Dancing in the Dark Read Online Free PDF

Formica counter and asked the cheerful waitress for two cups of
coffee to go. The ceiling fans whirred quietly, creating
turn-of-the-century atmosphere while moving the air within the old
pharmacy turned ice cream parlor and sandwich shop. Though the
air-conditioning was cranked up inside, the excessive heat outside
blasted through each time the front door opened.
    As he waited for his order, Shawn stared at the black ceramic
rosettes on the white tile floor, his mind trying to focus on the task
at hand. No matter what Leslie had been through, he had work to do this
morning. He had to concentrate on his research. But first, Shawn wanted
to see if Carly Neath would meet him tonight at his bartending job in
Asbury Park.
    As the waitress affixed plastic lids to the paper coffee cups, Shawn
made his pitch. “It’s Guitarbecue at the Stone Pony tonight, Carly.
Guitar and barbecue. Wanna come?”
Carly slid the coffee containers into a paper sack and handed it to
him. “That sounds like fun, but I have to babysit tonight.”
    “For who?” Shawn asked.
    “The Richeys. Tent people.”
    “What time will they be home?”
    “Not too late.” Carly shrugged. “Elevenish, I guess.”
    “You could come after that,” he offered.
    Carly looked down at the counter. “I’m kind of surprised you even
want to be seen with someone tonight, Shawn,” she said in a low voice.
    “You mean… because of Leslie?”
    Carly’s blond ponytail bounced as she nodded.
    “Look, Carly,” he began slowly. “I feel bad about Leslie. I really
do. But I can’t help her anymore. I have to get on with my life. And I
can’t worry about what people might think, either.”
    Carly felt sorry for Shawn as she watched the dejected expression on
his face. He’d told her a little about his former girlfriend, and she
didn’t sound all that stable. But if Leslie had faked her own
kidnapping to get his attention, as the gossips were yakking about this
morning, Carly felt some responsibility. She knew Shawn had told Leslie
that he wanted to see someone else right before she disappeared.
    “Okay,” she said. “I guess I could meet you there.” She felt better
as she saw Shawn’s face brighten.
“Great, Carly.” He grinned. “I’ll see you tonight, then, at the Stone
Pony. I’m off now to track down Arthur.”
    Carly looked at her watch. “Oh, I wish I could come with you, but I
still have a couple hours to go here.”
    “Don’t worry. I’ll tell Arthur you were asking for him.”
    Carly smiled. “I really enjoyed meeting Arthur the other day, Shawn.
I admire you for wanting to help him.”
    Shawn brushed off the compliment. “It’s no big deal, and sometimes,
I think I get more out of it than he does.”
    He paid for the coffee and exited the restaurant, turning left on
Main Avenue. Squinting in the glaring sun, he peered out toward the
Atlantic Ocean as he walked the two long blocks to the boardwalk.
    As he trudged on through the heat, irrepressible thoughts of Leslie
clouded his mind. Shawn felt guilty about having broken up with her
when she was so needy. He felt ashamed he hadn’t joined the search
party that had scoured the town looking for her. He was sorry he really
didn’t care anymore about what had happened to her and was feeling such
relief that he was finally done with her.
    If anyone had told him the day he met Leslie, when he went to
Surfside Realty to find out about a new apartment, that the rail-thin
young woman behind the reception desk was going to be so much trouble,
Shawn probably would have ignored the warning anyway. He found himself
immediately attracted to Leslie Patterson. She was not particularly
pretty, not like Carly; but her dark brown
eyes pulled him in like magnets. There was a wistfulness to her, as if
she was waiting for someone to come riding in to save the day for her.
    As he reached Ocean Avenue, Shawn stopped to let the cars pass
before crossing over to the boardwalk, telling himself that Leslie