Sicko

By Patti Larsen

A strange sickness is killing paranormals, leaving the girls baffled. When one of the trio catches the sickness, time is running out to find a cure while, it seems, everyone who should be on their side is doing their best to stop them...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patti Larsen
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781989925058

Patti Larsen

About me, huh? Well, my official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is a multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn’t it? I’m a storyteller who hears character's demands so loudly I have to write them down. I love the idea of sports even though sports hate me. I’ve dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.But always, always, writing books calls me home.I’ve had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It’s the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.As for the rest of it, I’m short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can’t seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my pug overlord and overlady, six lazy cats and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

Book preview

Sicko

The Nightshade Cases: Book Thirteen

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 by Patti Larsen

Find out more about Patti Larsen at http://www.pattilarsen.com/home

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter One

If she’d stop nagging, he might make it home faster. Instead of saying that out loud, he instead bit his tongue and forced a cheerful tone.

I’m on my way to the car now. Can I pick up anything for dinner?

That might appease her. Depended on the old battle axe and her current mood. Thirty years of marriage and three kids later and he couldn’t help but wish for a do-over.

That chocolate cake I like, she said, the wheedling tone in her voice making his stomach churn. Not that he was Adonis or anything, but she’d been blaming the kids for her baby weight since their oldest was born. Twenty-three years ago.

He hung up, sighing into the warm, California evening, shuffling his phone, briefcase and the keys to his car, waiting for him in its usual place, the painted 212 under his chassis well-earned. Not everyone in the company had their own spot, did they? His work, at least, satisfied. As did the sweet, new secretary he’d hired who was more than happy to stay behind after hours for some extra-curricular activities.

Well, he wasn’t getting any at home. The old bitch should be grateful he’d found someone else to stick it to.

His phone slipped, keys hitting the ground a moment later, curse escaping him when he doubled over to try to catch the falling ring. The muggy air wasn’t helping, a bead of sweat trickling from his graying temple toward his eye, forcing him to wipe at the stinging liquid, grunting faintly while he retrieved his property.

Started to rise.

Felt in the same moment he heard someone approach, impact against his back, soft growling sound over the thud of a footfall, so fast, too fast, to react. To do anything but gasp when something sharp that burned with agony bit deep into the fleshy part of his hand.

Just before the full weight of his attacker carried him to the ground and dove for his throat. He shoved off the thin, wiry bundle in the torn dress, hearing her body impact the side of his car before she shrieked something unintelligible and ran away.

His hand ached, but he was safe.

And lucky to be alive.

***

She hummed softly over the spreading bouquet, delighted by the outcome of her newest design. The bride-to-be would love it, she was positive of that. Six more to go tonight in preparation for the engagement dinner, the blushing pink roses mixing with the scent of fresh greens and the particular almondy, cherry pie smell she’d convinced her client would complement the bouquets. The delicate purple heliotropes did their job to perfection.

Damn it, her bin was full. She heaved the hefty green container into her arms, carrying it, back aching from long hours on her feet, toward the side exit and the dumpster on the other side. One of the girls had offered to stay and help, but this was her shop, and besides, her bills were high enough as they were. This commission meant a bit of padding in her account at the end of the month. She stretched at the door, both roughened hands on the small of her back, messy bun at the nape of her lined neck sticking to her damp skin. She was getting too old for this, maybe.

She sighed as she unlocked the door and pushed it open with one sneaker. She’d be home in a few hours, take some pain meds, have some wine and a few bites of brownies out of the fridge before falling asleep on her couch.

The green plastic garbage can wasn’t heavy empty, but filled with cuttings of flowers? She groaned as she lifted it high enough to dump the fragrant contents into the trash. The lid slid shut through her tired hands, banging down louder than she planned, making her jump.

Giggled at her silly reaction.

Turned with the can in both hands.

Inhaled to scream too late as something leaped for her from the black, knocking aside the trash container, pinning her to the ground, teeth on her throat. She fought him, the man in the torn suit, no soft victim, this woman, fighting for her life with the viciousness of a single woman who refused to go easily.

His teeth sank into the flesh of her forearm, just as her fist impacted the side of his head. He ran, abandoning the attack, leaving her shaking and cradling her bleeding arm.

Stupid. And lucky to be alive.

***

She hated children, always had. Turned up her thin, angular nose at the fingerprints on the inside cover of the book returned just that afternoon, lips in a narrow line of disapproval, a bubbling anger she just managed to hide rising as she scanned the title’s bar code.

Yes, it was a chapter book intended for little ones. And yet, the lack of respect for someone else’s property? If she had her way, there would be no children.

Never mind the implications of that. Her dry and shriveled womb had rejected the idea of procreation long ago, so why should others benefit from such biological perfection? She carefully set the book onto the large rolling cart next to her and