Read Online Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans - Free Book Online Page B

church mice.”
    “Bill the landlord?”
    “Yes.”
    I reached out my hand. “I’m Alan Christoffersen.”
    She shook my hand. “I’m Christine Wilcox. It’s nice to meet you. You’re in apartment three?”
    I nodded. “I just moved in with Angel a couple of weeks ago. Have you lived here long?”
    “Long for me. I’ve been here a couple years. I’m a senior at Gonzaga.”
    “I guessed you were a student by the backpack,” I said.
    “Standard uniform,” she said.
    “Two years,” I repeated. “So you probably know all the tenants here?”
    “Yes. But not well. Everyone pretty much keeps to themselves.”
    “Maybe you could help me. Was there ever a tenant here named Nicole?”
    Her brow furrowed. “Nicole? Not since I’ve been here. Why?”
    “A woman came by the other day looking for Nicole.”
    “Oh yeah, she left a note at my door. No. Not since I’ve been here. But you could ask Bill.”
    “Thanks. Maybe I’ll do that. It’s nice meeting you, Christine.”
    “My pleasure. Have a good run.” She reached into her pocket for her keys. “Oh, and say ‘hi’ to Angel for me. We keep threatening to get together, but every time I’ve come over, she doesn’t answer. I’m starting to think she’s avoiding me.” Christine unlocked her door and opened it. “Have a good day.”
    “You too.”
    She disappeared inside her apartment. I walked out the front door to start my walk.
    That night I made clam chowder for supper. While we were eating, Angel said, “May I ask you about your wife?”
    “Sure.”
    “What was she like?”
    I smiled sadly. “She was perfect. I mean, for me she was. I should say that she was perfectly flawed. We both lost our mothers at a young age, and neither of us had siblings, so we held to each other. Our broken edges fit. I can’t imagine loving anyone as much as I loved her.”
    “That’s how it should be. I think it’s rare. Why are you walking to Key West?”
    “You want to know why I’m walking to Key West, or why I’m walking?”
    “Both.”
    “I chose Key West because it was far. I’m walking becauseafter I lost McKale, I also lost my home, my cars, and my business. Walking away just seemed the prudent thing to do.”
    “Sometimes we need to run away,” Angel said, nodding as if she understood. “How did you lose your business?”
    “I was betrayed by my partner. While I was taking care of McKale, he stole all my clients and started his own firm.”
    “That’s reprehensible.”
    “I thought so.”
    “What’s his name?”
    “Kyle Craig,” I said slowly. “Never trust anyone with two first names.”
    “Do you hate him?”
    The question made me think. “I suppose so, if I think about it. But truthfully, I don’t think much of him and I don’t think that much about him. Dwelling on him would make him a bigger part of my life than I want him to be.”
    “That’s wise,” she said. She took another bite of soup, then asked, “Do you hate the kid who stabbed you?”
    “He’s dead. There’s no one to hate.”
    “A lot of people hate dead people.”
    “That’s true,” I said. I leaned back and gazed into her eyes. “Is there anyone you hate?”
    “I could name a few people.”
    “Anyone in particular?”
    She didn’t answer immediately, and when she did, there was a strange tone to her voice. “Probably me.”

CHAPTER

Fourteen
    As difficult as walking is to me these days, I still seem to have no trouble walking into trouble.
    Alan Christoffersen’s diary
    Spokane’s second major snowfall came early in the morning on November 17. That afternoon I walked twice around the block with almost no pain, except when I almost slipped and caught myself.
    As I came back down the road to the apartment, I saw Bill, the landlord, pushing his snow blower up our sidewalk. I stopped on the walk near him, giving him a short wave. “Hi, Bill.”
    He cupped his ear.
    “Hi!” I shouted. When he got up to me, he bent over and switched off the snow