Little Bird (Anna Series Book 2) Read online

  Little Bird

  By Lee Alan

  Book 2 of the Anna Series

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

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  Chapter 1: Alive

  Chapter 2: Legacy

  Chapter 3: Goodbye

  Chapter 4: Til Dawn

  Chapter 5: Trial

  Chapter 6: A Friend

  Chapter 7: A Fan

  Chapter 8: Big Bird

  Chapter 9: Plans

  Chapter 10: Family

  Chapter 11: Katlin

  Chapter 12: Journey

  Chapter 13: Queen

  Chapter 14: For Him

  Chapter 15: Eye for an Eye

  Epilogue

  Anna book 3 is out soon!

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  Copyright© 2016 by Honey Badger Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Any resemblence to persons living or dead, businesses, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

  This book contains scenes of violence, sex and strong language. It is not recommended for readers who prefer a gentler romantic story.

  For Mum.

  Please skip the rude bits.

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  www.authorleealan.com

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  Not read Free Bird, book 1 of the Anna series yet? Buy it today!

  Chapter 1

  Anna strolled along a sun–dappled path, enjoying the early afternoon sunshine. Tall, ancient looking trees lined the walkway on each side, obscuring the view beyond. When she looked up, she could see a blue sky punctuated by fluffy clouds undulating across the horizon. It was a glorious day. A gentle, warm breeze brushed through her blonde hair, carrying with it the sound of children laughing, reminding her of days long gone, when she and Julia had run through the school yard together.

  Julia. The name jarred her. Something important about Julia. Golden sunrays ticked her skin, causing the distracting thought to fade like a wisp. She stopped once more to enjoy the simple tranquillity of her surroundings and inhaled. The simple pleasure made her wince, though, as a brief, yet sharp pain in her lungs contrasted with the perfection of the day. A shadow passed over her contented expression.

  Maybe it’s time for a rest, she thought, rubbing her breast bone. I’ve been walking for such a long time… What was it I set out for? The question troubled her. She turned and looked back in the hope of getting an idea, but the path trailed into the distance, exactly the same as the road ahead. No, it seemed that the only thing to do was to carry on until she reached her destination—wherever that was. Maybe I should stay here a little longer? Maybe a lot longer.

  Facing forward again, she became aware of a circular, turfed clearing ahead, bordered by pretty, white lilies. In the center of the clearing, a female figure sat on a knitted blanket. A picnic basket lay next to her, along with an array of tasty–looking dishes. Anna felt oddly reluctant to approach the stranger, but she experienced the overriding compulsion to do so.

  Julia. Her sister’s dark hair was tied in a ponytail—a youthful style she’d not seen Big Bird try for years. She wore a dazzling summer dress that reminded her of the type Mother had used to love.

  “Hey, Little B,” Julia greeted her before making a patting motion next to her. “Take a seat.” Anna needed no encouragement. Her sibling’s picnics were legendary, but even by those impressive standards, this was a veritable feast with rows of salads, pastries, cakes, and dainty, butter–brushed pies—the kind they’d used to bake together. Used to…

  “Wow, you’ve been busy,” she exclaimed, scooping up a particularly tasty–looking cream–covered scone. She took a big bite and it melted in her mouth. The soft, doughy interior burst with a generous dollop of raspberry jam, while the cream was indulgent and fresh. She approved. “These are the best you’ve ever made.”

  Julia smiled and winked, looking beautiful. Her brown–eyed gaze radiated love. “We need to talk, kiddo,” she said after a moment. They both watched a small, emerald–green butterfly land between them.

  “I know,” Anna nodded, already finishing off the scone and moving onto one of the pastries. “I haven’t told you about Corey, yet—he’s amazing!” she said as she nibbled at the crusty treat. “Oh—OMG, Julia! The casino!”

  “Anna.” Julia’s tone held a stern, yet reluctant note. The hard edge to her voice, snapped Anna’s attention back to her sister’s serious expression. “Something’s happened,” Julia said with a sad look in her eye.

  Don’t ask her. Don’t you dare ask! ” What?” she asked in a small, childlike voice.

  “Something bad.” The words sent a chill down Anna’s spine. A dark, angry–looking cloud drifted over them, and the breeze became much cooler.

  “Listen, hon, I need you to know that I will always be here for you.” A tear ran down Julia’s cheek as she spoke. “I won’t let him break you, do you understand? No matter what.” Tony. The name came unbidden, as if her consciousness had overturned a rock, only to discover the ugliest spider underneath. “You need to be strong for both of us now, Little B,” Julia said. She reached out and set her hand on Anna’s chest. “It’s time to grow up, kiddo.”

  The wind grew ever colder, becoming a freezing torrent. It blew through the carefully–arranged spread, scattering its contents across the now frost–covered lawn. “Oh no!” Anna voiced her alarm, looking to Julia for guidance. “The lovely cakes.”

  A downpour started, and great thudding droplets soaked them both, ruining Julia’s beautiful dress. “I love you,” Julia said, pressing her fingers against her breastbone. Immediately, the discomfort returned, infinitely more intense than before. A rising scream caught in Anna’s throat, unable to get out.

