the Forgotten Man (2005) Read Online Free PDF

everything was okay.
    "Well, he called me last night, and said he was gonna give you a call. I guess he got busy with his sister."
    "Goddamn, how long is it gonna take that bitch to die?"
    "You should be ashamed of yourself, Elroy, sayin' something like that. She's his sister."
    Payne Keller had disappeared eleven days ago without a word or note to anyone. When Payne turned up missing, Frederick fed Elroy a bullshit story about Payne's sister being T-boned by a drunk driver, but, truth was, Frederick had no idea. Payne's sudden disappearance terrified him. Payne could be anywhere and might say anything; Payne and his buddy, Jesus, confessing their sins.
    I hope you're dead, you bastard. I hope your heart split open like a rotten grapefruit. I hope you put a gun to your head. I hope you're dead, and I hope to hell you didn't take me with you.
    Frederick had decided to cover their tracks, and prepare for the worst. Elroy followed him into Payne's office.
    "Well, I'm sorry about his sister, but it's goddamned rude, you ask me, him leaving without a word. The wife and I are going to her parents' next week. Payne knew I had that time off and said I could go."
    Frederick rounded Payne's desk, took the keys from the top drawer, and flashed the big easy grin.
    "Then go, Elroy. That's why Payne called last night, to ask if I'd cover for you. I said sure."
    Elroy looked doubtful.
    "You will?"
    Frederick came back around the desk as a white Maxima pulled up to the self-service pumps. A teenage girl got out, looking confused by the pump. Frederick noted how Elroy stared at the girl.
    "Heck, Elroy, I don't mind. You'd do it for me and we'd both do it for Payne. No problem."
    Now Elroy looked guilty for being pissed off.
    "Listen, when you talk to Payne again, tell him I wish the best for his sister."
    "I'll tell him. You bet."
    "I never knew Payne had a sister."
    "You better see if that girl outside needs help. I gotta swing up by Payne's to feed his cats."
    Elroy glanced at the girl again, and Frederick knew what he was thinking; the tight low-cut jeans, the cropped shirt showing a fine flat belly, the dangly thing in her navel.
    Sure enough, Elroy said, "Yeah. I'd better get out there. C'mon, Coon."
    Elroy nudged Coon to his feet as Frederick went back through the service bay to the storage shed in back of the station. He used Payne's keys to unlock the three padlocks and the steel security bar that kept the shed safe. He found the shovel and a two-gallon can Payne used to bring gas to stranded motorists, then searched behind the boxes of air filters, brake fluid, and Valvoline for the old Tri-Call vending machine Payne used to have out front for peanuts and Snickers. Payne and Frederick had better hiding places for their secret things, but Payne kept the shed to stash their goods.
    Frederick checked to see that Elroy was busy with the girl. As if on command, Coon planted his face square into the girl's kibble. Elroy made a big deal of scolding the dog as the girl laughed, then grabbed Coon's face so he could sneak a cheap rub on the girl's privates. Frederick had seen Elroy run that trick a hundred times. Elroy trained his mutt to head straight for the cush bush, and Coon never let him down.
    Frederick unlocked the vending machine, and fished out a leather case about three feet long. It was heavy, but the weight was comforting. He tucked the case under his arm, relocked the shed, then brought everything to his truck. Elroy was still pretending that he was trying to keep Coon off the girl's goodies, and here was the girl, red-faced and laughing, but not getting into her car. Frederick pumped two gallons of premium into the can (figuring the premium would burn hotter), loaded two cans of propane into his truck, then tooled away. Elroy never even glanced over to see.
    A couple of miles along the road, Frederick pulled over and opened the case. A cut-down Remington 12-gauge pump gun was inside, already stoked with six rounds of number-four