One Foot in the Grave by Kory M. Shrum

Author:Kory M. Shrum [Shrum, Kory M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

16

King found the ghost tour company that Tommy worked for without much difficulty. He realized as he looked at its old stone façade facing the opposite church that he must have walked past this place a hundred times in the years since he’d started wandering the Quarter. He simply hadn’t had any reason to notice it until now.

When he crossed the threshold, he found a bald man behind the counter. The man wore head-to-toe black, his t-shirt serving as an advertisement for the place. The counter, too, supported an enormous banner which read Award-winning ghost tour! You’ll have a hell of a time, or your money back! See the bloody heart of a pirate ghost! Scares guaranteed!

“Looking to book a tour?” the man asked, his cheerful baritone filling the small space.

“Actually, I’m looking for Tommy,” King said, resting one arm on the counter. “Is he in?”

The man’s gaze narrowed. “No, he’s not. Is there something I can help you with?”

King wasn’t sure why he was being met with suspicion. And because it wasn’t the reaction he’d been expecting, he had to consider his next words carefully. If he turned the boss off completely to his cause, then this might prove to be a dead end.

“His cousin Jenny is missing.” King produced a photo of Jenny, the one Carrie had given him when he dropped her off at the RV after posting her bail. It was one of those senior-year portraits. The girl’s hair and makeup had been done. She posed beneath a large live oak tree, moss grazing her shoulder. Her smile was bright.

“Jenny’s mom thought she might be with Tommy.”

Better to start there than accuse the boy of satanism outright.

“Did you check his place?” the boss asked.

“I did, and met his landlady, Geraldine. She’s not seen him. That’s why she sent me your way.”

The boss’s expression softened. “Well, shit. Now you’ve got me worried. I hope he’s okay.”

“You haven’t heard from him?”

“No,” the man said. “I haven’t seen him all week.”

“Do you have any reason to believe he’s in trouble?” King asked. “Any history of drugs or drinking? Have you seen him hanging out with a rough crowd? Anything like that?”

“What an employee does on their personal time is none of my business,” the boss said, his voice growing hard again.

“And you haven’t seen Jenny?” King asked.

He shook his head. “Nope.”

King had the distinct impression that he was lying about that.

He reached out and lifted the brochure for the tour company and gave it a once-over. “Can I keep this?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you for your time.” King folded the brochure and put it in his pocket. Then he turned to go, trying to understand why his skills kept failing him during this case. Usually people opened up to him. Usually all he had to do was ask the right questions and he could at least get enough information to illuminate his next step. But this time, it felt like every step he took was met with resistance.

King turned back at the last minute.

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