Snatched by Pete Hautman

Author:Pete Hautman
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“I don’t like this,” Brian said. “What makes you think she went to the island?”

“She might have gone looking for a phone,” Roni said over her shoulder. They were back on the island, following the path that led to Driftwood Doug’s houseboat. “Or maybe she just wanted to get away from Mr. Spooky Butterfly Killer back there. And maybe she ran into Driftwood Doug.”

“That’s a lot of maybes. Maybe she caught a ride back into town.”

“Then why is she still missing? It won’t hurt to take another look, as long as we’re here,” Roni said. “Besides, last time we got interrupted.”

“Yeah, by a giant hairless troll who wanted to toss me in the river.”

“Hoot wouldn’t really have dropped you.”

“Another maybe.”

“Look, we don’t know that Driftwood Doug had anything to do with Alicia disappearing, but there has to be some connection. Too many coincidences. Now shut up for a while. We’re getting close.”

Driftwood Doug’s boat came into view a minute later. It looked exactly as they had left it, except that the river had risen a few inches since the storm, and the houseboat now floated level and free. A small fire was burning in the fire pit on shore. Roni walked up to the fire pit and looked into it.

“What are you looking for?” Brian whispered as he walked up next to her and stared into what appeared to be a normal campfire.

“Evidence. He might be burning Alicia’s clothes.”

Brian shuddered. Sometimes Roni completely creeped him out.

“Don’t worry, it’s just wood,” Roni said. She started toward the boat.

Brian said, “I got a bad feeling about this.”

Ignoring him, Roni hopped onto the deck and peered through one of the portholes.

“See anything?” Brian asked.

Roni shook her head and rapped on the glass. “Anybody home?” she called out.

No answer.

“Come on,” Brian said. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Just a minute,” Roni said.

“What if Hoot shows up again?” Brian did not like this situation at all. He looked down at the fire. Why would Driftwood Doug leave a fire burning unattended?

“There’s nobody in here,” Roni said. She sounded disappointed. Brian was relieved.

“Then let’s go!” he said. Just then he heard a twig snap. For a second he froze. Then he turned around slowly and looked up.

Brian’s first impression was that an enormous bundle of sticks was walking toward him. Just as he realized that he was looking at a man carrying a load of firewood, the man dropped his load of branches and twigs with a crash, and Brian got his first close-up look at Driftwood Doug.

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