Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

hope that the ordeal would end. Then, just as she would feel the light, darkness would return as the storm seemed to redouble its efforts to destroy the tiny ship, and her fears would return.
She prayed, she begged, she pleaded for the storm to end. Sleep was impossible. No sooner than she would close her eyes, the ship would lurch violently and her eyes would open wide. Demons, given shape and form by the flickering light of the swinging lantern, danced about her cabin, adding to her fear. And so it went through the night, with each hour feeling like a day.

CHAPTER 14
    THE PHONE WOULD NOT stop ringing. Despite the storm, Max picked up the phone. Before she could even say “hello,” Patti’s voice grabbed her.
    “I am so excited. Can you believe that Dave said yes to going up North with you and Jack?”
    “Hey, Patti. Yes, I heard.”
    “We are going shopping.” The excitement in Patti’s voice was contagious. Next to photography, shopping was Patti’s favorite pursuit.
    “What about the guys?”
    “They won’t care. Dave told me that this place has miles and miles of running trails and since they are getting ready for that race, they’ll want to go run in the woods. That means we’ll be free to shop till we drop.”
    Patti had it all figured out. “And, as long as …”
    Max cut her off. “Patti. Stop. There are running trails?”
    “Yeah. Yeah. Didn’t Jack tell you?”
    “No. He seemed to have forgotten that part.”
    “Yeah. They can go run while we go shopping.” Before Max could reply, she continued. “I’m so psyched.”
    “Patti, have you checked out this place?”
    “Not really, I just know what Dave told me. Something about quilts.”
    “I did, but I must have missed the part about running trails. It’s called The Quilt House and it goes back to the 1700s. Each room is named for a quilt.”
    “That’s nice.” Patti really didn’t care; she was thinking only of shopping.
    They talked for another five minutes before Max heard the sounds of two sets of feet on the stairs. Cat arrived first. She bounded up and jumped onto the arm of the couch, stopped, and stared at Max with a look that said, “I’m here.” Then she began to purr. She climbed into Max’s lap, head-butted, and then pushed her head into the phone as if to say, “Pay attention to me. Me. Me. Me.”
    “Cat. Stop it,” Max said as she pushed the insistent cat away. “Patti, I’ve gotta’ go. Jack just got back. Talk to you later … Bye.”
    She hung up the phone as Jack reached the top of the stairs. Cat, seeing his arrival, jumped down and began her “Feed me―I’m the center of the universe” dance.
    “Hey, Max. What’s up?”
    “Not much. I’ve been chilling and reading and I just got off the phone with Patti. She’s really excited.”
    “That’s what Dave told me.”

CHAPTER 15
    “HELLO,” MALCOM CALLED OUT as he pressed the door closed. The latch clicked and the small bell that was attached to the door jingled again. He looked around. As his eyes adjusted to the low light inside, he could see shelves and counters filled with the most eclectic assortment of stuff and it gave him hope.
    He smiled. “Timing is everything,” he thought to himself. It was the first week after Labor Day. Schools had started, so the summer crowds were absent. After nearly three decades of running the Inn, they had learned that this was the best time of year to go searching for new things with which to decorate the Inn, and this year it was his turn. The roads weren’t so crowded and the tourists who remained seemed more relaxed.
    The drive down to Essex, Massachusetts, had taken over two and a half hours. He had two reasons for choosing this destination. First, he had heard that there were many antiques shops in the Essex/Ipswich area, and second, Ipswich was where the Rockdog Run would be held in November. He was looking forward to running it for the first time. Today, if all went well, he would be able to get all of his treasure hunting done in time to go for a run on those trails before the long ride home.
    He was studying a brass lantern when a voice close by startled him. “Oh, hello. I didn’t hear the bell ring. I hope you haven’t been here long.”
    Malcom jumped slightly and turned toward the voice as he put the lantern back down on a display case. “No. No. Not long at all,” he stammered. In an effort to regain his composure, he reached out, offering his right hand in greeting to the man who