Read Online Dark Waters by Susan Rogers Cooper - Free Book Online Page B

Crystal went to their cabin,’ he said, winking at me, ‘so we’ve got the boys—’
    â€˜Hey, Uncle Mike,’ the older Weaver boy said, ‘I can take all the kids to the children’s pavilion, if that’s OK with everyone?’
    Everyone looked at everyone else and then Lucy Tulia said, ‘There’s a comedian I saw on Letterman one time in the comedy club tonight. It’s supposed to be racy, so this way we can actually see it.’ She spoke softly and nodded slightly at the kids. The implication was simple: get rid of the kids and we can go get drunk and talk dirty. Worked for me.
    Everybody gave instructions to the older Weaver boy on how to handle their children, and the kids took off. The older couple – the Connellys, I think it was, decided to skip the comedy club.
    â€˜Linda’s not big on smut,’ Mr Connelly said, ‘so we’ll bow out of this.’ Looking at his daughter-in-law, he said, ‘Rose, don’t stay out late and keep an eye on the boys.’
    â€˜Of course, Dad,’ she said and, if I wasn’t mistaken, I think she choked a little on the ‘dad.’ Rose Connelly was a pretty woman – one of those ethereal-looking ladies, with just a bit of blue vein showing through parchment skin, blonde hair with very little pigment and blue eyes so light in color that on an overcast day the irises might appear to be missing. She was wearing a flowing, hippy kind of dress. It suited her.
    So, we were all dressed up with someplace to go.
Johnny Mac – Day Two
    Joshua Weaver led his little band of misfits from the dining room, around the casino, past the shops, by the bars and auditoriums, to the open deck where the pool was located. There he sat them down at a large table.
    â€˜Is this the children’s pavilion?’ the younger of the two Connelly boys asked. ‘I didn’t bring my swimsuit.’ Like his mother, he was exceedingly fair and had the same blue eyes, with hair so light that in Oklahoma they would have called him ‘Cotton.’
    â€˜Who are you?’ Joshua asked.
    For a moment the child looked scared, until his older brother took over. ‘What’s it to you? You’re supposed to be taking us to the children’s pavilion, right? This ain’t it. Lead on, asshole!’ Unlike his mother and younger brother, Trip Connelly bore more of a resemblance to his grandfather – tall, brown-haired, with a ruddy complexion and brown eyes.
    Joshua laughed. ‘Got quite a mouth on you, huh, kid? Here’s the deal. I think we can have more fun out here, playing some games – and I’m not talking Monopoly, ’k?’
    â€˜Whatever,’ the older Connelly boy said.
    â€˜So what’s your name, hotshot?’ Joshua asked.
    â€˜Baker Barnet Connelly the third,’ he said. ‘But you can call me Trip.’
    â€˜OK, Trip. And the kid, he got a name?’
    The younger one said, ‘I’m Jacob.’
    â€˜How old are you, Jacob?’ Joshua asked.
    â€˜Seven, but I’m pretty strong and I know how to play Monopoly.’
    His older brother sighed. ‘We’re not playing Monopoly, numb-nuts! Jeez!’
    â€˜Hey, he just misunderstood!’ Janna said.
    â€˜Yeah,’ Johnny Mac agreed.
    â€˜You freaks want to play a game or not?’ Joshua said.
    â€˜Sure,’ Trip said, leaning back in the chair and crossing his arms over his chest.
    The others nodded their agreement.
    â€˜OK, here’s what we do,’ Joshua said. ‘I’ll count to three, then y’all scatter. Everybody look for something someone left behind on a table or a chair. Grab it and bring it back. Best thing wins.’
    â€˜But isn’t that stealing?’ Johnny Mac asked.
    Joshua sighed. ‘Not if we give it back, silly!’
    â€˜Oh,’ Johnny Mac said, trying out this concept in his mind.
    â€˜Now, one, two, three, go!’
Milt