own room after Tom’s death.
    Two years ago, Tom, the oldest son, died an unexplained natural death. What surprised Lisa the most was that Mom and Dad insisted on not burying Tom. They sent his body to this crematorium in Oak Lawn, Illinois, for cremation. Now they had another white crystal jar in the living room with Tom’s ashes in