Without Any Warning (A Samantha Jamison Mystery Volume 2) Read Online Free Page A

footsteps fade overhead, and then the sound of running in a northerly direction, away from us.
    When I finally let go of her, Mona collapsed on the sand, breathing heavily. “I think I’m having a heart attack,” she said. “I have to sit down.”
    “I wouldn’t do that, Mona,” I advised in the dark.
    “Do… what?” she asked warily.
    “Sit down,” I replied calmly.
    “Why not? I’m feeling faint.”
    “Remember what you said about bugs and spiders?”
    “…Yeah?” she asked hesitantly.
      “Now add to that crabs and… ” I never got to finish. She shot out of there like a bullet.
    “Ahhhhhh!” She was hopping around in circles on the sandy beach, frantically smacking at her clothing. “Oh, no! Help, Sam! Help me brush my clothing! Quick! Ahhhhhh! I can’t see what’s on me!”
    I promptly reached out and slapped my hand over her mouth again. “Shhhhh! What if he comes back? Quiet! Be thankful he didn’t get anything.” Finally, she stopped, and I slowly removed my hand.
    “Let’s go!” she spat out. “And I mean now! That was too much. What kind of place are you staying at? He could have gotten my purse!” She shuddered. “…Or worse.”
    “Don’t I know it,” I added quickly. “We were lucky. Let’s continue going south. My house is only about two blocks further. We’ll cross over the boardwalk there and enter through the cabana door.”
    As we walked cautiously, keeping an eye out for her attacker in the dimly lit shadows of the boardwalk, Mona turned to me.
    “Initially, this place reminded me of that song, you know, that oldie by the Drifters? Well, after crawling under the boardwalk, I’ve changed my mind. That was definitely not exactly what I envisioned when I heard those lyrics.”
    I started to hum a few bars to keep us company for the rest of the way home.
    “Very funny!” she shot back.
    I swear, that girl had no sense of humor .

 
     
     
    Chapter 9
    Crystal Clear
     
     
    The door closed loudly a few times. I should have been used to it by now, but I jumped with each distracting slam. Although a little sore from the scuffle the night before, I had managed to get up early in preparation for the cleaning crew. Like clockwork, they came once a week, right on schedule. It was part of the package with the house lease.
    After the previous night’s escapade, there was no way I would even attempt to try and clean three floors. This crew made it look effortless. They each attacked a different area and had it done in no time. It was a nice bonus and the beautiful bowl of fresh fruit and bottle of French wine definitely helped seal the deal as I happily signed the papers for the pricey lease just before I arrived.
    I sat there staring at the beach, taking a brief break from my laptop, mulling over last night’s unforeseen trouble that marred a perfectly pleasant evening out with Mona. Sometimes I took too much for granted, my safety in particular. Even though this was a well-protected area, the beach and boardwalk were public domains. Anyone could access the island from the bridges. Even so, an attack like that was rare and unexpected.
    Or was it?
    A loud scream pierced the air. “Get out of here! Who the hell are you? What are you doing in my bathroom?” Another scream followed. And then, “Sam, call the police! We’ve got intruders! Where the hell is my cell phone?”
    “Uh oh,” I said. In all the chaos of last night, I had forgotten to mention that the cleaning crew was coming today. I also forgot to tell the crew’s boss about Mona.
    I heard some commotion in Spanish. Three of the crew flew to the stairs for the other levels. Then I heard someone running down the hall. My hand flew to my mouth to stop my laughing.
    It was Mona, wrapped in nothing but a bath towel, her hair dripping wet, brandishing her weapon of choice, the oversized umbrella. With her other hand, she held her cell phone.
    “Whoever heard of 911 having a busy signal? That’s ridiculous!