White Wolf 2: The Call of a Soul Read Online Free Page B

nightdress.
    “I know Eddie has a rap sheet, but who in Chabegawn would kill him? It gives me the creeps thinking it might be someone we know, maybe even someone on the reservation.” Susie rolled over to face Melanie. “Mama works at the casino. She could be passing by the killer every day.”
    More like multiple killers, considering the violence of the crime, but Melanie didn’t want to make her sister worry more than she was already. “I heard Pincer saying jealousy was probably the motive behind the killing. Some angry husband or boyfriend.”
    “There’s one good thing about this—Pincer’s in charge. Since he’s been sheriff, things have gone back to the way they used to be.”
    By some unspoken agreement, no White family member ever referred to Gramps and Papa’s deaths, though they’d both died on the same day less than a week before Boyd Dorland’s killing.
    Melanie snorted. “Yeah. He did a great job of solving Chabegawn’s only murder.”
    “Until this one. You gotta get over it, sis. Pincer’s been good for this town. And I don’t—”
    “Gray have early morning football practice?” Melanie didn’t want to have the same argument they always had about the sheriff. Susie liked the man, Melanie didn’t.
    “No. He warned me not to make any noise when I get up. Wants to sleep in. And Mama’s going in late too. There’s a special event at the casino tomorrow night, and Geraldine asked her to help again.” Susie rekneaded her pillow.
    Lately Mama’d been earning a ton of extra money with those special events. “I think she enjoys doing them.”
    “Are you kidding? She loves it. Heck, anything’s better than being in that cashier’s cage all night. So bo-ring.” Susie crossed her eyes.
    Melanie pattered into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
    “Coach ran us ragged tonight. My ass and quads are going to burn like crazy.”
    Now that sounded more like her sister. “Did you put on that ointment I made for you?” Melanie hung up the damp towel.
    “I did. But I don’t think even that miracle paste will work.”
    Susie had the covers up to her nose when Melanie returned to the bedroom.
    “I promise I’ll be extra quiet in the morning.” She slipped under the sheets.
    Susie switched off the lamp. “Night, sis. Love you.”
    “Love you back.”
    Melanie stared at the ceiling.
    Her grandmother had begun training Melanie in the ways of the maggishahwi prior to her untimely death. Another if only. Melanie knew it was her lack of knowledge that only allowed her to hear a last call. Gramma had been able to anticipate, to feel that first wound, and try to rescue.
    Some days life seemed too overwhelming. Like today, first Mike and the cub, and then Eddie. How on earth was she going to face Mike after that searing kiss?
    Melanie lay awake, replaying the feel of Mike’s coarse tongue in her mouth, and a flash of heat peppered beads of perspiration all over. She threw off the bedcovers.
    Susie lapsed into a soft snoring.
    Would she ever get him out of her system? Eight years had passed since she’d first met him in their senior year. And not once in those eight years had she been attracted to any other man. The truth was that she’d had several opportunities to date other men.
    Justin Laroque had asked her out earlier this year. To a movie in Grand Rapids. She’d known what that meant. His kind didn’t date her kind, not in the open anyway. The Laroques didn’t do the Caboose. The clientele was too lowbrow for country club members like them.
    Yet since that invitation, Justin had started popping in for the odd breakfast. A while back, he mentioned needing a date for a party. In the next county. Melanie had smiled and refused. How stupid did she look? As if she’d get in a car alone with him.
    There had been other invitations, none of which she accepted. If only she’d been able to even picture kissing one of the men who asked her out, Melanie would’ve jumped at the