The Maine Events Rodney Riesel (red white and royal blue hardcover .TXT) 📖

“Because … I don't know, I guess some of the things Jim wassaying got to me.”

“What kind of things?”

“He asked why I was wasting my time with you when you'rejust going to be leaving York in a few days. He said I would end up with myheart broken.”

“Don't you think that's something you and I should discuss,not you and Tucker?”

“I know that, Allen. It's just that Jim has this way ofgetting into my head. He's very good at it.”

“I guess he is.”

“When he dropped me off at my place, I told him it was over,and that there was no chance he and I would be getting back together.”

“I guess that explains his mood Saturday night.”

“Why? What did he say?”

“Not much. It was just the way he said it.”

Mya reached over and laid her hand on Allen's thigh. “Let'sstop talking about this.”

“Okay.”

She reached into the envelope and pulled out one of thefliers. “Ten thousand dollar reward?” she remarked.

“It's actually a little higher now I think, but the flierswere already printed.”

Mya read down through the flier, reading Jacob's descriptionaloud. “This kid looks so familiar to me, but I just can't place him.”

“Yeah, you said that the other night. Maybe his family cameto the restaurant one night.”

Mya shoved the flier back in the envelope. “Yeah, maybe.”

Five minutes later Allen veered off the highway at exitseven. At the end of the ramp he hung a left onto Market Street.

“I've never been to Portsmouth in my life,” Allen said.“Where would you say is the best area to put up these fliers?”

“Keep going straight up here,” Mya instructed. “ProbablyCongress Street and State Street would be a good start. There's a lot ofrestaurants and shops on those two streets.”

“Sounds good.”

“Right here,” Mya said, pointing ahead at the nextintersection.

Allen turned left on Congress Street and pulled into aparking spot in front of the Thirsty Moose Taphouse. The couple got out of theJeep. Mya had the envelope. Allen put the leash on Frankie and grabbed thestapler.

“It looks like all of these light poles are metal,” hecommented to Mya. “Hopefully some of these shop owners will put the fliers upin their windows.”

“I'm sure they will.”

Allen, Frankie, and Mya walked up one side of CongressStreet and down the other. Then they made their way a block east to StateStreet. Every business owner and employee they approached was more than happyto help, taping the fliers to front windows and bulletin boards.

As they exited the Rusty Hammer at the corner of State andPleasant, two young boys climbing a chain link fence into a construction sitecaught Allen's eyes. The boys were around the same age as Jacob and Oliver.Allen and Mya stood at the corner, waiting for the light to change.

“Stupid kids,” Allen said.

“What?” Mya asked.

“Look at those two kids climbing the fence. Don't they knowhow dangerous that is? Look at all the construction equip—”

“Allen.”

“What?”

“They're just kids.”

“Kids trying to get into trouble.” All Allen could thinkabout as he watched the two boys reach the top of the fence was the unknowntrouble Jacob and Oliver had gotten themselves into. He thought about Oliverlying in the woods next to the dirt trail. “Get down from there!” Allenshouted.

The boys dropped to the other side.

“Hey!” Allen hollered.

Frankie barked in the boy’s direction.

The boys looked over. One of them flipped Allen the middlefinger, and they both ran around a building out of sight.

Allen glanced over at Mya. She had a strange look on herface.

“What's the matter?” Allen asked.

“I just realized where I saw Jacob and his friendbefore.”

“Where?” Allen stepped back away from the curb, pullingFrankie's leash with him.

“It was at Stones Throw, last Sunday afternoon.”

“That's the day I was first there.”

“Right. The two boys were there a little while before I satyou.”

“What were they doing?”

“I sat the two men you fought with at their table.”

“Argued with.”

“Whatever. Anyway, I sat them, and then returned to thepodium. A little while later I looked back over my shoulder. I saw Jacob andOliver in the alley, under the deck, where the hotel guests park. They werestanding behind a vehicle. They were messing with something. I called out, 'Youboys get out from under there,' and they took off running.”

“What were they messing with?”

“They were reading something.”

“Reading something?”

“Yeah, it was a piece of white notebook paper or something.”

Allen thought back to the day he had seen Jacob and Oliversitting on the picnic table at the Sunrise Motel. He recalled the two of themlooking at a piece of paper. He also remembered how, when he asked what theywere doing, they had denied even having the paper.

“Let's head back,” Allen said. “I need to talk to Rose.”

“Is something wrong?” Mya asked.

“I don't know.” Allen grabbed Mya's hand. “Come on,” hesaid, stepping into the crosswalk.

As they hurried along Pleasant Street toward the car, Allenhanded Frankie's leash to Mya, then pulled out his cell phone and dialedSergeant Rose's number.

“Rose.”

“Hey, it's Allen Crane.”

“What's up?”

“We need to talk.”

“Okay. Is something wrong?”

“Mya said she had some information on Jacob and Oliver—justmeet me at the Sunrise Motel. It might be nothing, but I'll fill you in when weget there.”

“We?”

“Mya and me.”

“You're with Mya right now?”

“Yes.”

Rose groaned. “Tuck's not gonna like this. Where are you?”

“Portsmouth, putting up fliers. We'll be there in a half hour.”

“See ya then.”

Rose hung up and Allen slipped his cell phone back into hispocket.

“What did he say?” Mya asked.

“For one thing, he said Tucker wasn't going to be too happythat you were with me.”

“Yeah, he told me even if he and I weren't getting backtogether, he still didn't want to see you and me together. Tuck actually said,'I forbid you to see him again.'”

“Great.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Sergeant Rose was already at the motel when Allen and Myapulled in. He was sitting on one of the picnic tables with his feet on thebench. Officer Tucker stood near him, facing the water, his hands resting onhis gun belt. Both men turned around when they heard Allen's Jeep. Allenmaneuvered the old Jeep into a vacant parking spot.

Mya sighed loudly. “You should have asked Rose to comealone,” she said.

“It