Dead Running Read Online Free Page A

down?”
    Damon glanced back at me. “Oh, believe me. I won’t forget the number of a girl I won’t be able to keep up with.”
    Raquel reappeared from flittering around like this was social hour. “Dang,” she whistled long and low, watching Damon disappear. “You are in trouble.”
    I looked down at the clipboard clenched between my fingers. Was I really committing myself to a marathon? Maybe it wouldn’t be as bad as I envisioned. Maybe I could learn to enjoy running. I could always back out if it was too miserable. “Yeah and lucky for me, I know who can help.”
    She smiled. “In exchange for lots of babysitting. Tate and the new baby.”
    “Perfect.” That was a condition I could live with.
    Raquel rubbed her stomach. “You know what? I think this marathon is going to be a great thing. You’re such a fabulous exercise scientist, maybe this will help you get back into your field. I’m proud of you, Cassie.”
    I still considered running from Race Lady, even with the mayor looking on, and changing my name so she couldn’t force me to run this marathon, but Raquel’s belief in me altered the way I viewed this race. Raquel knew exactly what to say to rope me into something I didn’t want to do. She believed in me. It was worse than the nail in the coffin. She’d thrown the last bouquet of daisies on the embossed lid, shoveled in the dirt, and laid sod over my grave.
    I fought it but my eyes leaked a bit. “Thanks, El.”
    Raquel put an arm around my shoulder. “I think your mom and dad would be proud of you too.”
      The words slammed into my chest like some medieval torture, spiky clubs with poison on their tips. Why would Raquel bring up my dead parents? I couldn’t think about them without breaking down. They and Raquel were the only ones who believed I was some sort of superstar. Unfortunately for me, they were all wrong.
    I tried to pull from her embrace. Raquel hugged me tighter. “It’s okay to be sad about them, Cassie. It’s been almost two years and I’ve never seen you cry.”
    That’s because I cried alone. I finally managed to create some distance between us, but Raquel kept her hands on my shoulders and forced me to hold eye contact. She studied me for so long I was afraid her eyes would cross.
    I glared right back. “I just about cried when you told me you were proud of me. But bringing up my parents who deserted their children and grandson so they could save the world? Call me an insensitive jerk, but I don’t waste energy crying about that kind of bunk.”
    Raquel didn’t answer, but she didn’t look away either.
    How did she always know when I was lying? “I’m going to walk so my legs aren’t sore.” I broke from her unnerving stare and unwanted touch.
    I tossed the clipboard on a park bench, stalked to the fence bordering the park, and easily scaled it. Crossing the road, I came to the rickety bridge. I rushed over it, slowing my steps when I hit the trail. I headed east on the trail until I was certain no one from the park could see me. I used to love coming here with my dad when I was little, chucking rocks from our favorite spot along the bank. Dad would laugh when I splashed him.
    Stop it . I came over here to escape thoughts of my parents. I buried my longing for those who loved me the most, and picked through the underbrush down the short slope to the riverbank. My foot struck something soft. I lurched forward. Grabbing a tree branch, I prevented my second nasty spill of the day.
    Pushing some limbs aside to see what I’d tripped over, the oxygen whooshed from my lungs. There was a man lying face down amongst the rotting leaves and dirt.
    My heart pounded faster than during my sprint earlier this morning. “Y-you okay?”
    I knelt down. It was impossible to check his pulse in this position. I climbed above him and pushed. He rolled with the incline, flopping onto his back and exposing the horror of what he’d suffered during his last moments on earth.
    I stared