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

about anything other than his missing boy in thelast four days. Allen decided to keep the conversation going.

“Yes, he is also a bad guy. It sounded to me like they werekind of in business together.”

“How did they pull that off if they don't speak to eachother?”

“I guess they communicate through their mother.”

Jay nodded. “Even bad boys love their moms,” he said.

“I guess,” Allen replied.

“I bet this guy's brother wishes he had of buried thehatchet now that he's gone.”

“Maybe.”

“But I guess if you wait too long, it's too late.” Jayleaned over and rested his elbows on his knees. He stared into the grass.“Where is that kid?”

Allen reached over and put his hand on Jay's shoulder.“We'll find him,” he said.

“God I hope so. It's been four days.” Jay wiped away a tearwith the back of his hand and rubbed his eyes with his fingertips. “I don'tknow what I'll do if I never see him again.”

“You'll see him again. You gotta stay positive. Volunteersare searching everywhere. We put up missing posters in all of the nearby towns.Someone's seen him. Someone knows where he's at.”

Jay stood. “I hope you're right,” he said. He glanced overat his door. “I better get back inside. I don't want Tess to be alone when shewakes up.”

Allen got up as well. “Yeah, I better get back up there andfeed Frankie. We're driving up to Kennebunkport today to distribute some morefliers.”

Jay reached out and shook Allen's hand. “Thanks for everythingyou've been doing.”

“No thanks necessary, Jay.”

Allen stood where he was until Jay had gone inside, then hewalked to his Jeep. He reached through the open window and grabbed theCumberland Farms convenience store bag full of Frankie's food.

“Morning, Crystal,” Allen said, on his way through theoffice.

“Morning, Allen,” Crystal replied.

“If I need anything, you're right next door,” Allenwhispered to himself, on his way up the stairs.

Once inside his room, Allen opened a can of dog food, dumpedit in a bowl, and said, “Ding, ding. Breakfast is served.”

He then pulled a box of Pop-Tarts out of the bag and rippedopen the top. He dropped two of the frosted strawberry pastries into thetoaster and pressed the button down. Leaning back against the cabinet, hewatched as Frankie devoured his breakfast.

“Jesus, dog, chew it a little and you might be able to tasteit.”

By the time the Pop-Tarts had popped, Frankie was doneeating, and lying on the sofa.

“I guess I'll just eat alone,” Allen said.

He put his Pop-Tarts on a plate and sat on the bed with hisback against the headboard. He grabbed the remote from the nightstand andturned on the television. It was tuned to the Weather Channel; Jen Carfagno waspredicting at least four beautiful days in a row for the Maine coast.

Frankie jumped up on the bed and lay down beside Allen. Thedog let out a quiet whimper. Allen put his hand on the dog's back.

“We'll find him, Frankie.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

When Allen woke up, he was lying on his side with part of aPop-Tart stuck to his cheek. Frankie was sound asleep next to him. The WeatherChannel was still on. It was ten o'clock. Donnie was standing outside thepicture window looking in. Donnie grinned big and waved when Allen saw him.

What the hell? he thought.

Allen pushed himself upright and rubbed his eyes. Frankieopened his eyes for a second and closed them again.

“Were we still driving up to Kennebunkport?” Donniehollered.

Allen looked over at the alarm clock. “Yeah! Hold on!”

Frankie put his paw over his ear.

“Am I bothering you?” Allen asked.

The dog ignored him.

Allen stumbled to the door and pulled it open. “Sorry,” hesaid. “I fell asleep.”

“I couldn't remember what time we said we were leaving.”

“Can you bring Frankie out front to use the grass while Ijump in the shower quick? I'm not taking him with us.”

“Sure thing. Come on, boy.”

Donnie slapped his thigh, and Frankie leapt off the bed. Thetwo of them went out the door and down the walkway.

Allen yawned and stretched his arms over his head as helumbered to the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later, when he exited the bathroom,Frankie was on the sofa and Donnie was on the bed, engrossed in the WeatherChannel.

“How'd it go?” Allen asked.

Donnie kept his eyes glued to Felicia Combs. “Are you askingme, or the dog?”

“Either.”

“Frankie took a dump. I didn't.”

“Thank God for that,” Allen said. “We have to stop in theoffice on our way out. Crystal ran off a bunch more copies of the missingposters.”

“That was nice of her.”

Allen went to his duffle bag and pulled out a pair of socks.He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped them on. “Where's your search partnertoday?” he asked Donnie.

“Bill? I got him an Uber this morning and sent him home.”

“This morning? Christ, I wish I got as much action you do.”

“I didn't think you were interested,” Donnie deadpanned.

Allen chuckled. “A different kind of action.” He got up,crossed the room, and slid his feet into his sneakers. He put his foot up on achair and tied them.

“Come to think of it,” Donnie said, “your Jeep wasn't herewhen Bill's Uber arrived. Where did you sleep last night?”

“In my room,” Allen replied. “I got a call early thismorning from Sergeant Rose.”

“The cop who invited you to dinner.”

“The same.”

“What was he calling so early about?”

“Remember the guy I told you about the other night—the one Igot into the scuffle with at Stones Throw?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“He's dead.”

“Oh my goodness. Did he have another heart attack?”

“No. Someone shot him in the head.”

Donnie's hand went to his chest. “You're not serious!” hegasped.

“Serious as a heart attack,” Allen answered. “Or in thiscase, a bullet to the head.”

“My God, that's horrible. Do they have any suspects?”

“Just me.”

“What! Seriously?”

“Not really, but Rose did make it a point of mentioning thatI was the last person to see him alive.”

“Wouldn't the killer be the last person to see him alive?”

“That's what I said.” Allen walked to the door. “Be back ina few hours, Frankie,” he said. “I'll ask Crystal to look in on you.”

Donnie looked at Frankie like he was waiting for an answer.When he didn't