Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18070 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 90(@200wpm)___ 72(@250wpm)___ 60(@300wpm)
What better way to celebrate my release than for all of us to get together down by the lake? Now this guy is now the talkative type. He’s one of those grunt and glare types.
So imagine my surprise when I walked into the store and he came around the counter when he saw me. He took my hand and pulled me in for a chest hug. “We need to talk.”
I looked at him skeptically but his eyes were clear and he didn’t look like he was on anything. I nodded and told him to let me take my family home and I’d be back.
I patiently helped my son choose his first rod, got one for myself and decided to save the bait for later.
I dropped them off at home, told Shelly to lock up and don’t let anyone in, don’t even answer the phone unless it was me, and went back to the shop.
And that’s where I learned about what had happened that night. “I’m surprised you never heard the rumors even before you were sent up.” I shook my head no, still in shock at what he’d just told me.
“Everyone around here knew about it at some point or another, and then when your girl finally moved in with him all these years later it was kind of like confirmation.”
All the way back to the apartment I tried making sense of what he’d said, putting the pieces together and pulling them apart to see if there was any room for doubt.
I’d already started to suspect Roy had something to do with what happened to me from some of the things Shelly had said, but the shit sounded like something out of one of those small town thrillers you see in the movies.
According to Nate, the bait shop guy, the rumor was that the victim was someone Roy had a beef with. He’d hired someone to kill him and make it look like I did that shit, killing two birds with one stone.
And he did all this so he could get his hands on my woman. It must’ve killed his ass that she’d made him wait as long as she did. But that just shows his obsession with her, that he’d hung around that long.
I didn’t say anything about it when I got back to the apartment, but I did have Shelly call the school the next day, Friday and tell them Junior wouldn’t be there.
I was beginning to see what I was dealing with. This devious fucker is not sane. Best to take care of his shit before long. That’s the only way my family and I can be at peace.
Chapter 10
The next morning around five I dropped her off at her mom’s. I didn’t want to leave her alone in the apartment. She knew something was up with me but I didn’t tell her shit.
“Just do as I asked. Look for a house on the internet. That should keep you busy until this evening when we get back. Don’t leave here for any reason you hear me?”
She nodded and I kissed her at the door. I’d driven her over myself so she had no ride to leave and go anywhere. She knew if she did after I specifically told her not to it would be her ass.
My boys met up with me at the edge of town and we rode out to the lake, a once favorite spot where we spent many a weekend in the past.
I wasn’t surprised to see that my son knew his uncles and when I asked, Craig informed me that the asshole had tried in the last year to come between them and him but Shelly wouldn’t go for that shit. Smart girl!
He was excited to be out fishing with his dad and the guys so I spent the first hour or so teaching him how to bait his line among other things.
I waited until he got the hang of it before turning my mind to other things. I didn’t want him to know what was going on so had to keep my voice low.
We stayed behind him a ways on the grass, still with him in sight and I relayed what Nate had told me. They hadn’t heard the rumors either which wasn’t surprising.
Everyone knew how close we were and no one would want to utter that shit within their hearing lest it start some shit.
“If you go after him now they’ll know it’s you.”
“How Evan?”
“Think about it, he couldn’t be the only one involved.”
I did think about it and he had a point. “The DA?” They were all nodding before I was through asking. “If we’re gonna do this we’re gonna have to come up with a fool proof plan.”
“No way Dale, this is my deal. I don’t want you
guys getting into trouble behind this shit.” They all looked at me like I was stupid, which I pretty much expected.