Deerslayer by M. S. Karl

Author:M. S. Karl
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497663299
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

15

Brady made a U-turn and followed. When he got to the main highway he saw Purdy’s truck half a mile away, headed south, toward Alexandria. If he followed he might lose Purdy. Maybe he should go back, use this opportunity to try to get into the deserted house and rummage for evidence.

Sure. And give the dog another meal.

Besides, he had caught just the briefest glimpse of Purdy’s face and there was something about his expression that made Brady want to know more. Something was on Purdy’s mind, something that must have an answer someplace on this highway.

If it hadn’t been for the roadwork near Bentley there wouldn’t have been a chance, but as Brady slowed for the long line of cars he saw Purdy’s blue truck ten vehicles ahead, half coated with dust from the construction.

He wondered for a moment if Purdy had seen him, but dismissed the idea; Purdy had his mind set on whatever was ahead of him, not what was behind.

A few seconds later a bulldozer backed onto the shoulder and the roadguard began to wave traffic through. There was a log truck ahead of Purdy’s pickup, and an RV ahead of that, so that for the next five or six minutes, until they reached the outskirts of Pineville, Purdy and all the cars behind him limped along, following the two behemoths. But once at Pineville there was a traffic signal, where the road divided. To the left was the old route, through the community of Tioga, a winding two-lane that took fifteen minutes. None of the cars went that way, preferring instead the four-lane that looped around the northern edge of Pineville like a half-moon, leading at last to the bridge that fed into Alexandria, on the opposite side of the Red.

Brady followed the stream of traffic, watching the blue truck whip out at the first chance to pass the slower traffic.

What was there in Alec that was so important Purdy had to get there this quickly? It was almost as if he was running from something …

Then, to Brady’s surprise, he saw the pickup slide off the four-lane and down the exit toward Highway 71, which was the old way. So he was headed for the business district.

Wrong again. Brady following, lost the pickup on the curves and hills when he came to the old white three-story on the left that was Forest Service Headquarters and slammed on his brakes.

The blue truck was in one of the visitors spaces in front of the building.

Brady turned in quickly and found a parking spot discreetly removed from Purdy’s truck. Then he went up the walkway and through the big glass doors.

“Yes, sir?” the receptionist looked, up. “Are you here for the meeting?”

“Meeting?” Brady asked.

“The rehearing on the land exchange. It’s in the conference room on the third floor. It’s already started.”

“Thank you.” Brady headed for the steps, falling in behind a pair of men in business suits.

The room was an auditorium at the end of the hall, with metal folding chairs, and some of the attendees spilled out into the hall.

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