Storm Front Read Online Free

thinking of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Even though it had been years before, pictures of people attempting to fly out of the towers in futile attempts to live had been seared on her brain. Safety and security were relative terms and nothing would ever be the same. Thank God Sheridan was away from anything any terrorist would find interesting.
    Maddy flipped to the sports section and saw that the Red Wings had lost, which meant that Mike would be unhappy. However, the college basketball season and March Madness were in high gear, which meant Mike would be happy. She smiled to herself. Men were so predictable. A rare steak, a good beer, and somebody shooting hoops and Mike would be as content as a guy could be without getting in the sack.
    She had dressed casually for what was going to be an active day. Once upon a time, teachers all wore dresses no matter what they were doing and how awkward and uncomfortable they would be. Thankfully, common sense and women’s rights now prevailed. She’d never worn a skirt or dress to work and didn’t know anybody who had. She threw a change of clothing and some toiletries into a small overnight bag. Dinner with Mike was on the agenda and she would want the opportunity to freshen up after a day with kids. Despite the unfulfilled passion of the previous night, her indecision regarding sex with him had returned. She still doubted if she was ready to take the final step with him. Too many ghosts. Too much pain.
    Finally, she was ready and out the door. The damp cold surprised her. It really felt like something wet was going to happen, but she couldn’t recall rain or snow being predicted. Just what the place needed, she thought, a little more rain or snow on top of what was already on the ground.
    Then she recalled that this was going to be a big week for Mike and she fervently hoped that nothing happened to screw it up for him.
    * * *
    Mike Stuart left the drive-through window with the necessities of a policeman’s life: Two dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. No, he wasn’t going to eat them all himself. That would spoil his athletic figure. Instead, he would have a couple of them and let the omnivores in the station have the rest. He decided to eat his before the others swarmed him or called him greedy for taking more than one, conveniently forgetting in their donut-lust that he’d paid for them. Hell, he was a bachelor, which meant breakfasts were usually nonexistent unless he opted for a Pop Tart.
    He pulled his SUV into a parking spot and munched the first one, letting the high sugar content jar his nervous system out of neutral. Surprisingly, he had slept well the night before. After the intense but unfulfilling physical encounter with Maddy, he’d thought he’d toss and turn for hours, but it hadn’t happened. Instead, he felt that he was making real progress with the lovely and very complex woman he was certain he loved. Damn, he thought, the guys at the station, especially his buddy Stan Petkowski, were teasing him enough already.
    He did wonder just how far they would have gone if Maddy’s damned roommates hadn’t showed up. Maybe not as far as he wanted, he thought. He still sensed reluctance on Maddy’s part. He would be patient. Patience was a virtue. He thought of himself as being on a long stakeout that had the possibility of a very rewarding conclusion.
    A light mist was forming on the windshield, and that didn’t surprise him. The air was damp, and had the feel that people said smelled and tasted like rain. Rain meant slippery roads and slippery roads meant accidents. He didn’t need that kind of complication this morning. Why couldn’t it be sunny and seventy? Because this was Michigan in March and anything could and usually did happen when it came to the weather.
    The sound of an approaching siren distracted him. A fire engine was nearing the intersection and wanted to go against the red light. Mike wondered how many drivers would pull over