They All Ran Away by Edward Ronns

Author:Edward Ronns [Ronns, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General
ISBN: 9781479446728
Google: ZPbHDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B083DD9KQ1
Publisher: Wildside Press
Published: 2019-12-31T11:00:00+00:00

14

THUNDER rumbled over the mountains. The cool wind had died, and in its place there was a still, dead calm as darkness came. Barney took a cab around the lake to Charley Danger’s house, and he was relieved when the flaring headlights cut through the brush to show his rented car still parked in the lane where he had left it. The cab-driver looked curious, but not curious enough to ask questions. Lightning scratched the black sky above the western shore of the lake, then more thunder rolled and rumbled, and a few big drops of warm light rain began to patter on the underbrush as Barney paid off the driver. He stood in the lane until the tail-lights of the taxi disappeared, then turned toward the dark bulk of Danger’s house.

Halfway there he paused again as the lightning briefly revealed another car parked down by the float. The rain grew heavier, hissing and rattling in the hazelnut brush that crowded the landing. Barney walked toward the other car and looked it over. It was a small Plymouth coupe, more than ten years old, with one fender awry from an ancient accident. Opening the door, he smelled pipe smoke and stale upholstery. The keys were in the ignition. As he backed out, his thigh brushed against a gun holster permanently fixed to the inside door panel. There was no gun in it.

He looked up at the shimmering windows of Charley Danger’s place. No lights shone inside. He didn’t think Evelyn would be waiting there for him again. Turning he walked back to the doorway under the overhang, and he was not surprised when it opened for him before he could use his key.

“Come inside out of the rain, son. I’ve been waiting for you.”

It was Jake Hendrycks. The chief of police bulked heavily in the doorway, his yellow-white hair reflecting the lightning that shimmered over the lake. A crash of thunder shook the earth. Somewhere a branch snapped with a quick rending sound.

Barney went in. Hendrycks snapped on a light and Barney saw the long-barreled revolver in his hand, not pointed precisely at him, but not pointed in any other direction, either.

“What’s that for?” he asked.

“I hate to do this, son. Give me your gun.”

“Why?”

“You’re a dangerous man. You helped Charley Danger to escape and you got him hidden out somewhere. That’s what Straehle says. Let’s have your gun, Barney.”

Barney gave the chief his snubby .38. Hendrycks’ pale eyes gave nothing away. He thumbed the cylinder open, shook the barrel down, and looked at the six cartridges inside. He sniffed at the hammer and the barrel.

“You haven’t fired this lately, have you?”

“No. Was somebody shot?”

“Why should anybody get shot, Barney?”

“You’re acting cagey. How long were you waiting here for me?”

“About ten minutes. I knew you were coming. Kay Franklyn called me the minute you stepped out of the Times office.”

Barney nodded. “Who is she, anyway?”

“Third cousin to Jase. Spinster, like he’s a bachelor. Used to teach school, then gave it up to devote herself to Jase.

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