Dead on Arrival by R.J. Patterson

Author:R.J. Patterson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Green E-Books
Published: 2018-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

CAL STOLE ACROSS his yard and scaled the six-foot-high fence separating his yard from his neighbor’s. Praying that the man’s dog was inside, Cal breathed a sigh of relief when the neighborhood barker wasn’t patrolling the back. Cal proceeded to jump one more fence before climbing over another bordering a house that faced the street parallel to his.

While Cal didn’t hear any shouts or footfalls, he realized he couldn’t be too cautious, at least not until he found out what the FBI wanted from him. Based on his conversation with Sergeant Davis, Cal certainly felt like there was a very real possibility that he was being framed. And given the fact that he had already determined that some powerful people had to be involved in the cover up of Chase Dollinger’s murder, Cal couldn’t be too careful.

Two blocks away was The Oracle, a trendy restaurant and bar that almost always had a taxi on call, especially on Friday nights. Cal planned to hail a cab there and then get somewhere safe until he could learn more.

However, Cal’s scheme was torpedoed by Mrs. Neuberger and her Pomeranian, Fifi. The neighborhood’s nosiest resident never missed an opportunity to stop and talk, usually dishing out all the local gossip she’d learned. If Cal wasn’t under such scrutiny, he would’ve greeted her before making up an excuse to get away. But given the circumstances, he needed to endear himself a little bit to her in case the FBI or Seattle PD decided to canvas the area looking for him. If he was in her good graces, she might keep her big mouth shut, all for the sake of sharing the gossip later with another neighbor.

Cal knelt and petted Fifi.

“What are you two doing out so late?” Cal asked.

“Oh, when Fifi wants to go for a walk, we go for a walk,” Mrs. Neuberger said.

Cal looked up to see her eyeing him closely. He stood and smiled. “What is it, Mrs. Neuberger?”

She cocked her head to one side. “Where’s Kelly tonight? I haven’t seen her or Maddie out in a while. There’s not any trouble going on at home, is there?”

Cal smiled. “Actually, things couldn’t be better. We’ve just been catching up on lost time since baseball season finally ended. And I needed a little walk to get some fresh air after a busy day at my home office.”

“That’s funny,” she said. “I came by earlier this afternoon and didn’t see either one of you around.”

“You came by, Mrs. Neuberger?”

“Yes, I wanted to bring you some cookies, my special sympathy cookies.”

“What kind were they?” Cal asked, doing his best to act interested.

“I call them the Bronx Bombers.”

Cal winked at her. “I forgot you’re from New York.”

“That’s right, Cal. My Yankees are going all the way this year.”

“So, you really just came around to rub it in, didn’t you?”

She grinned and patted Cal on the shoulder. “You didn’t really think the Mariners were going to beat New York, did you?”

“I suppose not.”

“It might’ve been a better series had Chase Dollinger not up and died.

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