  ***

  Corey felt heartbroken as he gazed down at Anna’s sleeping face. The bastard had brutally split her soft, full lips—the same ones that, only three nights ago, he’d caressed. An ugly, black bruise sprawled across her otherwise unblemished cheek and, to complete the outrage, the vicious scumbag had left her with a cracked breast bone and a bad concussion. The doctors said she was lucky to be alive.

  No, he thought with fierce pride, luck had nothing to do with it. He’d discovered the true extent of Anna’s dire situation after calling her cell. A burly–sounding voice had answered as Arizona State P.D., before demanding to know who he was. A cold tendril of fear had shot through his core upon hearing this, but it had been replaced by hope when he learned that she was alive.

  Shortly after, they’d questioned him at the hospital and the police had confirmed the terrible truth. Although they’d stated they weren’t certain that Anna was the victim not the perpetrator, he could tell from their sympathetic manner that there was little doubt. After establishing his own solid alibi, they’d grilled him for what little information he possessed. Following that, he’d faced the challenge of persuading the hospital staff to allow him access to her, and he’d eventually convinced them to call the college to confirm his identity. To his surprise, he’d learned there were no other family members present, and as far as the medical team knew, she had no next of kin to call upon, other than a sister, who was probably the other victim.

  The medical team had assured him that Anna would regain
consciousness in her own time, advising that it was far better to allow her body to achieve this naturally, rather than risk extra distress to her already–battered psyche. He’d agreed, despite his burning desire to uncover how this tragedy had occurred. He was terrified of losing her—the first person he’d ever loved. Although they were still at the beginning of their relationship, the bond between them already felt like fate.

  Their time in Las Vegas had been the most fulfilling experience of his life: a joyous night of fun–filled laughter. The love–making that followed had been most profound, going beyond simple lust. It had been a meeting of two soulmates—the kind of shared understanding that one rarely, if ever, experienced in life.

  Could he give himself over to this gentle, kind woman who’d come into his carefully–structured life and turned it inside out? Yes. The answer was firm. What do I really know about her, though? They’d spent so little time together, in fact, that every effort he’d made to uncover the truth about that fateful night had quickly descended into futile speculation. The police still hadn’t confirmed the identity of the assailant found at the scene, and what, if any, his relationship had been with the sisters.

  He knew she’d been involved with two other men before. The first was Congressman Jim Peterson, a repulsive, self–serving cockroach. Was it possible he’d orchestrated some kind of terrible revenge and maybe paid a local junkie to do the deed? Despite the spiteful comments the guy had directed at Anna during their brief but violent confrontation at the college, Corey felt fairly certain he wasn’t behind the horrific attack. James Peterson was many things, including corrupt, but the jealous mastermind of an unspeakable crime? After several inquiries amongst his own network of friends and colleagues—some with first–hand experience with Congressman Frack—it seemed unlikely that such a self–serving prick would hatch a plan so recklessly brutal. It just didn’t fit his M.O., and based on what Anna had said, his secret intention had been to use her. No, he wouldn’t possess any of the genuine hate–fuelled emotion needed to carry out such a wicked act.

  For the thousandth time since starting his bedside vigil, he tried to recall anything else of value to explain such a tragedy. His mind turned to the ex–boyfriend again—the guy she’d mentioned leaving prior to moving to Phoenix. They’d only briefly discussed the subject, but he remembered an unusual note of sadness in her voice and perhaps even fear when she’d spoken of him.

  The flapping sound of the ward doors interrupted his tortured deliberations. “Excuse me, sir,” said a low male voice. Corey turned to face a middle–aged African American wearing a beige mac and sporting an impressive mustache. He maintained a respectful distance while chewing a piece of gum and gazing at them both with alert curiosity. “Lieutenant Raymond,” he introduced himself and produced his badge. “Homicide Unit.” Corey laid Anna’s hand on the bed and nodded in greeting.

  “I’m here to investigate the incident.”

  “Anything you need from me, you’ve got it,” he replied, hoping to gain a few insights, himself.

  “Mind if I take notes?” The Lieutenant asked as he strolled to the bedside.

  “Sure, but I probably know less than you,” Corey answered honestly. “Two beat cops—sorry, I mean officers—already asked me a bunch of questions.”

  “Indulge me.” The other man fixed him with a gaze that Corey recognized from the boardroom. This guy expected answers. Good. We need him on our side. ”Your name, please?”

  “Corey Young.”

  “May I ask what your relationship is with Miss Price?”

  He felt his cheeks redden. “I’m her college tutor.”

  “Her tutor?” he raised an eyebrow.

  “Well, actually, I’m more than that, now,” Corey admitted, seeing little point in holding back.

  “I see,” the Lieutenant said, rolling the gum around his mouth while seeming to consider his next question. “Have you been together long? Assuming that’s what you mean by ‘more than?’”

  “It is. Only a few days, actually.”

  The gum rolled again. “Can you explain your whereabouts between the hours of two PM and seven PM on Saturday, the first of March?”

