The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

alonewith her.”

“So Strong and Jordan live off of her?”

“No, not really. They were each able to muscle their wayinto a few businesses in the area. Strong has a couple strip clubs in Portlandand Augusta, and one down in Boston. Jordan's part owner in a couple nightclubs as well. They've also got their hands in drugs, prostitution, and loansharking.”

“Why aren't they in jail?”

“Just because we know something doesn't mean we can proveit. Neither one of them is as stupid as they look. They always seem to be onestep ahead of us.”

“If Strong and Jordan are on the outs, and Vinny Tubbs worksfor Strong, why were Vinny and Bobby in that restroom together?”

“That's the million dollar question, Crane. You writemysteries—maybe you can figure it out and let us know.”

 “No thanks. Are you going to stop by and pick up theseweapons?”

“I'm walking up the stairs as we speak.”

“You're here?”

“I'm here.”

Allen hung up the phone and went for the guns. He pulled thetwo pistols out from under the mattress just as Rose knocked on the door.

“Shit, it's the fuzz, Frankie.”

Allen tossed the weapons on the bed and answered the door.He pointed at the bed. “There they are.”

Rose stood in the doorway staring at the two pistols. “Youreally took the weapons away from them, huh?”

“I said I did.”

“Yes, you did say you did.” Rose walked to the bed andpicked up the revolver. He opened the cylinder and ejected the shells. Heslipped the shells into the front pocket of his pants. He tossed the revolverback on the bed and picked up the 9mm. He ejected the magazine.

“It's empty,” said Rose.

Allen shrugged. “Huh. That's weird.”

“Why would it be empty?”

“Maybe he forgot to load it before he left the house thismorning.”

Rose slid the magazine back into the grip. “I ran your name,Crane.”

“No kidding?”

“You're licensed to carry a handgun in New York State.”

“That's right.”

“You own a .22 and a 9mm.”

“Uh-huh.”

“You're not licensed to carry here.”

“I know.”

“You don't have that 9mm. with you, do you?”

“Of course not, Sergeant Rose. That would be against thelaw.”

“Just seems odd this 9mm. would be empty.”

“It's strange alright.”

Rose scanned the room. “Don't do anything that might get youinto trouble.”

“I wouldn't think of it.”

Rose picked up the revolver and carried both weapons back tothe door.

“Who was the guy with Vinny today?” Allen asked.

“Myron Spoon. He's a collector for Strong.”

“You think they'll come back?”

“Of course, but I'm sending a couple investigators out toStrong's this afternoon. See if we can find out what's going on.”

“Where's Strong live?”

“None of your business.” Rose walked out the door and downthe walkway.

“Nice doing business with you,” Allen mumbled. He walked tothe door and pushed the door closed with his foot.

Chapter Six

At four o'clock, Allen ordered a large pizza with pepperoni,mushrooms, and black olives. At four twenty there was a knock at the door.

Frankie barked.

“That was quick,” Allen said.

He hopped off the bed and answered the door. It wasn't thepizza, it was Jacob.

“What's up?” Allen asked.

“Did you find some cheese in one of your bags?”

“I sure did.”

“Do you still have it?”

“I ate it already.”

“Crap. Really?”

“No. You want it back?”

“Yeah. It got put in your bag on accident.”

Allen turned and walked to the little fridge and took outthe brick of Colby. He tossed it to Jacob. “What's the cheese for?”

“Cheeseburgers. Hey, Frankie.”

Frankie jumped off the sofa and ran to the young boy. Jacobscratched his head.

“You got a dog?” Allen asked.

“No, not anymore. We had one, but he got hit by a car lastwinter.”

“That sucks. Sorry to hear it.”

“We had him since I was born.”

“What was his name?”

“Schultzy. He was a German shepherd. Can I take Frankie fora walk after dinner?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. I better get this cheese to my mom.”

Jacob turned and hurried away.

Twenty minutes later the pizza arrived. Allen put two pieceson a plate for himself and put half a can of Alpo on another plate for Frankie.

“Eat everything on that plate, dog, and I'll give you somepizza.”

Frankie had licked the plate spotless before Allen hadfilled his glass with Coke.

“Was that shit that good, or were you just really lookingforward to the pizza?”

Allen grabbed a slice and tossed it onto Frankie's plate.

“Are dogs supposed to eat mushrooms?”

He hoped so, because the slice of pizza didn't stay on theplate any longer than the dog food.

Allen picked up his glass and plate and walked outside ontothe walkway. He placed his glass on the end table and sat down in one of thetwo chairs in front of the picture window. A few minutes later Frankie walkedoutside as well. The dog stood next to Allen, staring at his plate.

“You're not getting any of this,” said Allen.

Frankie continued to stare.

“Seriously, dog, lie down, or I'm putting you back in theroom and closing the door.”

Frankie glanced over at the door and then lay down.

“Good boy.”

Allen took a bite of the pizza, chewed it, swallowed, andbit into it again.

“Pizza from anywhere other than New York just doesn't tastequite right, Frankie. Why do you think that is?”

Frankie had no answers.

Allen had another bite. “Don't get me wrong, boy. It's good.It's like they say, pizza's like sex. Even if it's not very good, it's stillpretty good.”

As Allen enjoyed his pie, he caught sight of Cam crossingthe street. He was holding hands with a woman a good deal shorter than him, whoseemed to be favoring one leg.

“That must be Mildred, Frankie.”

He watched as the two septuagenarians stepped up on the curband stood atop the seawall. They continued to hold hands as they gazed out overthe water. The clouds on the horizon before them were beginning to take on apinkish hue as the sun went down behind them.

The construction workers were putting the yellow plastictape back up. Two of the men weaved it in and out of the plastic saw horses,and around sticks that had been stuck through the holes in the top of theorange cones. There were only four men left on the site. When the two menfinished with the tape, they walked to a white Ford F-150 and drove away. Thetwo remaining men spoke for a few