The Kraken of Cape Madre by J P Barnett

Author:J P Barnett [Barnett, J P]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781622530748
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Published: 2019-06-02T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

Tommy understood the irony of it: a cop, two hands anxiously gripping the wheel, trying through a haze of alcohol to focus on the road. He meant to only eat a burger and some cheese fries, but then he ordered a beer. And another. And another. He wasn’t proud of it. Or rather, he didn’t think he would be in the morning.

He might not be over the legal limit, he reasoned with himself, and he wouldn’t be going far. All excuses he’d heard a million times from a million different tourists. Somehow, they seemed truer when he told them to himself. He’d never had a drinking problem, but the day had stolen his resolve. It happened sometimes. He was only human.

He didn’t know why he drove there, but as he pulled his Crown Vic along the curb and stared at Stacy’s house, he regretted the decision. What did he expect from her? He couldn’t hang his worries in this place. She couldn’t handle the weight. But she told him to keep an eye on Emma, and now he had new information.

Across the street, someone rummaged in the back of a truck.

“Well if it isn’t Newt Goodreaux!” Tommy exclaimed as he stumbled out of the car, internally assessing whether he’d come across as a little too excited. Tommy Wallace was a jolly drunk.

Newt stood up quickly, banging his head against the steel cross bar of his fishing pole rack. The clang echoed through the neighborhood.

“T-T-Tommy.”

Did Newt have a stutter? Tommy couldn’t remember him ever having a stutter before.

“Finally cleanin’ up this old piece of crap?” Tommy asked.

Newt rubbed the back of his head, a sour expression on his face. He glanced down at a bottle of bleach in his hand and forced a smile. “Yessir. Need some extra money. Gonna rent it out.”

Tommy nodded his approval. “Good plan.”

He crossed in front of his car and started down the walkway to the familiar blue door, barely noticing that Newt practically ran inside. Tommy’s knocks fell muted on the door, dispersing into silence almost as quickly as he made them.

While waiting for Stacy to answer, he tried to compose himself. She’d seen Joe come home drunk and wild-eyed far too many times. Tommy couldn’t be that way with her. He imagined himself a rock, steadfast and unmoving. A place where Stacy could lean until she caught her breath.

No answer. He cupped his hand above his eyes and peered into the elongated window next to the door. Everything looked normal, in its place. Neat and clean, as always. Lights shone throughout the house.

A glance towards the driveway revealed Stacy’s car, so signs pointed away from her being out on errands. Not that she left on errands very often anymore.

He knocked again.

Tommy looked at his watch this time, willing himself to focus. After a full minute with no answer, he tried the handle, twisting it open and parting the door. He peered through the foyer and into the living room, trying to make sure every little thing stood in place.

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