Everyone Loves You by CB Laurence

Author:CB Laurence [Laurence, CB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CBL Press
Published: 2023-01-04T16:00:00+00:00

Beau’s finger absently stroked the ridge in his chin. For the last twenty minutes, he let his thoughts churn over the dreadful letters and clues they’d collected so far, yet he still came up with nothing helpful. “Where are we going?”

Várlumo sighed. “I was wondering when you were going to ask. San Fernando, Farm Road 1020.”

“Hmm. Lots of land out there for a deranged sergeant to blow stuff up.”

“You’re right about that, amigo. We can’t announce ourselves as FBI—he doesn’t seem the type who would be too friendly to law enforcement. Let’s keep our jackets buttoned and go in as land investors looking to buy his property. That way if we get caught snooping, we can say we were simply touring the farm.”

“Good thinking.”

San Fernando, about twenty miles north of Los Angeles, reminded Beau of Georgia. The region grew a variety of crops such as citrus and olives, and livestock was big business. Like the rolling hills of Hanie County, the valley had views of the San Gabriel foothills, and LA, not Atlanta, was the metropolis only a short drive away.

Thirty minutes later, Várlumo said, “We’re low on gas.”

Beau looked ahead. “There’s a station. Maybe the attendant can give us directions.”

Várlumo swooped the car in front of the pump and waved to the attendant.

Wiping his hands on a blue rag, a barrel-chested man wearing overalls and a two-tooth smile, approached the car. “Good morning, friend. What can we do ya for?”

Várlumo smiled. “Fill ‘er up, if you don’t mind, sir.”

“Don’t mind a’tall. Got some bugs hitched a ride, too.” He called to a teenaged boy who stood flamingo-style on the brick wall of the station. “Boy! Come ‘ere and get this shield a’sparklin’.”

“Yes sir, Lonny.” The teenager jumped to attention and quickly got to work on the splattered bug guts coating the glass.

“Mighty kind of you, sir, thank you.”

Lonny tipped the bill of his cap. “You got your ration slips?”

“Right here.” Várlumo passed over the appropriate amount. “Say, may I ask you a question?”

“Shoot.”

“Can you tell us how to get to Farm Road 1020?”

Lonny’s eyes bulged like a bullfrog. “Whatcha wantin’ to go there fer? Ain’t nothing but the Higgins farm, and ain’t no one lived there in years.”

Várlumo said, “You don’t say? We’re interested in buying the place. You know who we’d talk to about that?”

He squinted up at the sky. “Well, lemme see. I suppose ol’ Grumpy down at the paper’d be your best bet. He goes back a ways in these parts—mighta known the family personally.”

“Sounds like a fine idea, sir. We’ll go visit Grumpy after we look at the farm.”

“Lemme tell ya how to get there…”

Beau tuned out of the directions. If no one had lived there in years, they’d just hit a major dead end. Higgins had to be the culprit, had to be—he checked every box in all the worst ways. How could they keep Rose safe from an invisible madman?

Várlumo started the car. “Two lights, right on Grove Gulch, right on Olive, then we’ll run right into it after a mile or so.

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