Read Online Close Out by Todd Strasser - Free Book Online Page B

had an idea. “He once called you on your cell phone, right?”
    â€œYeah? So?”
    â€œDon’t cell phones usually save the return numbers?”
    Bean glanced at Kai. “Are you crazy?”
    Kai pointed at the car behind them. “Youknow a better way to find out if that’s him?”
    â€œYou really are crazy,” Bean said.
    â€œWhat’s the problem?”
    It was Bean’s turn to gesture to the car following them. “What if it
is
him?”
    â€œThen he already knows where we are, so what do we have to lose?”
    â€œI hope you know what you’re doing.” Bean dug his cell phone out of his pocket, and handed it to Kai, who went through the numbers, reading the names out loud until he got to Albert Hines.
    â€œNever heard of that one,” Bean said. “Could be him.”
    Kai pressed “send.” The phone rang, then someone answered. “Yeah?”
    â€œAlbert, that you?” Kai said.
    â€œYeah, who’s this?”
    â€œWhere are you right now?” Kai asked.
    There was silence for a moment, then Kai heard Goldilocks mutter to himself, “No fricken way.”
    â€œYou’re at No Fricken Way?” Kai asked.
    â€œThis the shrooms kid?” Goldilocks asked.
    â€œThat’s me.”
    â€œYou got my boards in that hearse?” Goldilocks asked.
    â€œGuess that’s you behind us,” Kai said.
    â€œFuck you.” Goldilocks hung up.
    â€œIt’s him?” Bean gestured at the rearview mirror.
    â€œAppears that way,” said Kai.
    â€œI don’t believe this,” Bean moaned.
    They were headed down a narrow, winding, tree-lined road. No street lights. Just the thick trunks of trees on both sides. Here and there something streaked in the headlights as a toad hopped away and vanished into the weeds along the sides of the road.
    â€œDon’t try to talk me into losing them, okay?” Bean pleaded. “This ain’t the movies. I’m not into high-speed chases.”
    â€œMy guess is, neither are they,” Kai said.
    In the headlights a sign came into view:
    PRIVATE ROAD BELLE HARBOR GOLF AND TENNIS CLUB NO TRESPASSING
    â€œCrap,” Bean muttered. “Now what do we do?”
    â€œKeep going,” said Kai.

Ten
    T he road was still lined with trees, but instead of weeds and brush, the shoulders were marked with large painted white stones and neatly mowed grass. It was clear they’d entered the grounds of a private country club. The headlights of the second car lit up the hearse’s side-view mirrors.
    â€œDo we have any idea what we’re doing?” Bean asked.
    â€œNope,” answered Kai.
    They bounced over a speed bump, then passed a small, empty guard’s station on the right. It was hard to see in the dark, but there appeared to be an empty parking lot on the left. The road ahead led to a largeclubhouse. On the right were tennis courts.
    The second car stayed behind them. Bean’s cell phone rang. Kai looked at the incoming number. “It’s him.” He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hey, Albert, enjoying the ride?”
    â€œYou’re trapped,” Goldilocks said.
    â€œHow’s that?”
    â€œThe only way out is the way you came in.”
    â€œThanks for telling me,” Kai said.
    â€œYou ready to get the shit kicked out of you?”
    â€œBy anyone I know?” Kai asked.
    â€œIt ain’t gonna be so funny when you’re spitting teeth.”
    â€œHey, that’s a good line, Albert,” Kai said. “You’re getting better.”
    â€œI’m gonna enjoy this.” Once again Goldilocks hung up.
    â€œWhat’d he say?” Bean asked nervously.
    â€œHe said he’s gonna enjoy this.”
    â€œEnjoy what?”
    â€œNothing important.”
    â€œWe have to do something, Kai,” Bean said.
    â€œI know.” Kai peered through the windshield. Ahead was the