2 Dog River Blues Read Online Free PDF Page A

concerned I didn’t exist any longer. He never spoke another word to me after I told him I was going to a Catholic seminary. It’s not surprising, really. He stopped speaking to Roy after he got out of the army. Roy dared to express his opinion that the government had made a mistake fighting the Viet Nam War. To Father it was always God and country first. Never family.”
    “So why the urgent need to get back the book?”
    “I told you. I don’t care about the book. This is Jessica’s project. She’s the only one Father cared about. She was his little angel. As far as she was concerned, he could do no harm. He said something to her about wanting to find the owner of the book and return it. That’s been her mission since he died.”
    “And yet you went up against Fish Conners and took a beating trying to get it back.”
    Ben looked confused. “Whatever gave you that idea? I’ve never met Fish Conners in my life. I’ve seen him around; he grew up not far from here. That’s why I couldn’t swear it was him that attacked you. It was dark and I didn’t get a good enough view of his face.”
    “Jessica told me the reason she needed my help getting the book back was that Fish beat you up when you went to see Sam Quinlin about the manuscript.”
    Another blank look. “Who’s Sam Quinlin?”
    “The lawyer the family hired to find the rightful owner of the book,” I said.
    Ben shook his head. “I’m lost here, Wes. My mother mentioned she was hiring a lawyer, but she never told me who it was. And what does all of this have to do with Fish Conners?”
    “I don’t know,” I said.
    I thought about what Ben had said and wondered who was lying to me, Ben or Jessica. Being a priest didn’t guarantee he wouldn’t lie to me. I was not a happy camper. Pushing myself up from the settee I groaned as the pain washed over me. I must have looked bad because Ben jumped up and reached out to support me.
    “I still think you should let me drive you to the hospital,” he said.
    I shook his arm off. “I’ll be fine. I’ll take some aspirin and get to bed as soon as you leave.”
    Ben took the hint and headed for the steps. I had one last question for him before he left.
    “If it was Fish who attacked me, who do you think told him I was interested in the book? The only two people who knew that were Jessica and Rusty Dawson.”
    Ben raised an eyebrow. “Rusty’s an old friend of Mother’s. How do you know him?”
    “He keeps a boat here at the marina. Seems to hang around a lot, drinking and telling stories.”
    “It doesn’t surprise me. Rusty’s had some bad breaks. His wife died of cancer not long ago. And if I remember right, a couple of years ago his son was arrested for selling drugs. He might still be in prison.”
    “Rusty said he knew Fish,” I said.
    “Then he probably told Fish about you. Like you said, he likes to drink and tell stories. Hell, when I was a kid he’d come to visit and tell us kids about his life as a spy.”
    “He doesn’t strike me as a spy type.”
    Ben shrugged. “He’s an old man now. Drinks too much. Back then he had an aura about him. Maybe I just wanted to believe I knew a spy.”
    I hesitated to suggest what was on my mind, but the question had to be asked. “Do you think Jessica might have told Fish I was looking for the book?”
    “Why would she do that?” he asked.
    “Maybe she figured that if Fish came after me I’d be more likely to help her.”
    Ben seemed to mull the idea over for a few moments. “Jessica’s always been a determined girl—actually I guess she’s a woman now. I’d hate to think she set you up for a beating, but....”
    I interrupted him. “But she might.”
    “I hope not.” He turned and started up the steps. When he reached the cockpit he looked back at me. “Don’t be too hard on her. She’s just trying to do what your grandfather asked of her.”

 
    Chapter 4

    It was noon by the time I crawled out of bed. My shoulder felt as if an