The Outlaw Among Us by Nathan Dodge

Author:Nathan Dodge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Star Books

19

The boys are passed out asleep upstairs in the room where the PlayStation is set up, and Rachel and I are finishing up another delicious dinner as we sit at the small table in the Outlaws’ kitchen nook. Tonight she fixed a pair of thick rib-eyes, some creamy mashed potatoes with cheese and fresh green beans. We’ve each had one glass of red wine tonight, but that’s it. And the bottle’s been sitting between us for almost thirty minutes without either of us going for it.

We’re still having a great time, though. Our conversations always go so easily, even without alcohol.

Johnny’s supposed to be in Chicago working on the same case he was working on last week, but I wonder if he’s really there. It’s always something with Johnny, I’ve come to understand. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in Chicago, just like it wouldn’t surprise me if he’s right outside in the dark watching us through the window beside the table. That’s the way it goes with him. You never know where he really is or what he’s really doing. Hell, Rachel asked him if he went to Chicago while I was in the closet, and he didn’t give her a straight answer. If she doesn’t know, how could anyone else?

The thing that got me about his answer—or lack of it—was that she didn’t seem to care. She accepted his slick, noncommittal comeback. That isn’t normal. Peg would have called out the National Guard on me if I’d dodged a question like that. But Rachel just shrugged it off.

“Do you think Salim figures you and Johnny had anything to do with what happened at the warehouse last night?” Rachel asks.

I shake my head. “Nah. We got out of there right away, right after I shot at the guy who was holding the sword, so I don’t think any of the men saw us. And Salim didn’t act like anything was different when I saw him today.”

I saw Salim while I was walking Brendan to the bus stop this morning, and he was the old Salim, the one I’ve always known. He was the friendly man who brought my kids free video games and consoled me when he heard about Peg. Not the evil twin who executes men in cold blood and demands that I wear a wire while I talk to federal agents or he’ll tell Johnny I snuck into his house.

“And we made it back here last night before he did, so he wouldn’t have noticed that your car was gone. I guess his wife or one of his kids could have seen it and told him, but I think we’re fine.”

He could have touched the hoods of all of our cars when he got home to see if the engines were hot because none of the houses in our neighborhood have garages, too. But I figure if Salim had even the slightest notion that Johnny and I were the ones who shot up that warehouse last night, we’d all be dead.

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