Bound, Chalen D. [notion reading list txt] 📗

go through the pictures. They were sitting on the floor in Martie’s office.

“I don’t get it.” He said. “I was sure to find something there.”

“Maybe we should go back.”

“Wait Morgan, Where is this well?”

“It’s a little bit away from the yellow tape. Why?”

“Can you show me?”

“Yeah.”

They got up and got into his truck. Once at the tape line they each put on a work belt which held a couple of different knifes a small sharp ax and a couple of Bright flash lights. Martie handed Morgan a pile of rope as she slung it onto her shoulder. He slung one onto his arm, and they both grabbed the long ladder. Martie flipped on a flash light and Morgan pointed him in the way. Martie stuck his flash light in.

“I think I can see the bottom. Hand me a rock will you?”

Morgan found a rock and he tossed it in. It splashed at the bottom.

“Alright.”

He handed Morgan his rope.

He set the latter inside and climbed down.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you can’t?” Martie asked. “You’re my partner.”

“I’m kind of pregnant.”

He glared at her and climbed down.

“What does it look like?” Morgan called down.

“There’s a lot of water. And there’s strange marks on the walls. I’m taking pictures.”

And his light went out.

“Martie?” Morgan demanded. “Martie!” She hissed.

She stuck her upper half into the well, and lost her footing.

“Martie!” She yelled, as she fell in.

She closed her eyes braced for impact, but someone caught her on the bottom.

“I thought you were pregnant. What are you doing free falling?” Martie demanded.

He let her go and she plopped in water belly button deep.

“What if there’s snakes in here?”

“Who cares about the snakes. Take some pictures of the wall will you?”

Morgan turned around to the other wall. He was right. There was random signs on the wall. They took pictures.

“I’m going to see if I can get one of these bricks lose.” Martie set his camera on the ladder, and Morgan followed suit.

“Wiggle the other side.”

Morgan did as she was told.

“Shit!” Martie yelped and he was under water.

“Martie!” Morgan flashed her light around but the water was too dark.

She gulped in a breath and dunked into the water. They both came up for air Martie laughing.

“Ass hole!” Morgan smacked him hard. “I could have drowned!”

“You could have stood up.”

“I’m done.” She grabbed her camera and climbed up the ladder, Martie following close.

They pulled the ladder out, and then headed back to the truck. Morgan wrapped up in the seat blanket. It took them an hour and a half to get back to the office.

“I smell like a gutter after a rain storm.”

“Yeah, you’re not too fresh.”

“Shut up!” She pushed him. “Do you want help with these stupid pictures or not?”

It took an hour to develop the pictures, and they were off to Martie’s floor.

“They kind of look like tally marks.” Morgan said after thirty minutes of comparing pictures. “Like someone was counting the days they were down there.”

“I’m going to call the cops. I’ll be back.”

“Good idea.”

Martie left the office and Morgan pulled his pictures closer. There was little numbers at the end of a tally line. Morgan heard foot steeps approaching.

“Martie, I think these are dates!” She exclaimed, “Hand me the magnifying glass on your desk will you?”

The end of a magnifying glass came into view.

“Thanks,” She grabbed it.

But Martie didn’t let go. Confused she looked up.

“Carson!” She yelped standing up. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for you.”

“I’m working.”

“It’s midnight.” He sniffed. “Why do you smell like gutter water?”

“I kind of fell into a well.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath, “You what?”

“It’s not a big deal.”

“What where you doing near a well Morgan?” He quietly hissed in the dark.

“Helping Martie. We might have found a lead-“

“Your soaking wet. You going to get sick. It’s time to come home and shower.”

“But the lead-“

“Will be here tomorrow.” He said, grabbing her wrist. “You have to be careful Morgan. You’re pregnant now.”

She let Carson pull her out of the car.

“I’ll follow you home. And don’t try to lose me. There’s a tracking device in your car.”

Morgan got in. She was pissed. Did He not trust her? She got into the car, and found the tracker stuck in the air vent. Rookie mistake. And this was her neighborhood. She knew the streets.

Losing Carson was easy. She tossed the tracker out the window and went back to the office. She grabbed the extra clothes she kept for work and headed inside. She brought fresh clothes ever since she went on a hunt with Martie, fell down a hill and landed in a pool of thick mud. Martie was still on the phone. She hurried to his office changed, and tossed her almost dry hair into a clip. She had about ten minutes until Carson found her again. 

She grabbed the magnifying glass, and looked over the pictures. They were estimates of dates. She grabbed them and set them on the desk Martie stood by.

“Dates.” She muttered, handing him the magnifying glass.

He looked veer the pictures.

“We have pictures.” Martie explained. “Yes I can drop them off at the station.”

He hung up. “You can head home if you want.”

“I don’t have a choice.” She muttered as Carson’s car pulled up.

She grabbed her purse and ran to his car. He didn’t say anything as she got in. Didn’t say anything on the way home. She took a shower. Carson was in bed. She climbed in.

“I know you’re not sleeping.” She pulled on his arm. “Come on.” She sighed, and smacked him in the head with the pillow.

“Seriously?” He called after her.

She came back in and scooped up Belle.

“Really?” He demanded.

“Really.” She left the room.

She flopped on the couch, and curled up. She didn’t sleep. She was starting at the wall when Carson came over with a cup of coffee.

“Hey.” He said carefully.

Morgan turned away from him and his peace offering. Carson sat down.

“Come on.” He rubbed her arm.

