To Thine Own Self Be True Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Sorry.”
    The three of us worked companionably, distributing grain, feeding the calves, checking on the soon-to-be mothers, and doing the milking itself. We didn’t talk much for the next couple of hours, except for giving instructions to Nick, and I began to breathe easier.
    We were almost done milking when Lucy took a break to check on the heifers. Nick and I worked in silence, only once bumping into each other as we reached for a towel.
    Lucy was soon back. “The heifers say ‘good morning.’”
    I put my towel in her hand. “Thanks. Can you finish up my last one? I’m going to call the milk hauler.”
    Lucy took the towel. “When we’re done I need to check on Tess. I’ll be back.”
    I gave her a backhand wave as I headed to my office, where I pulled off my stocking cap and sank into my chair. The hauling company answered on the first ring.
    “Royalcrest Farm here,” I said. “Wanted to see if you’ll make it out this morning.”
    I heard a computer keyboard clicking. “Yep,” the gal said. “We’re planning to be there. But the truck’ll probably be a little late, seeing how the roads are so bad.”
    “Still Level Three, from what I hear?”
    “Yup. So at least our trucks won’t have to deal with stupid drivers.”
    “Okay. Thanks.” I hit the flash button and called Bart’s house.
    He growled a hello.
    “Hey,” I said.
    “Damn, Stella, what news about Mandy and Wolf. I hear you were the last one to see them.”
    I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Pretty much.”
    “Christ Almighty.” I could picture Bart crossing himself, saying a short prayer for Mandy’s soul. “You hear anything new this morning?”
    I rubbed my forehead. “No. That’s why I’m calling.”
    “Nothing on this end, either.”
    “But you knew them well, right?”
    “I ought to. Wolf did my serpent.”
    Bart’s snake travels from one wrist, around his shoulder blades, and back down the other arm, the creating of which used up a considerable chunk of time at Wolf Ink.
    “So what do you think?” I asked. “Who would do this?”
    “Can’t imagine.”
    “The cops suspect Wolf, especially since they can’t find him.”
    “Huh-uh. No way. He’d never hurt Mandy. Or anybody.”
    “I agree. So where do you think he is?”
    I heard the flick of a lighter, and Bart sucking on a cigarette. “If I knew, woman, I’d be telling the cops.”
    “I know. I just feel so…”
    “Responsible?”
    “Geez, don’t hold any punches, pal.”
    Another inhale. “I’m not saying you are responsible, just that knowing you, you’d feel that way since you saw them last.”
    Mandy, lying in the snow while I napped.
    “There is one thing,” Bart said.
    “Yeah? What?”
    “Maybe you heard about it. A month ago Wolf and Mandy’s son—”
    “Billy.”
    “Right. Billy. Anyway, he got messed up at school. Some kids grabbed him at a junior high basketball game, took him to the bathroom, and beat the crap out of him.”
    I blinked. “They know who did it?”
    “Some high school boys.”
    “Why?”
    “Not sure. Don’t know any more than that. Wolf and Mandy weren’t talking about it, and the grapevine just had vague details. Nothing in the papers, since they were juvies.”
    I let that sink in. “And you haven’t heard from Wolf and Mandy in the past few days? Before they…before yesterday?”
    “Not a word.”
    I was silent.
    “You still there?” Bart asked.
    “Yeah. Sorry. If you hear anything else, will you tell me?”
    “I’ll tell you. And I’ll do some calling around. See what I can come up with. We gotta find Wolf in one piece. For Billy.”
    “For Billy. Talk to you soon.”
    I pulled out the phone book to look up the Lansdale police. Shisler’s card was in the house, and I didn’t feel like trudging back there. An officer answered on the first ring.
    “Detective Shisler, please,” I said.
    “Sorry, she’s not in. You want to leave a message?”
    “It’s about the Moores, and she asked me