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

at a couple wineries on the way home. This one place overlooked—”

“If I had my gun right now,” said Cam, “I'd shoot myself inthe head.”

“Sorry,” Donnie said. “Didn't mean to bore you with my story.”

“That's okay,” said Cam. “Just don't let it happen again.”

Allen laughed. “Settle down, boys,” he said.

“Where are we going to get ski masks in the summer?” Camasked. “And when do you want to do this?”

“There's a million outlet stores down the road in Kittery,”Donnie answered. “One of them is sure to have ski masks.” His face lit up.“Hey, I've got a great idea! We'll all wear black spandex bodysuits.” Allen andCam exchanged a horrified glance, then stared stupefied at Donnie. “You know,”he explained, “to go unnoticed.”

“Unnoticed, my ass! We'll look like three giant TootsieRolls,” said Cam. “I ain't wearing no goddamn spandex.”

“Me either,” said Allen. “Stupid idea, Donnie.”

Donnie arched an eyebrow. “You're probably right,” hesighed. “Cam and I, being in tip-top shape, would look fabulous, but spandexwould just emphasize your love handles, Allen.”

“Gee, thanks. We'll just wear our everyday civvies.”

“Okay,” said Cam. “When we gonna do this?”

“Tomorrow night,” Allen said.

“Why tomorrow night?”

“Because the mobster's mother lives with him. The old ladyvolunteers at a nursing home a few days a week. Wednesday evening she servesice cream. I figure it's best to go in when she's not home. Lessen the chanceof collateral damage.”

“What time's she take off?”

“A little before six.”

Cam sighed. “Okay, I'm in. What's the plan, man?”

Allen referred to his laptop. “Here's an aerial view of thehouse,” he said, pointing at the screen. “The property is surrounded on threesides by cliffs. In the front there's a long blacktop driveway leading up tothe house. We'll take Donnie's Mini Cooper; it'll be more discreet than myJeep.”

“Can you see the place from the street?” Cam asked.

“Barely,” Allen replied.

“So, that's a yes on your wife's gun?” Donnie asked.

“Shore,” Cam said, “I'm sure we could all use a giantpanda.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

At six ten Wednesday evening, Donnie made a left-hand turn,and steered his Mini Cooper along Roaring Rock Road. Allen sat in the frontpassenger seat, and Cam was scrunched up in the back seat—the tall man's kneesalmost touching his chin.

“Why the hell would anyone make a back seat this small?” Camcomplained. “I can hardly breath.”

“Quit being such a drama queen,” Donnie said. “Evan and Ihave both been in that back seat, at the same time, on more than one occasion.If ya know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I know what you mean, and thanks for that mentalimage I'll never be able to erase.”

Donnie laughed. “So what you're saying is, right now youhave the mental image of two naked men in the back seat having sex? And Ithought I was queer.”

Cam snorted. “You are, ain'tcha? As queer as a three-dollarbill.”

Donnie shot him a fierce look in the rearview. “Listen, oldman, it's okay for a gay man to refer to himself pridefully. But I don'tappreciate you using the term as a slur.”

“Don't get your panties in a bunch, Donnie. I didn't meananything by it; that's just an old expression we used to say when I was a kid.Hell, I suspect I had some cowhands on my ranch what was knockin' boots, likein that movie, Brokeback Mountain. I've never judged a man by what coop helikes to stick his little red rooster in. Live and let live, I always say, andyou'll live a lot longer.”

Donnie grinned. “Very nicely put, Cam. But from now on, I'dthink you'd do well not to use that particular expression to casually.”

“Gotcha, pardner.”

“If you two armchair sociologists are finished,” Allen said,when they got to Wavecrest Drive, “turn right here.”

“These houses are fabulous,” Donnie commented.

“Just keep your eyes on the road,” Allen said.

Donnie drove around a bend onto Tall Oaks Drive. “I bet thescenery will be so much more beautiful in a few weeks when the autumn foliageis at peak color,” he said. “God's paintbrush setting the landscape ablaze withdollops of red and yellow and oran—”

“Jesus H. Christ!” Cam yelled from the back seat. “Shutupwith the commentary, ya damn tree hugger, and concentrate on the road!”

“What he said,” Allen echoed.

Donnie muttered. “Straight people have no appreciation forMother Nature.”

At the end of Tall Oaks Donnie came to a stop at the stopsign.

“Okay,” Allen said. “Hold on.” He pointed down the road tohis left. “Benny Strong's house is right up there about three hundred yards.Everyone know what they gotta do?”

Donnie and Cam nodded their heads.

Allen took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, let's do this.”

“Let's do this?” Donnie said. “That's the best you couldcome up with?”

“That's the first thing that came to my mind.”

“How about, let's rock and roll,” said Cam.

“Much better,” Donnie said, and pushed on the gas pedal. Herounded the corner onto Norwood Farms Road and drove along next to a three-foot-highstone fence.

Between Strong's house and their neighbor to the south was awooded area, about a hundred yards by a hundred yards. The trees bordered thestreet on the west side, and ran right up to the cliffs overlooking the oceanon the east side.

Donnie pulled to the curb and stopped. Cam and Allen jumpedout of the car. Cam reached into his front pocket and pulled out a chromefinish snub-nosed .38.

“Here's Mildred's gun,” said Cam. “It's a revolver, so justpoint and pull the trigger.”

“How many times?” Donnie asked.

“Until it's empty, or whatever you're shooting at is dead.”

“Well, I don't want to kill anyone,” Donnie said.

“Then you shouldn't be here,” said Cam.

Donnie thought for a second. “Give me the gun,” he said,holding out his hand.

Cam tossed the pistol on the seat. “Don't shoot yourself,”he said.

Allen and Cam turned and ran into the woods. Donnie took hisfoot off the brake and rolled up the street.

When Donnie came to Strong's driveway, he pulled in, andshut off his engine. There was a newer model black, Dodge pickup parked infront of a closed garage door. Parked next to the truck was a red 1969 Mustang.Donnie began counting fifty Mississippis, just like Allen had told him to thenight before. As he counted, he turned around and noticed