“Don’t touch me.” She nudged him with her elbow.

Her cell phone went off. By the time she turned to grab it Carson had it at his ear.

“Hello?” He listened. “We’ll be there soon.” He hung up her phone, “You’re needed at the police station.”

She grabbed her phone and went upstairs getting dressed. Carson drove her to the station, and after getting Grilled Morgan was free to go.

“Are you hungry?” He asked.

Her arms where crossed and She looked out her window.

“Why do we live in the middle of nowhere?” She demanded.

“Are you hungry?” He asked.

She didn’t answer him. She lowered herself in her seat and pushed up her sunglasses. Of course I’m hungry Idiot, She thought, I’m pregnant. He pulled into her favorite fast food place. He bought her some food and they drove home. Morgan sat down on the couch crossing her arms.

“Okay.” Carson set the bag of her food on the coffee table, and backed away slowly. Morgan tried to not laugh. “I’m going to hide in the upstairs closet, so you can eat in peace.”

Carson turned and ran up the stairs. Morgan peeked into the foyer. She grabbed her bag a blanket and the dog and went into the backyard. She hid behind a hedge. She spread out the blanket, and stuffed her face. She brought Belle with her so Carson couldn’t use her to sniff Morgan out.

“Belle?” Carson called from the back door. The two females looked at each other eyes wide. “Puppy?”

“Don’t you even dare.” Morgan threatened the dog.

“Treat?” Carson called.

And Belle bolted to the door. Maybe Morgan should have held a fry under Belle’s nose. It wasn’t long before Carson was looking down at her barefoot, handsome, and a smile playing on his mouth.

“What are you doing?”

“Hiding from you.” She gathered her trash.

“And why would you do that?”

“Because you’re mad at me.”

“I am not.”

“Yes you are.” She stood up, and grabbed the blanket.

She wrapped it around herself.

“Baby wait!” Carson called following her. “Don’t use that blanket. It was in the grass you’ll get itchy.” Morgan dropped the blanket and walked inside. She hated how He knew her so well now. Carson sighed, snagged the blanket as he passed it and went inside. He watched from the kitchen door way, leaning against the frame.

“What is your problem?” She demanded. “Us girls are supposed to stick together.”

Belle Whined.

“No.” Morgan told her, “You sided with the opposite sex. You’re a Trader!”

Belle flipped over stomach up.

“Nope.” Morgan crossed her arms. “Trader.”

Belle whined and army crawled closer, and then flipped on her back. Morgan sighed and bent down to pet her.

“You’re still a trader.” She muttered.

Morgan looked up. She looked at Carson, and then to the door to the dining room, which had a door leading to the foyer. From there she could safely get to her living room. But Carson wasn’t having it.

“Oh no you don’t.” Carson ran after Morgan and Pinned her down on the floor, leaning over her, her small wrists in his fists.

“Help! I’m pregnant!”

“Yell all you want woman. We live in the middle of nowhere remember? And Puppy won’t help you, you called her a trader.”

Morgan looked at Belle who yawned and left the kitchen.

“Trader!” Morgan called, and then tried to wiggle free. “Get off.”

Carson lowered his mouth to her ear. “If you don’t stop being so damn stubborn, I’m going to fuck you right her and right now, on the kitchen floor.” Morgan froze.

“Oh yeah. I brought up floor fucking.” He leaned back over her again so he could look down at her. “Pick your choice.” Morgan looked to the door way and then actually stuck her tongue out at  him.

“Alright. Have it your way.”

He set her arms free but sat on her so she could go anywhere. He took off his shirt and tossed it to the side. She froze as he looked down at her eyes going dark.

“I love you.” She said quickly as a truce.

“Nope.” He grinned. He bent down and kissed her. “I’m going to fuck the shit out of you Morgan McPhee.” She swallowed, “Okay.”

Morgan Put on a shirt, her hair wet from a shower. Carson kissed her neck.

“You tricked me.”

“Watch that stubborn tone Miss. I can go all day.”

He grabbed her hand and took it behind her, and set it on his zipper. Two can play that game. She squeezed. His response was a boob grab. She reached up and pulled his hair, He touched her zipper. She reached under his shirt and ran her nails down as much back as she could manage. He gasped and pulled a fist full of her hair.

She moaned, and he bit her neck. She turned around and kissed him, biting his lower lip. And that was it. He yanked off her T-shirt She ripped off his, and he tossed her on the bed.

Carson woke up to Belle Growling at the foot of the bed. Carson petted her head, and touched Morgan’s hand to make sure she was sleeping. He left the room, telling Belle to stay. And she did. There was a police car parked out front he noticed as he jogged down stairs. There was a knock on the door and Carson pulled open the door.

“Sorry to stop by so late Sir. I’m looking for Morgan McPhee.” The officer said.

“My Wife’s asleep upstairs. What is this about?”

“It’s about that well her partner and her explored. Tell her to head to the station as soon as possible. We found something.”

“I’ll drive her myself.”

“Have a nice night.” The officer nodded and then jogged down the stairs.

Carson locked the door and went back up to bed. Morgan had an arm draped over Belle. Knowing she was caught, Belle crawled to the bottom of the bed. Carson got back in. Morgan yanked him close, with too much strength for a pregnant woman.

“Who was at the door?” She yawned.

“They Found something in the bottom of the well. They want you to come in as soon as possible.”

Her eyes popped open, “We have to go now! This could crack the case wide open and Martie and I could