The Vivisectionist Read Online Free PDF Page B

furniture. The race had become “The Forbidden Race” when Ben had knocked over a bookshelf. A crash of books had summoned Ben’s mother who had banned the game. After that they had to race very quietly, and only when they were sure she wouldn’t hear.
    For Jack, that had been the last fun week that summer. The following weekend Stephen had shown up. Stephen was the son of friends of Ben’s parents. Apparently, they had played together when they were four, so the parents all assumed that the kids should still be best friends. Jack considered himself Ben’s only legitimate best friend and resented the intrusion.
    To make things worse, Stephen felt the need to brag about everything and devise ways to drive a wedge between Jack and Ben.
    “Dinner time,” Jack’s mom called from downstairs.
    The boys raced down the stairs.
     
    **********
     
    Jack thought his dad would be angry, but dinner went very well. His dad gave him only a little bit of a hard time to enforce his mom’s punishment. It seemed that all was forgiven. After dinner they all watched TV in the family room and then the boys went back up to Jack’s room.
    Soon after it began to get dark outside, Jack realized that they had left some food improperly stowed at their campsite. Getting permission from Jack’s parents, Jack and Ben headed out in the dusk to collect their food. When they were almost finished, Ben looked up at the trees.
    “Look at that,” Ben pointed to a blue flashing in the leaves overhead.
    “Cops,” said Jack. Their eyes followed the light back to its source a few doors down.
    The boys dropped their food at the back door and crept around the side of the house to get a better look. Down the block and across a side street, four police cruisers were parked around Mr. Anderson’s house. He was an older man who lived next to the Vigues. Jack crept a bit closer in time to see the police leading Mr. Anderson out of his house and towards a police car.
    The Vigues came out of their house and looked on for a moment before Mr. Vigue ran towards his handcuffed neighbor.
    “You sick fuck—I’ll kill you,” Mr. Vigue screamed as he ran towards Mr. Anderson. Police quickly restrained Mr. Vigue and attempted to lead him back to his own house. Other officers were setting up yellow tape around Anderson’s house and a state police vehicle, a big van, pulled up in front.
    Ben came up behind, and Jack nearly jumped over the bush he was hiding behind.
    “What are they doing? What did that guy do?” asked Ben.
    “That was Mr. Anderson they’re driving off with. The mad guy was Mr. Vigue—Gabe’s dad,” replied Jack.
    “You think that was about Gabe? Wow, must have been,” said Ben.
    “I don’t know. Could be,” said Jack. He couldn’t take his eyes off the white-suited police donning gear from the big van. Three of them, with coveralls and masks made their way with big white cases towards Anderson’s house.
    “Totally cool,” said Ben.
    “Okay boys, back inside.” They both jumped at the sound of Jack’s father.
    “Jeez Dad, you scared us to death!” said Jack.
    “Just go up to your room, and quit sneaking around.”
    “Okay, but why did they take away Mr. Anderson?” asked Jack.
    “I don’t know, son, but I’m sure the police have the matter under control,” said his father.
    Jack and Ben went back around the house, grabbed their food, and went back in the house. Back upstairs, they stretched out on Jack’s bed and watched through the side window. They could see the Vigue house—every light was on and several figures moved around inside. They couldn’t get a clear look at Anderson’s place though—it was dark in comparison with all the bright lights from Vigue’s house and the police cars.
    “I bet he did it,” said Ben. “Snatched that kid. Well at least they caught him.”
    “Yeah,” said Jack. He turned away from the window and grabbed one of his puzzle books from his nightstand. Ben continued to look out the