the Unwanted (1987) by Saul| John

Author:Saul| John [John, Saul,]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-02-09T15:48:35.593000+00:00

Chapter 15

Charlotte Ambler wondered if she should signal Patsy Malone to call Gene Templeton, or try to handle the situation herself. But, of course, it was too late now. If she was going to call the police chief, she should have done it thirty minutes ago, when she'd first seen Ed Cavanaugh sitting in his truck, drinking from a bottle of whiskey he hadn't even tried to hide in a brown paper bag, and glowering darkly in the direction of her office. When she'd first noticed him, she'd stood at her window staring back, putting him on notice that he'd been seen. Usually that was enough, and after sulking in his truck for a few minutes, he would drive away, presumably to the Whaler's Inn, where, Charlotte knew, he would sit at the bar and brag to whoever would listen about how he'd "set that uppity Ambler woman straight on a few things." All of which was fine with her. If he wanted to puff himself up that way, it wasn't any skin off her nose. The one time she had actually called the police, Ed had bided his time through the day, then taken his rage out on his wife and son that evening. When Eric had shown up with bruises on his face the next day, Charlotte had tried to convince him that he should report what had happened to the police, but Eric had refused, insisting that nothing had happened--he'd simply tripped and fallen down the stairs that morning.

Strange, she reflected cynically to herself as she watched Ed climb out of his truck and shamble up the steps of the school, how the drunken fools like Ed Cavanaugh never trip and break their necks. She heard him lumber into the outer office, and went back to her desk. When he pushed her own door open a moment later, she was staring at him calmly and coldly. "I don't believe we have an appointment, Mr. Cavanaugh," she began, but he only sneered at her.

"I don't need an appointment where my boy is concerned," he said, advancing across the room to lean over Charlotte's desk. The reek of his breath made the principal lean back, but her eyes never left his.

"Eric's situation will be dealt with in a--"

"Don't give me that pious bullshit, lady." His eyes had narrowed to slits, and his jaw was clenched tight. "None of what's happened is his fault anyway. It's all that trashy Winslow girl. If it wasn't for her, none of this would have happened!"

Charlotte decided there was no point in arguing--Ed was far too drunk for that. "I'm sure you're right--" she began, but once more Ed cut her off, this time with his fist pounding on her desk.

"And don't you patronize me!" Ed roared. "I already took care of Eric for cutting school and getting himself dumped from the baseball team. All I want from you is your word that you'll see to it he gets back on the team! And I want you to keep him away from that girl too!"

Suddenly Charlotte Ambler had had enough.

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