other as Marks struggled to free himself as he screamed at the top of his lungs for help. “Stop that right now!” Jack ordered. “If you don’t stop, we’ll take the lightbulb out, and you’ll be in total darkness. If that happens, how are you going to see the rats? Now shut the hell up.”
Marks shut up.
“Okay, boys, take him up to the second floor. We need to get on the road. Luther, my man, we appreciate all your help. If he starts to squawk, give him a good belt. Are you sure you don’t want me to leave Cyrus?”
“We got it covered, man. Go on, do what you gotta do. The dude ain’t gonna go anywhere. Glad to help. By the way, my granny and some of the others want to know if you folks are coming to the church service and the party tomorrow.”
“You know it,” Dennis said, accepting for everyone. Another round of high fives were completed before the group started back toward the van. “Hey, Luther, we forgot to frisk him. Take his cell phone and give it to someone who needs one. If he has any money on him, it’s yours.”
“All rightttttt,” Luther called over his shoulder as he climbed the rickety, rotted steps to the second-floor apartment.
Chapter 13
The night was crisp and cold, with barely any wind. Millions of stars dotted the black night as the small group climbed into the Post van. Ted took the wheel, and Jack rode shotgun, with the others piling into the remaining seats. For the most part they were subdued, each busy with his or her own private thoughts.
Twenty minutes into the hour-long trip, Jack looked down at his watch. “When you spoke with Mrs. Sandford earlier, did you believe her when she said she and her husband were just making a token appearance at the mayor’s annual Christmas party?”
“Yeah, I did, Jack. When I told her I was bringing her an early copy of her spread, she about turned herself inside out. When I tried to nail down if her husband would be there for sure, she assured me he had gotten to the farm at two o’clock this afternoon and, like herself, had exactly no interest in staying at the party. She said they had to make an appearance and do a little meet and greet before they headed right back to the farm. She’s excited, I can tell you that.”
“Security?” Harry asked from the backseat.
“She didn’t say, Harry. I’m assuming not. He’s in his own bailiwick and feels safe there and knows the local police have his back. That’s what she told us on our initial visit, and I have no reason to think that would be any different now. There is no reason for anything to have changed in a matter of a few days. I take their going to the mayor’s party as a plus. If they do it every year, for sure their not attending might throw up a red flag. I think we’re good here. If not, we’ll deal with it when we get there. Between you and young Dennis, we have a two-man army.” Ted chuckled at his own wit.
No one said anything after that until Ted slowed the van thirty minutes later.
“I remember that old rotted tree, Ted. Go slow, there might be a light over the sign or maybe some of those reflector stickers on the other trees,” Dennis called from the backseat as he tried to peer out into the darkness. “There it is, right up ahead. Whoa, slow down, see there it is. The mailbox is lit up. Do you see it, Ted?”
“I see it. Okay, everyone, take a deep breath. What time is it?” Ted asked as he crawled along at five miles an hour over the unpaved, potholed road that would take him to the Sandford farmhouse.
“Holy cow, look at those lights!” Dennis shrilled from the backseat. “Would you look at that! Damn if it doesn’t look like Disney! She wasn’t kidding when she said the light show was spectacular! Not that I’m thinking this is spectacular but ... but . . .”
“It’s a nightmare light show,” Abner said, as the van inched closer to the residence. “They must have bought out some electric factory to light the place up like
Marks shut up.
“Okay, boys, take him up to the second floor. We need to get on the road. Luther, my man, we appreciate all your help. If he starts to squawk, give him a good belt. Are you sure you don’t want me to leave Cyrus?”
“We got it covered, man. Go on, do what you gotta do. The dude ain’t gonna go anywhere. Glad to help. By the way, my granny and some of the others want to know if you folks are coming to the church service and the party tomorrow.”
“You know it,” Dennis said, accepting for everyone. Another round of high fives were completed before the group started back toward the van. “Hey, Luther, we forgot to frisk him. Take his cell phone and give it to someone who needs one. If he has any money on him, it’s yours.”
“All rightttttt,” Luther called over his shoulder as he climbed the rickety, rotted steps to the second-floor apartment.
Chapter 13
The night was crisp and cold, with barely any wind. Millions of stars dotted the black night as the small group climbed into the Post van. Ted took the wheel, and Jack rode shotgun, with the others piling into the remaining seats. For the most part they were subdued, each busy with his or her own private thoughts.
Twenty minutes into the hour-long trip, Jack looked down at his watch. “When you spoke with Mrs. Sandford earlier, did you believe her when she said she and her husband were just making a token appearance at the mayor’s annual Christmas party?”
“Yeah, I did, Jack. When I told her I was bringing her an early copy of her spread, she about turned herself inside out. When I tried to nail down if her husband would be there for sure, she assured me he had gotten to the farm at two o’clock this afternoon and, like herself, had exactly no interest in staying at the party. She said they had to make an appearance and do a little meet and greet before they headed right back to the farm. She’s excited, I can tell you that.”
“Security?” Harry asked from the backseat.
“She didn’t say, Harry. I’m assuming not. He’s in his own bailiwick and feels safe there and knows the local police have his back. That’s what she told us on our initial visit, and I have no reason to think that would be any different now. There is no reason for anything to have changed in a matter of a few days. I take their going to the mayor’s party as a plus. If they do it every year, for sure their not attending might throw up a red flag. I think we’re good here. If not, we’ll deal with it when we get there. Between you and young Dennis, we have a two-man army.” Ted chuckled at his own wit.
No one said anything after that until Ted slowed the van thirty minutes later.
“I remember that old rotted tree, Ted. Go slow, there might be a light over the sign or maybe some of those reflector stickers on the other trees,” Dennis called from the backseat as he tried to peer out into the darkness. “There it is, right up ahead. Whoa, slow down, see there it is. The mailbox is lit up. Do you see it, Ted?”
“I see it. Okay, everyone, take a deep breath. What time is it?” Ted asked as he crawled along at five miles an hour over the unpaved, potholed road that would take him to the Sandford farmhouse.
“Holy cow, look at those lights!” Dennis shrilled from the backseat. “Would you look at that! Damn if it doesn’t look like Disney! She wasn’t kidding when she said the light show was spectacular! Not that I’m thinking this is spectacular but ... but . . .”
“It’s a nightmare light show,” Abner said, as the van inched closer to the residence. “They must have bought out some electric factory to light the place up like
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