The Fall Girl Read Online Free Page A

the sunlight.
    “Right, I’m gonna have a quick shower, then I’ll get your grub,” she informed the chihuahua’s stiff, caramel-coloured back. She took the three strides into the
small bathroom and picked up her toothbrush. A minute later she heard Kinky barking savagely in the room below.
    Muttering darkly, Lexy descended backwards down the steep steps to the living area, and joined him at the window that looked west, over the water meadows. Kinky’s hackles were raised, not
that anyone would notice, they were so tiny, and he was scrabbling at the window.
    She stared out. Nothing, of course.
    “Knock it off, Kinky. You’ve got me down here now, which was what you wanted.”
    Lexy tore open a packet of dog biscuits and poured them into the chihuahua’s bowl. Uncharacteristically, he ignored the sound, remaining with his nose pushed against the window.
    She turned to go back to her shower. Perhaps he’d gone deaf?
    “Oi, dummy – your breakfast’s here.”
    He gave a sharp bark.
    Lexy stopped short, then moved to the window, staring into the eerie vapours outside.
    What the hell was that, making its way along the raised meadow dyke to the side of the cabin? She pressed her face against the cold glass.
    It was the thing she’d glimpsed the day before! Big, black and shaggy, with a large head, and gleaming yellow eyes. If it was a dog, it was a huge one. No wonder Kinky was so incensed. At
least he’d seen it this time, which meant it was real. She blinked rapidly. Damn – it had disappeared into the mist.
    She ran for the door. Kinky leapt after her. If Lexy wanted to chase the black interloper along the river front wearing just her t-shirt and undies, he wasn’t going to argue.
    They sped down the wooden stairs together, Lexy just managing to grab the chihuahua before he launched himself through the cat flap, locked or not. She fumbled to unlatch the front door, one
hand on the dog’s collar. They peered out. The cold sea mist was now furling around the cabin, making it difficult to see anything further than ten yards away, although Lexy could just make
out the ghostly outlines of the marquees on the bank opposite. Metallic clanks and clashes echoed from the site. Kinky struggled to be free.
    “No way,” Lexy muttered. She reached up with one hand to grab a small chain from a hook by the door, and clipped it to his collar. Until she’d cleared up this mystery, Kinky
would have to be supervised at all times. She couldn’t afford any more vet bills. And she wasn’t talking about vet bills for the chihuahua.
    “Morning, moi luvver!”
    Lexy jumped violently as one of her neighbours, a hale and hearty type called Lonny, loomed out of the mist, carrying a fishing line.
    “Blimey, girl, aren’t you cold in that little outfit? Oh, yeah – I can see you are. Want warming up?”
    “No – you’re all right, “ Lexy assured him, folding her arms in front of her chest, wishing that Kinky would hurry up with the activity in which he was now engaged.
“Er... Lonny – let me know if you see anything unusual today.”
    The fisherman stopped with a grin. “Like what? A bird in scanty underwear?”
    “No,” said Lexy, patiently. “A... well, a big, black, shaggy dog-thing, actually.”
    “You mean Old Shuck?” The fisherman gave an explosive laugh.
    “What – you know it? Is it someone’s dog?” Lexy felt a pulse of relief. She’d have to keep Kinky under close surveillance until she had a chance to introduce him to
this particular canine neighbour. Must be a wolfhound or something. But at least it wasn’t...
    “No, luvver. Old Shuck’s one of them local legends. A ’uge black hound of the Devil. Oh, dear, oh, dear – you ain’t seen him, ’ave you?”
    “Course not,” Lexy snapped. “Come on, Kinky.” She dragged the indignant chihuahua back into the hallway, listening to Lonny’s laughter echoing through the mist.
    A mythical hell hound. Great. Lexy might kid herself she wasn’t