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Hidden Talents

Hidden Talents

Titel: Hidden Talents Kostenlos Bücher Online Lesen
Autoren: Jayne Ann Krentz
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what would have become of me if you hadn't given me this job. Four months ago I was truly at my wit's end.”
    Serenity smiled. “It works both ways, you know. You're very important to me. You're the only person in Witt's End who has a firm grasp on the concept of regular working hours.”
    “That's probably because I worked regular hours for years until I moved to Witt's End.”
    Serenity glanced at the ring in Zone's nose. “Hard to imagine you in a conventional job.”
    “Graphic design isn't exactly a conventional job. Still, I have to admit that I didn't wear a ring in my nose then. And I wore suits instead of these robes. And I was engaged to a stockbroker.”
    “A stockbroker? I can't see you with a stockbroker. What happened?”
    “I realized one day that I was unhappy. I went looking for something else. I started down my own, personal path to enlightenment. It led me here to Witt's End.”
    “Well, I for one am grateful.”
    “So am I.” Zone went back to sweeping beans. “I've been happy here. I've felt safe.”
    “Safe?”
    “Until this past week,” Zone whispered. Without any warning her face crumpled. She started to cry. She dropped the broom and gazed helplessly at Serenity through a veil of tears.
    “ Zone .” Serenity hurried out from behind the counter. She dashed down the aisle, put her arms around her assistant and hugged her close. “What's wrong?”
    “I'm so scared, Serenity.” Zone wiped her eyes with the edge of one long saffron sleeve. “I don't know if I'm going out of my mind or if he's really here.”
    “Who are you talking about?”
    “My ex-fiancé.” Zone's shoulders shook as she leaned against Serenity. “I saw him last night. At least I think I did. He was outside my cabin staring in at me through the window.”
    “What happened?”
    “I screamed and pulled the curtains. Then I ran through the house checking all the locks. But nothing happened. There was no knock on the door. The phone didn't ring. I felt like a fool, but I spent the night huddled in the closet with the pistol I brought with me from L.A.”
    “Good grief. How awful. You should have called someone.”
    “I know it sounds stupid, but I was afraid to leave the closet until dawn. This morning I told myself I'd imagined everything. I made myself go outside. There was no sign of him. Not even a footprint under the window where I thought I saw him.”
    “It rained last night,” Serenity reminded her.
    “I know, but I started to wonder if I'd had another terrible vision. I was so careful when I left. He can't possibly know where I am.”
    “Who?”
    “Royce Kincaid. I was so frightened of him. Everyone thought he was such a wonderful catch. The perfect man, they all said. Handsome, successful, intelligent, well-mannered. Perfect. Too perfect. He's a monster, Serenity.”
    “Did he hurt you?”
    Zone nodded and wiped her eyes again. “It started right after I moved in with him, and it got worse very quickly. He wouldn't let me out of his sight except when I was at work. He accused me of having affairs. He got enraged if I went shopping with some of my friends. He wouldn't let anyone come to see me. I had no family to call, no one to help me.”
    “What did you do?”
    “I packed my bags one day and managed to escape. I went back to my old apartment. He showed up at the door and threatened to kill me. Told me I'd be sorry for leaving him. I believed him, so I ran.” Zone dashed tears from her eyes. “I've been running for nearly a year. When I found Witt's End, I thought everything would be all right.”
    “But you saw him last night?”
    “I thought it was him,” Zone whispered brokenly. “But now I'm not so certain. This is the second time it's happened.”
    “When was the first time?”
    “The night Ambrose died. I was meditating at the window, letting myself drift with the fog, really becoming one with it. There was a lot of fog that night.”
    “I remember.”
    “I thought I saw a glow of light in the mist. Then I could have sworn I saw the silhouette of a man moving through the trees in front of my cottage. I told myself it couldn't be Royce, but I knew it wasn't Blade, either. Something about the shape of him. He wasn't big enough.”
    “Did you see his face?”
    “No. He was all bundled up in a heavy, hooded coat. Before I could decide if I was imagining things, the glow disappeared and so did the man.”
    “The glow could have been a flashlight reflecting off the fog.”

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