Read Online A Broth of Betrayal by Connie Archer - Free Book Online Page A

scanned the spectators drifting away. “I didn’t see Harry. Did you?”
    Hank shook his head. “No.”
    “I’m telling you, it’s strange the way he’s been acting.”
    Hank replied, “Harry’s right where he should be. At his shop. Working.”
    “Speaking of who wasn’t here today, I’m sure glad that Rowland character didn’t show
     up,” Barry said.
    “Why should he? He doesn’t care about this town. If he did, he wouldn’t be building
     this concrete blight in the middle of it.”
    Lucky checked her watch. It was time to get to the restaurant. She turned to leave
     and a movement across the street caught her eye. Her grandfather Jack was on the Green,
     stumbling toward them. His face was pale and he was in obvious distress. Before Lucky
     could react, Jack’s knees buckled and he collapsed on the grass.

Chapter 9

    L UCKY RUSHED THROUGH the fence and raced across the street to reach Jack. Her heart was in her throat.
     Was he ill or having a flashback to his days in the war? Sophie ran to catch up with
     her. When they reached Jack, Lucky grasped his arm gently and helped him to his feet.
    “Are you hurt?” she asked. Jack shook his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but
     couldn’t seem to form any words. He looked helplessly at Lucky.
    She took his hands in hers. “Take a deep breath. Tell me what happened.” Together,
     Lucky and Sophie led him slowly to a nearby bench. Sophie sat next to Jack holding
     his hand, and Lucky knelt on the grass to get a better look at his face. He swallowed
     with difficulty and raised his arm, pointing toward Spruce Street.
    Sophie looked questioningly at Lucky. In answer to her silent question, Lucky said,
     “He was heading for Harry’s Auto Shop to pick up his car.” She turned to Jack. “Did
     something happen there?”
    Jack covered his face with his hands, leaving a smear of blood on his cheek. “Harry’s
     gone.”
    Hank and Barry, also realizing that something was terribly wrong, had rushed across
     the street. “Jack, what’s happened?” Hank asked, placing a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
    Lucky looked up at them and said softly, “He said, ‘Harry’s gone.’ Can you find Nate
     and ask him to get to Harry’s right away?”
    Hank and Barry looked up and down the street, half hoping that Nate would magically
     appear. Hank patted his pockets. “I don’t have my phone with me.”
    Barry pulled his cell out of his pocket. “I do. I’ll call the station. Bradley can
     reach Nate quicker than we can.”
    Jack’s breathing was starting to return to normal. Lucky watched him carefully. “Do
     you want to go to the Clinic?”
    “No,” Jack grumbled. “I’m fine now. Almost. Just the shock . . . the blood. I just
     want to go back to the Spoonful.” Lucky knew that certain things set off Jack’s reaction,
     particularly the sight of blood. It carried with it nightmares of his time in the
     Pacific attempting to rescue men at sea attacked by sharks. Even though his flashbacks
     had decreased in their occurrence and severity now that his health had improved, she
     knew it could still be very difficult for him to hold on to reality and not let the
     past flood his mind.
    Lucky caught Sophie’s eye. “Sophie’s going that way. She’ll walk back with you.” Sophie
     nodded affirmatively.
    Jack squeezed her hand. He seemed a bit more in control. “I don’t want to be any trouble.”
    “It’s no trouble, Jack,” Sophie offered. “I have to go that way anyway. My car’s there.”
    Jack looked at Lucky. “I’m sorry. I’m a useless old man.”
    “Oh, Jack.” Lucky reached up to give him a hug. “Don’t say that. It’s not true. There’s
     nothing to be sorry about.”
    Jack stood and took a deep breath. He started to walk slowly across the Green. Lucky
     edged closer to Sophie and whispered, “It could be Harry’s had an accident. If you
     walk back to the Spoonful with Jack, I’ll go check.” If Harry were hurt and