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

had been the only thingstanding in the way of Tucker putting a bullet in his head, so he didn't wantto anger the volatile cop too much. With Jordan out of the way, Tucker justmight revisit the idea.

“What else did you talk about?” Rose asked.

“That's it,” Allen lied. “We had a cigar, a drink, and justshot the shit. I wanted to get a feel whether or not his story would even makea compelling biography.”

“And what did you decide?” Rose asked.

“I didn't decide. I told him I'd like to speak with him afew more times and take some notes. I had decided to stick around for a week ortwo more.”

Tucker clenched his jaw. “Do you think sticking aroundlonger is a good idea?” he asked.

“Is there some reason I shouldn't?” Allen asked.

“Because folks keep dying while you're in town,” Tucker shotback angrily.

Changing the subject, Allen asked, “Any sign of forcedentry?”

“No,” Rose answered. “We're thinking it was someone heknew.”

“Like you,” said Tucker.

Allen brushed it off. “Where's Doris?” he asked.

“His receptionist?” said Rose. “An ambulance took her to thehospital. Finding her boss murdered this morning was a bit of a shock. Guy thatruns the art gallery next door heard a scream and found her on the floor, whereshe'd fainted, and called 911.”

“But she'll be alright?”

“Most likely. They're holding her overnight to make sure herticker's okay.”

“Was Doris here when you were, Crane?” Tucker asked.

Allen nodded. “Yeah, she was here when I arrived. Jordanshowed up a few minutes later. The two of us went into his office. Like I said,we each had a cigar and a drink. Doris went home a short time after Jordanarrived. I let myself out the back door. Jordan said the door would lockautomatically when I shut it. I tried the knob after I shut it—it was locked.”

“What about the front door?” Rose asked.

“When Doris left for the night, Jordan told her to lock iton her way out.”

“Did she?”

“I don't know for sure. Like I said, we were in his office.”

A man with an ID badge clipped to his shirt pocket stuck hishead in the room. “We ready?” he asked.

“I guess,” Rose replied.

The man looked over his shoulder. “Let's bag him!” hehollered.

“Is there anything else you need from me?” Allen asked.

“Not at the moment,” Rose responded.

“Just don't leave town, Crane,” said Tucker.

Allen locked eyes with him. “So, you're saying you'd like meto stick around a little longer?” he asked. “Mya will be glad to hear it.”

Tucker lunged at Allen. Luckily Rose was quicker, and jumpedbetween the two men. He slammed a palm into each man's chest, shoving them bothbackwards. Tucker took a few steps back. Allen stumbled and landed on Doris'sdesk. He slid backwards and landed in Jordan's lap.

“Holy shit!” Allen screamed as he rolled off the corpse ontothe floor, and quickly climbed to his feet. “What the hell, Tucker!”

Rose rushed around the desk to help Allen. “Sorry aboutthat, Crane.” He was smirking.

Tucker's expression didn't change.

“You're laughing!” Allen shouted.

“I'm not laughing,” Rose shot back. “I'm grinning a little.”

“It's not funny.”

“That's because you didn't see your face when you landed ona dead guy, Crane.”

“Believe it or not, Rose, I've never been in a dead man'slap before.” Allen checked himself for blood, or whatever else might haverubbed off a dead man's body. He straightened his shirt and brushed off hispants.

As Allen made his way to the door, Rose said, “We'll be intouch, Crane.”

“Yeah,” Allen said.

“And I still owe you dinner.”

“Lookin' forward to it.”

As Allen walked past Tucker, the officer leaned in close.“Watch yourself, Crane,” he whispered.

“Same goes for you, Tucker,” Allen replied.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Allen stood outside door number four trying his hardest tohear and feel what was happening on the other side. He had already raised hishand to knock once and chickened out. It had been four days since Jay and Tesshad seen their son. Allen hadn't spoken with them since Sunday afternoon. Heknew a knock at the door would bring a Pandora's box of false hope andimpending doom.

It's quiet in there, he thought. Maybe I shouldleave them alone. Allen checked his cell phone for the time. It was onlyseven thirty. Could they still be sleeping? Probably not. Who could sleep ata time like this?

Just as Allen turned away from the door, it creaked opened.

“Allen?” said Jay.

“Oh, hey, Jay.”

“What're you doing out here?”

“I wanted to see how you guys were doing. I mean, do youneed anything?”

Jay stepped outside and quietly pulled the door closedbehind him. “Just my son back,” he whispered.

Allen nodded. The two of them walked across the parking lotand Jay sat down on a picnic table bench. Allen took a seat next to him.

“How's Tess doing?” he asked.

“She's sleeping. The doctor gave her something to calm herdown and help her sleep.” Jay's voice was low, somber, and defeated. He glancedat his wristwatch. “You're up and at 'em early.”

“I got a call at six this morning from Sergeant Rose.”

“About?”

“They found a guy dead in his office this morning—BobbyJordan.”

“Dead? Why did Rose call you?”

“I knew the guy.”

“A friend?”

“No, just an acquaintance.”

“Sorry to hear that. How did he die?”

“He was murdered.”

“Murdered? Are they thinking this has something to do withJacob?”

“No. Jordan was kind of a local gangster. I'm sure he had alot of enemies.”

“How is it you're friends with a local gangster?”

“He had asked me to write his biography.”

“Is a biography about a local gangster something that wouldsell?”

“Who knows? I'm not even sure he was serious, but I had ameeting with him yesterday afternoon.”

“Were you the last one to see him alive?”

“Now you sound like the cops.”

“I'll take that as a yes.”

“I'm no detective, but I'm assuming the killer was the lastperson to see him alive.”

“Do they have any persons of interest?”

“If they do, they didn't share that information with me. Iknow he has a brother, and the two of them don't speak—haven't spoken foryears, according to Jordan.”

“This brother local?”

“Yeah, he lives right down the road. A big house overlookingthe ocean.”

“He a gangster?” Jay asked.

Their talk seemed to be doing Jay some good. It was probablythe first time he'd thought