The Homeplace: A Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page B

stared out the window, content in that minute to say nothing.
    Midmorning sun bathed the prairie in light so clear that Chase could count the few yellow leaves still on the cottonwoods along Sandy Creek half a mile away. Furrows green with winter wheat striped brown fields. A lone tumbleweed disturbed by a speeding semi did slow somersaults across the parking lot.
    “I forgot how peaceful this could be,” Chase told Mercy.
    “I know” was all she said.
    Chase drew a circle on the inside of his cheek with the tip of his tongue.
    “And, Mercy. Our first date.” He waited until she looked at him. “We drove to the Springs. We told your mother that we were goin’ to see The Lion King but went to Pulp Fiction instead. Stopped at Pizza Hut afterward. Got back to your house at two in the mornin’. Sat in my truck for another hour and talked about both our plans to get out of Brandon.”
    Mercy looked away from him. “Sixteen years later, we’re both back.”
    “I’ll be leavin’ on Monday, Mercy.”
    She reached out and touched his arm, and he pulled away. He couldn’t hurt her again.

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
    Marty crushed a stray tumbleweed under the front tire of the Sheriff’s Department’s patrol car and eased into a parking spot at the front door of Saylor’s Café.
    The police radio, hung beneath the dashboard, chirped. Paco grabbed the microphone. “Martinez, here. Marty’s with me.”
    “This is Kendall. You talk to the boy’s father?”
    “Yes, sir. He’s a strange one. We offered to drive him to the morgue. He refused. Said he’d drive himself.” Martinez twisted up the volume.
    “What’s your gut feel? He do it?”
    “Tough to read. I say no. But we need to watch him. He already had two or three beers in him this mornin’. I think that’s an everyday thing. Boy lived with him, but as far as I can tell the old man let him raise himself.”
    “There a mother?” The sheriff’s voice crackled through the radio.
    “Said she was dead.”
    “We ran a background on him and the boy. Just what we thought we’d find. The father has his commercial driver’s license. Some traffic tickets. Not much else. Arlene is tryin’ to contact someone at the school so we can get a look at the boy’s records.”
    Marty’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel. No one would say the boy’s name. Jimmy Riley was dead.
    Paco continued, “The father said his son had a girlfriend. He wasn’t real clear on her name. If it’s who I’m thinkin’, it might be Dolly Benavidez. She works at Saylor’s. That’s where we are now. We’ll see what she can tell us.”
    “Let me know what she has to say.”
    “They find anythin’ at Ray-Ray’s, Sheriff?”
    “No sign of him at all. They’re on their way over to his brother’s now.”
    “Sheriff?” Marty tapped Paco’s wrist and took the microphone from his hand. “Has anybody talked to Coach Porter? If anyone can tell us about Jimmy, it would be his coach.”
    “Good thought, Deputy. You know Porter. As soon as you finish at Saylor’s, go see what you can find out.”
    *   *   *
    Mercy looked up as the café’s front door opened.
    “Is that Paco Martinez?” Chase asked. “He still workin’ for the sheriff?”
    “If you came around more, you’d know.” She twisted her mouth in a sour grin. “I don’t know how many times people have said that to me since I’ve been back.” She waved for the two deputies to join them and looked back at Chase. “I’ll go get some coffee cups, and you boys can talk.”
    “Mercy, I’m afraid they’re here on business.” Chase’s throat tightened.
    Mercy tilted her head. “What?”
    “They found a body this mornin’.”
    Her eyes opened wide. “How do you know?”
    Before he could answer, Marty stepped up to the table. “Mercy.” He touched the brim of his Stetson. “Chase, you know Deputy Martinez.”
    Chase reached out to shake Paco’s hand.
    Marty licked his lips. “Mercy, is Dolly workin’ this