Bones and Brew by Alice Holladay

Author:Alice Holladay [Holladay, Alice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-09T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

So Close

Barking like mad, Ben struggled to escape the seat belt safety harness tethering him to the UTV seat.

“Did you hear that?” Alton eyed Ruben and Milt.

“Hear what?” Milt scowled. “Shhh, Ben. Settle down.” His attempt to calm the dog only provoked him to bark more and louder.

“I heard it.” Ruben grinned. “We’re close. Mrs. T called Ben’s name.”

“When? When did you hear Lou?”

“Seconds ago.” Ruben tipped his head toward Ben, who continued to bark nonstop. “Without a doubt, he heard her too. That’s why he’s going nuts.”

Milt nodded, the explanation made perfect sense. “I know we can’t keep up with his four legs, but maybe I should turn him loose and let him lead us to Lou.”

Alton vigorously wagged his head. “The Barrs are armed. Shots have been fired. We know they killed Dot, so nothing’s stopping them from killing again. And I’m certain they wouldn’t hesitate a millisecond to shoot a dog.”

Milt’s throat dried. Goosebumps, not from the cold, ravaged his body. “Back up a second. Let me guess how Lou became involved in this mess. Either she and Ben witnessed the murder, or discovered the body.”

“Bullseye,” Alton answered with a cluck of his tongue and a gesture at Milt with his finger as if it were a gun.

“Lou wasn’t supposed to be at the cabins—” Ruben cut himself off.

“How did you know that?” Milt felt his face drain of color as he answered his own question. “You have an informant. Someone’s spying in our little town for you.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“You have no idea what I think, but I’m going to tell you.”

“Woof-woof.” Ben ceased struggling to escape but continued to offer a series of barks in protest.

Milt narrowed his eyes. “I suspect you saw Lou and Ben at the cabins when they discovered Dot’s dead body. Furthermore, I suspect you two are the reason Lou’s in the clutches of those looney Barrs.” He let out a long sigh. “Tell me I’m wrong. And while you’re at it explain, if the Barrs are as trigger happy as you claim, why they didn’t shoot Ben when they had the chance.”

“Milt, your suspicions are mostly correct, and we owe you a full explanation,” Alton conceded. “But right now, I think you’ll agree, we need to figure out how we’re going to rescue Lou.”

Milt frowned. “I expected you’d offer some kind of a non-answer like that because you have no plan, do you? Worse yet, you never had any intention of rescuing Lou, did you?”

Alton and Ruben gazed at their feet.

“Well, I know how you two can save face with the MTAF and rescue Lou at the same time.”

The men jerked their heads up. Intrigue on their faces.

Milt twisted his body three-quarters to the side. He pointed to a large black case anchored down with bungee cords in the backseat. “Sanders will help.”

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