Free The Haunting by Nicole Garcia Page A

met. I have been to your club numerous times."     
          Kelly jumped up and moved closer to the wall. "I knew it! You're some kind of creepy stalker."     
          He stood and stepped a little closer to her. "No! Will you just listen to me?"     
         "Please don't hurt me."     
         "Dammit Kelly, if I wanted to hurt you I would have done it already."      
         "Yeah, you mean like choking me on the bus?"      
         Jace closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose trying to find the patience to explain. "I said that was an accident. I didn't mean to do that. My boss frequents the club a few times a week. Most of the time he gets so drunk and disruptive that I have to carry him out."     
         "Wait, who's your boss again?"     
         "Cesar Gonzales."      
         He saw something click in her eyes figuring she now remembered seeing him before. "Cesar Gonzales, the drug kingpin? The tall dark haired man that always wears a long black leather coat?"     
         "Yeah, that would be him."     
         "That man is a pig. His hands are always where they shouldn't be. You're the one I've seen dragging him off the stage or through the crowd."     
         "Yes, it seems that you are Cesar's favorite dancer and when he's drinking and high on drugs there's no talking to him. I’m the only one strong enough to handle him."     
         Kelly moved closer to him and softly kissed his cheek. "Thank you."     
         Jace was in a state of shock. "What was that for?"     
         "For always protecting me even when I thought I didn’t need it."     
    He smiled at her.  "You're welcome. What do you say we go downstairs and take a break from all the crap that’s happened today?  I wish we had some food or water. I'm starving."     
         Kelly laughed. "You're starving? Even after all the food you ate for breakfast."    
         "Yes, I'm a growing boy."     
         Kelly looked around the unfinished bathroom and saw a toolbox under the sink.     
         "What are you doing?"     
         "I can't get us food, but I might be able to get water. Aha!" Kelly pulled out a needle nose pliers and placed it on the faucet stem. "The water is still turned on. They just removed all the handles." She turned the tool until water flowed into the sink.     
         Jace was surprised. "Wow, way to think on your feet."     
         "Not really. I'll have to remember to thank my good for nothing superintendent. This is how I have to use my kitchen sink if I want a glass of water or have to wash dishes."      
         Jace laughed. "You're kidding me right?"      
         "I'm very serious."     
          They both took turns drinking water out of the sink. It wasn't the best tasting water. It kind of tasted like dirt. Not much could be expected since the house had been abandoned for so many years.  Kelly had found some matches on the desk in the office. She put them in her pocket and hoped they would be useful. There were many silver ornate candelabras placed in all the rooms. She lit the one next to the club foot bathtub and they proceeded into the pitch black hallways. Kelly abruptly stopped at the door where Lance Smith was locked in.     
         Jace put his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. He can't get out. I locked the door and I put the key right here in my pocket."      
         Kelly breathed a sigh of relief as they continued down the hall to the main staircase. She stopped just before turning the corner. "Shh, listen."     
         "Sounds like a rocking chair that needs some oiling. This is an old house with old furniture. Scott’s downstairs. He's probably sitting in one of the chairs down there rocking himself to sleep.”     
         Kelly stood still for a moment listening to the creaking chair going