"Glinhaven" Excerpts
Select from the options below to read excerpts from Glinhaven by Deborah O'Toole.
In a flash, the dark figure darted down the stairs and pushed against Duncan's chest with force. Duncan fell backward, tumbling to the bottom of the staircase and landing on his back. Momentarily stunned, he was still for a few seconds. The dark figure suddenly stood over him, face masked by the blackness. The intruder fell upon Duncan before he had a chance to move or cry out, jabbing him in the neck with a slender, sharp object. The pain was intense, yet brief. Duncan felt himself slip away into oblivion.
Piper pulled the sheet from her grandfather's upper body. She gasped. Other than an unnatural waxy paleness, he did indeed look like he was just sleeping. How could a stroke topple such a healthy giant of a man? A good and kind soul housed in a clean temple? And why did God take the noble and worthy, only to leave behind the cruel and undeserving?
As she drove away, Piper glanced in the rearview mirror. Her mouth opened slightly as she spied Lady Glinhaven watching her from the drawing room window. The old woman sat in her wheelchair, gazing straight ahead as Piper disappeared from sight. She felt an involuntary shiver go up her spine.
Piper flung the cell phone back into the rocking chair, a slight sob escaping her lips. The adrenalin of fear drained from her body, leaving her weak and clammy. Her muscles felt like jelly as she sagged against the back of the rocking chair for support, her mouth agape. She heard a siren in the distance, which seemed to give her little reassurance. She retreated to a corner of the living room, her eyes wild, waiting for an attack she was certain was still to come.
Brother Albert watched the Prior walk away. Letting out a sigh of relief, the monk returned his attention to the bowl of Shepherd's Pie in front of him. He had managed to allay the Prior's fears about disrupting their peaceful live at the monastery. He hoped, for all their sakes, that nothing else occurred to threaten the tranquility of the order.
Cam leaned over and began kissing her, drawing her into his arms. Piper closed her eyes, reveling in the feel of his touch, and the pressure from his lips. It was true. She loved Cam MacDevitt with every fiber of her being. He pulled her even closer, and she lost herself in his embrace. It was a long time before they sat down to dinner.
Piper backed away slowly, coming out from behind the counter and standing at the bottom of the stairs. She set Sith on the bottom step. Moggy Malone was still glaring at her from the top. She was terrified, and not foolish enough to go upstairs alone. She needed Cam, and she needed the police. Turning on her heel, Piper fled the shop.