  Corey nodded. “Travelling to a business conference in LA. I stayed the night there. I tried to call her Sunday morning.” He suppressed his annoyance at answering the same questions again.

  “Did you see her Saturday?”

  “Yes. We’d spent Friday night together in Vegas. I last spoke to Anna around one–thirty at the parking lot of Scottsdale Community College.”

  The gum stopped rolling. “Did you often meet in the college parking lot?”

  “No,” Corey stated firmly, irritated by the lurid suggestion. “She’d left her car there.”

  “I’m afraid I need to get to the bottom of this, sir, and the quickest way to do that is to be direct.”

  “I know,” Corey agreed, rubbing his crooked neck. “Sorry, Detective. It’s been a long few days. Listen…”

  Lieutenant Raymond raised a finger, cutting him off mid–sentence. “Can you give me some names to verify your whereabouts that day?”

  “Erm, yeah, sure.” He proceeded to give him the details of half a dozen people he’d come into contact with at the airstrip and the energy conference.

  The Detective scribbled the names in a pocket book he’d produced from one of the trench coat’s cavernous pockets. “You’re a wealthy guy, huh? Some kind of millionaire?”

  Corey had to resist the temptation to say, “Billionaire, actually.” Instead, he replied, “Yes.”

  Again, the response was a shrug. “Do you know Anna’s sister, Julia Price?” There was a pointed edge to the question.

  The Officer’s brusque manner made his stomach sink. “No, we haven’t had chance to meet, yet,” Corey answered.

  The flat stare of the burly cop offered no comfort, either. “Do you recognise this man?” The detective continued, producing a single Polaroid picture from another huge pocket.

  “Jesus.” Corey winced, staring at the badly–injured and gaunt appearance of the man in the picture. One of his eyes had been covered by thick gauze, and his sandy, blonde hair was streaked with blood.

  “No, I’ve never seen him before,” Corey admitted, trying to place the face without success. “Is he dead?”

  ***

  “Annnnnnaaaaaa,” the voice called from far away.

  “Anna.” This time, it was much clearer.

  “She’s waking,” said a female voice she didn’t recognize. “Her vital signs are elevated: she’s in pain.”

  “Can’t you give her something?” asked a familiar man’s voice. Corey.

  “We’ll make her more comfortable,” the woman said.

  Anna tried to open her eyes, only to shut them again when a searing, white light flooded her vision.

  “Hey, honey. Welcome back to the world,” the female voice said. “Open them gradually—it’s easier.”

  She tried again slowly this time, and the world swam into focus. The figure before her wore the medical fatigues of a nurse. “Where?” Anna croaked though a throat that felt like it’d been sand–papered.

  “You’re in Saint Joseph’s, hon, and you’re safe.”

  Anna did her best to process the words, but they popped like bubbles in her mind. She attempted to adjust her position, but the movement caused a sharp pain to balloon in her chest.

  “Try not to move, honey,” the nurse urged. “You’ve cracked your breast bone.”

  “Corey,” she mouthed.

  “I’m right here,” he replied, heavy with relief. She felt a comforting hand cup hers.

  “What kind of a date do you call this?” she asked haltingly. Her attempt at levity didn’t end with the laughter she’d hoped for, though.

  Chapter 2

  Julia’s dead. After almost a week, the mantra continued to run round her mind like an alien concept that her entire being rejected, no matter how much reason dictated it must be true. The part of
her already bereaved of two parents said, Fuck logic, fuck reason. My beloved Big Bird must be alive.

  At first, she’d tried to lose herself in the numbing arms of medicine, demanding ever higher doses of morphine. Corey and the medical team soon started to suspect her true motivations, though, and refused to allow her to board the despair train. Worse still, her memories had started to return: images of him, the bastard.

  She dared not think his name any longer, so strong were her feelings of disgust. Unfortunately, that hadn’t stopped his evil sneer from playing on hard rotation in her memory, along with the events that had occurred after she’d entered Julia’s house that day. Since awakening, Anna had developed the unwelcome ability to pause the horror with an inner remote control. Mercifully, the moment she’d opened the bedroom door remained a blank spot, sparing her from the ultimate agony. Her only cold comfort came from the memory of pumping two lead slugs into the creature she’d once lived with.

  That’s where any sense of justice ended, though. Unbelievably, the bastard still drew breath. Corey had attempted to console her with the certainty that a crime as heinous as his would only mean a death sentence, but she found his continued presence on planet Earth an affront to her grief regardless.

  Anna sighed and then stared across the sparsely–furnished hospital room and through the open window, wishing she could fly away. Corey remained the one person preventing her from doing just that. She glanced over at his slumbering form in the visitor’s chair next to her bed and found herself smiling at the cute scar above his left eyebrow.

  He’d stayed by her side the entire time, of course. When she awoke from a particularly bad dream, clutching at her chest and soaked in sweat, he would always be there to provide comfort. It gave her hope to see him reading one of his geeky sci–fi novels, or sleeping in the same clothes he’d worn the previous day. It was hard to believe they had been together for only such a short time. Most men would have run for the hills when confronted by such a damaged and distressed partner, but not her man. Her silent deliberations broke at the sound of the door opening.