Page 32 of Crown of Death
I’ve known Eli since I was a freshman in high school. Spent countless hours with him. Accepted him as a part of mylife.
But Cyrus says it’s been sixteen years since he disappeared from Mississippi. What if… Is there any chance that he’s really been there, quiet, in the shadows, for nearly my entirelife?
Who is Eli? Because apparently, he is not the man that I came to think of as a familymember.
At three-thirty I’ve cleaned every surface of the prep room. I’ve organized the casket selection room twice. The chapel is as clean as ever. So I pack up my things and walkupstairs.
Like he hasn’t moved a muscle, Emmanuel still stares at that computerscreen.
“Need anything else?” I ask. He’s working so intently, I’m actually a little concerned. He’s not usually soabsorbed.
“Thank you, Logan,” he says. “I’ll see youtomorrow.”
A sad little smile on my lips, I turn, and headoutside.
I’m only two steps down the stairs when Mina steps out of the shadows, sunglasses still inplace.
“Did you enjoy your boring day of waiting for me to run?” I ask as I head to my car. Sweat immediately breaks out onto my forehead. It’s hot, summer ramping up to fullswing.
“Delightful,” she mutters. We both slide into the seats and I start the engine, cranking the airconditioning.
“I thought Cyrus was going to meet us after I got off,” Isay.
But at the same moment the words are out of my mouth, a sleek, black car pulls up beside mine. The back window rolls down, and Cyrus looks over at us through his blackshades.
I roll my window down, a sense of dread and excited anticipation creeping up mythroat.
“I hope you had a pleasant day,” he says. And the vibrations of his voice send goose bumps flashing over myarms.
I don’t know what to say. No, it wasn’t a pleasant day. Really, in anyaspect.
“Follow me,” he says. And his window rolls back up, and he disappears behind the dark tint of hiswindows.
I let out a big breath. I didn’t realize I had been holding itin.
The black car pulls out onto the main road and I follow it as it turns right. I pull in a breath, about to ask Mina where we are going, but I remember that she doesn’t want to talk to me, and she is not my friend, even though she’s sitting in the seat that is usually only occupied byAmelia.
Through town we drive, and we cross the border into Cherico. With a right turn, I see a sign for the Cherico MunicipalAirport.
My brows furrow in confusion as I follow behind the black car, and then we park in two of the five spaces in front of a grayhangar.
I’m about to climb out, when my door suddenly opens, and I look up to see Cyrus holding it open. He looks down at me with those shades, and holds a hand out formine.
Hesitantly, I take it, and he pulls me up and to myfeet.
“Follow me, Miss Pierce,” Cyrus says, offering a little smile and turning. Briskly, he walks to a small door in the side of thehanger.
I look him over as we walk, and I trail behindhim.
Where as Cyrus wore an expensive and powerful suit yesterday, today he wears a pair of jeans that hug his legs and a black button-upshirt.
I didn’t fail to notice how he left the top three unbuttoned. Exposing a lean and firmchest.
He holds the door open for me, and I try to ignore the terrified electricity that crackles down my veins as I stepinside.
I expected dark, an enclosed space. Instead, I’mblinded.
A huge door, like a garage, is open, so the entire front side of the hangar is open. A big cement floor stretches out. Off to one side is an enclosed office. Out here there are four old recliners, broken down and worn looking. Pictures adorn the walls. All taken from theair.