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

He stood and turned the knob. Jacob's momstood in the doorway. She was still dressed in her pajamas.

“Mr. Crane?” she said.

“Allen,” he replied.

“I'm Jacob's mom—Tess Palmer.” She stuck out her hand. Allenshook it.

“Glad to meet you. Jacob's a terrific kid. So, what can I dofor you today?”

“I was just wondering if Jacob had been up here today.”

“Haven't seen him since yesterday. How long's he beenmissing?”

“He's not missing. I just don't know where he is.”

“How long have you not known where he is?”

“An hour or so. I tell him to let me know where he's goingto be, and if he's going to be gone very long. Kids.”

“Did you check with his friend out back?” Allen asked,throwing a thumb over his shoulder. “He walked Frankie over there yesterday.”

“I have Oliver's mom's phone number. I was going to give hera call if you hadn't seen him.”

“Haven't seen him,” Allen assured her.

Tess glanced down at the two paperbacks on the table. “Arethose your books?” she asked.

“Nope,” Allen replied. “Those are Mildred Owens' books.”

Tess leaned in closer. “Your name is on the bottom.”

“That's because I wrote them, but they belong to MildredOwens. She asked me to sign them.”

“Like, an autograph?”

“Exactly like an autograph.”

“You do that a lot?”

“Write autographs?”

“Yes.”

“Not a lot. Most people don't know who I am.”

Tess smiled. “Yeah, I read quite a bit, and I never heard ofyou.”

“Thanks.”

“I ordered your first book on my Kindle this morning.”

“Well, thank you. I hope you enjoy it.”

“If I don't, I'll just run right back up here and get mymoney back.”

“I guess that's the drawback of living above a reader.”

“I guess so.” Tess stepped back away from the door. “I guessI better give Oliver's mom a call.”

“Let me know how you make out.”

Tess turned and walked back down the walkway.

Allen left the door open and walked back to the table andsat down. “Where was I?” He read over what he'd written. His eyes wandered overto Mildred's books. “Maybe I should sign these books and take them back toMildred.”

He pulled the books over in front of him and picked up hispen. He scribbled on a sheet of paper with the pen. Deciding that the ballpoint wouldn't make a very nice autograph, he searched his satchel for one ofthe thin felt tips he knew was somewhere in the front pouch. He pulled out ablack one, removed the cap, and signed his name on the paper next to hisscribble. Perfect.

Thanks for reading, Mildred, he wrote in one of thebooks, and To Mildred, hope you enjoyed the mystery, in the other. Hesigned his name at the bottom of both. He blew on the signatures to make surethey were dry before he closed the books.

Allen stacked the books, picked them up, and stood. “Comingwith me, Frankie, or staying here?”

Frankie opened one eye and closed it.

“Okay, I'll go by myself.”

Halfway across the parking lot Allen felt his cell phonevibrate in his pocket.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Crane? It's Sergeant Rose.”

“Hey, Rose. What's going on?”

“I just thought I'd touch base with you and set your mind atease a little.”

“I love having my mind set at ease,” Allen joked. “Thishardship setting is no fun at all.”

“Anyway, I sent someone over to Benny Strong's houseyesterday afternoon. No one was home. The investigator said he spoke to aneighbor who told him that Benny and his mother are in Augusta for the week.Won't be back until Saturday morning.”

“Ya don't say?”

“You probably won't hear from any of his cronies at leastuntil Strong gets back into town.”

“Okay, Rose. Thanks for the call.”

“Oh, and I guess my wife is a big fan of yours. She saysyou're one of her favorite writers.”

“Tell her she's one of my favorite people.”

“I will. Hey, uh … if I brought a couple of her books overto your motel, you think you could sign them?”

“Of course, Rose, I'd be happy to. When do you think—you'repulling in right now, aren't you?”

Rose waved at Allen through the front windshield. “I suream.”

Rose pulled into a parking spot, shut off the engine, andclimbed out of the car. He was holding two books in his hand. “Where yaheaded?” he asked.

Allen held up the two books he was carrying. “I had to signthese books for a lady who's staying over here,” he said, nodding his head inthe direction of the Grand View Inn.

“Wow, Crane, I didn't realize how famous you were.”

“I'm not.”

Rose chuckled. “Sure you are.”

“No, I'm really not, Rose. Very seldom do I get recognizedtwice in the same month, much less, the same week.”

“I guess this must be your lucky week.”

“I guess so.”

Rose handed Allen the books. “She wants you to sign them, ToHarriet, a good friend of mine. Would that be okay?”

“Sure.”

“You want me to wait here until you deliver those twobooks?” Rose asked.

“I'll just go over there later,” Allen replied. “Let's headback up to my room and I'll grab a pen.”

“Are ya sure? Because I can wait here.”

“I don't want to keep you waiting.” Allen started backtoward the stairs; Rose followed. “I'm sure you have a lot more importantthings to do.”

“This is York, Maine, Crane. You getting into that scufflewith Bobby Jordan was the most excitement I've had to deal with since HerbColeman set Dobber Stevens' lobster traps on fire.”

“Would you believe that's never once happened in the townwhere I live?”

“By the way, Bobby Jordan checked himself out of thehospital yesterday morning.”

“Ya don't say?”

“Yeah, and I spoke with him last night.”

“What did he have to say?”

“He said he doesn't blame you at all for what happened tohim. Says his doctor's been telling him to get his blood pressure under controlfor years.”

“Well, maybe this'll be a wakeup call for him.” Allen pulledopen the door and went up the stairs.

“That's just what Jordan said—a wake up call.”

“I probably saved his life.”

“You just may have.”

Allen slid the key into the knob and opened the door.Frankie lifted his head.

“I'm back, dog,” said Allen. “Have a seat, Rose.”

Rose walked to the sofa and sat down.

Allen picked up his felt tip pen. “Can I get you a drink oranything?”

“What do ya got?”

“Coke, tequila, water, and that's about it.”

“Tequila sounds good.”

Allen