garbage.
“Sounds good to me. Do you guys have a ride? I can just follow you in my pickup.”
The punk pointed toward an old station wagon parked in front of the Nissan. “Yeah. My old man let me use the old wagon tonight. Just follow us.”
Strolling toward the POS, the half-lip snarl grew larger as he thought how much he loved it when a plan came together.
CHAPTER 24
Nube’s cell phone rang while he was scrubbing grease from his hands. This time he looked at the caller ID before answering and saw it was from Doc.
“Good morning, Doc. What can I do for you on this lovely day? Or are you calling about playing a round of golf?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not calling about either. I’m afraid that I have some bad news. Seems like our perp, the miserable SOB, has struck again. Naldie called and told me that old Sam Washburn, who lives on a small piece of land adjoining Whitsell’s pit, found another body this morning. He was walking his old coonhound through the pit and discovered the body of a teenage boy. What’s really crazy is that he found it in exactly the same place where the young girl’s body was found. And furthermore,” the agitation growing in Doc’s voice, “there was an axe in the victim’s chest again. Jeez, Nube, just what in the capital H is going on, and who is this crazy, whacked-out psycho?”
“Calm down a bit, Doc. We don’t need you having a heart attack or a stroke. Now tell me again, who found the body, when was it found, and who called you? Just hold on a sec. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I come over to your house and you can fill me in en route to Naldie’s office.”
“Sounds good, Nube. I’d appreciate that. And the two of us will have to really work to calm Naldie down. I’ve never heard the man so agitated.”
“Just sit tight and I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Nube punched out and left the maintenance shed for the short walk home. He’d need to clean up and change clothes because it sounded like this could be another long day and night. And he thought he may as well take advantage of the moment to let Ms. Abby run in the yard while he was getting ready. Lord only knew when he’d be back.
CHAPTER 25
When Nube arrived at Doc’s house, he found him pacing along the boulevard with his hands knotted behind his back, his shoulders hunched, and his face quizzical and pained. Nube pulled his Audi up to the curb and rolled down the passenger window.
“Hey, Doc. Jump in and let’s go find Naldie.”
Doc had to crunch down and slither in. “Just why on God’s green earth do you have such a small car? Don’t you know how hard it is for someone like me to crawl into this thing?”
Nube, who liked to describe himself as a bit north of six feet two and east of 215 pounds, smiled and said, “When I get as old as you, Doc, I’ll probably change to a minivan or one of those big honking Arab-loves-’em, gas-sucking SUVs. But until then, well, I’ll just keep this little beauty. I can get in and out without any problem.”
After Doc was finally in and his seat belt was secured, Nube pulled away from the curb, smoothly shifting through the gears. He thought he’d give Doc a ride so he could see why this automobile was so much fun.
Nube had just shifted into third gear when Doc said, “You don’t have to prove to me that this is a smooth machine. I was young once as well and actually owned something comparable to this. They do put a smile on your face and make your heart beat faster. I’ll give you that. I’m just not sure I could keep up with it anymore.”
“You’re a little worked up, Doc, and I think I know the perfect elixir. How about I let you drive?”
Turning to Nube with a smile on his face, he asked, “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? Just the thought gives me goose pimples.”
Pulling to the curb, Nube shifted into park, opened his door, climbed out, and walked to the passenger side. He opened the door so Doc could exit and said to him,
“Sounds good to me. Do you guys have a ride? I can just follow you in my pickup.”
The punk pointed toward an old station wagon parked in front of the Nissan. “Yeah. My old man let me use the old wagon tonight. Just follow us.”
Strolling toward the POS, the half-lip snarl grew larger as he thought how much he loved it when a plan came together.
CHAPTER 24
Nube’s cell phone rang while he was scrubbing grease from his hands. This time he looked at the caller ID before answering and saw it was from Doc.
“Good morning, Doc. What can I do for you on this lovely day? Or are you calling about playing a round of golf?”
“Unfortunately, I’m not calling about either. I’m afraid that I have some bad news. Seems like our perp, the miserable SOB, has struck again. Naldie called and told me that old Sam Washburn, who lives on a small piece of land adjoining Whitsell’s pit, found another body this morning. He was walking his old coonhound through the pit and discovered the body of a teenage boy. What’s really crazy is that he found it in exactly the same place where the young girl’s body was found. And furthermore,” the agitation growing in Doc’s voice, “there was an axe in the victim’s chest again. Jeez, Nube, just what in the capital H is going on, and who is this crazy, whacked-out psycho?”
“Calm down a bit, Doc. We don’t need you having a heart attack or a stroke. Now tell me again, who found the body, when was it found, and who called you? Just hold on a sec. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t I come over to your house and you can fill me in en route to Naldie’s office.”
“Sounds good, Nube. I’d appreciate that. And the two of us will have to really work to calm Naldie down. I’ve never heard the man so agitated.”
“Just sit tight and I’ll be there in half an hour.”
Nube punched out and left the maintenance shed for the short walk home. He’d need to clean up and change clothes because it sounded like this could be another long day and night. And he thought he may as well take advantage of the moment to let Ms. Abby run in the yard while he was getting ready. Lord only knew when he’d be back.
CHAPTER 25
When Nube arrived at Doc’s house, he found him pacing along the boulevard with his hands knotted behind his back, his shoulders hunched, and his face quizzical and pained. Nube pulled his Audi up to the curb and rolled down the passenger window.
“Hey, Doc. Jump in and let’s go find Naldie.”
Doc had to crunch down and slither in. “Just why on God’s green earth do you have such a small car? Don’t you know how hard it is for someone like me to crawl into this thing?”
Nube, who liked to describe himself as a bit north of six feet two and east of 215 pounds, smiled and said, “When I get as old as you, Doc, I’ll probably change to a minivan or one of those big honking Arab-loves-’em, gas-sucking SUVs. But until then, well, I’ll just keep this little beauty. I can get in and out without any problem.”
After Doc was finally in and his seat belt was secured, Nube pulled away from the curb, smoothly shifting through the gears. He thought he’d give Doc a ride so he could see why this automobile was so much fun.
Nube had just shifted into third gear when Doc said, “You don’t have to prove to me that this is a smooth machine. I was young once as well and actually owned something comparable to this. They do put a smile on your face and make your heart beat faster. I’ll give you that. I’m just not sure I could keep up with it anymore.”
“You’re a little worked up, Doc, and I think I know the perfect elixir. How about I let you drive?”
Turning to Nube with a smile on his face, he asked, “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind? Just the thought gives me goose pimples.”
Pulling to the curb, Nube shifted into park, opened his door, climbed out, and walked to the passenger side. He opened the door so Doc could exit and said to him,
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