Read Online Moonbog by Rick Hautala - Free Book Online Page B

Latham leaned his knuckles on the desktop. “Well, it’s been good to see you after all these years. I’ll get to work, finish up these little details and get back to you, oh, probably Monday afternoon.”
    “You have my number at the motel?”
    Latham nodded. David started toward the door.
    “You know,” Latham said. David turned. “If you’re going out there, you ought to be careful. After what happened, you never know. An old deserted house like that,” he shrugged, “maybe someone’s hiding out there. Be careful.”
    “I’m not worried,” David replied, swinging the office door open. “Whoever he is, he seems to like them a little younger than me.” He paused, and when he thought that Latham might think he was being too flippant, he added, earnestly, “I’ll keep my eyes open.”
     
    VII
     
    T he sun was just setting as Marshall worked the key into his front door lock and swung the door open. Just as he stepped inside, a streak of gray fur skittered between his feet and dashed into the kitchen.
    “Whoa there, Alfie,” Marshall said, a smile widening on his face. “What’s the big hurry here? Didn’t you catch any nice fat mice this afternoon?”
    Marshall walked into the kitchen and carefully placed the package containing a new pane of glass onto the counter. The cat began pacing back and forth at his feet, vigorously rubbing his arched back against the old man’s thin ankles. Marshall looked down at the plump gray cat and smiled.
    “You just hold onto your tail there, boy. I’m movin’ as fast as I can.” He went over to the cupboard and took down a can of Nine-Lives. “Tuna ‘n egg. Your favorite,” he said, as he started to grind the can opener. Alfie looked at him and made a soft meow. Marshall scooped the can into a small bowl, placed it on the floor, and stood back smiling as he watched the cat eat eagerly. When half the food was gone, Marshall got some milk from the refrigerator, filled a bowl and placed it in front of the cat. Alfie immediately switched to the milk, lapping it steadily until it was gone, then he finished the tuna and egg.
    “You eat like this all the time, you know, you’ll get fat ‘n lazy, won’t get them mice in the barn, you know?” He bent down and picked up both bowls, now empty. Alfie looked up at him with unblinking gold-disk eyes.
    Marshall leaned against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. “You know, Alfie, Davie’s back in Holland.”
    Alfie meowed, then sat on his haunches and began to lick his paws.
    “You never met him before, have yah? Stew’s and Louise’s boy.”
    Alfie sneezed.
    Marshall stroked the edge of his jaw with his thumb and forefinger. “You know, Alf, I just don’t like what I’m thinkin’. I didn’t get a chance to talk to him, but there was something . . . something about just knowin’ he’s in town that, well, sorta’ makes me nervous.”
    When Alfie didn’t respond, Marshall took it as a signal to continue. “Well, I mean, I knew he’d be comin’ back eventually. He had to. The Will just couldn’t be settled without him.” Marshall snorted loudly, and that made Alfie jump slightly.
    “I don’t know what he’s figurin’ on doin’ about the old place. I can tell you one thing, though; I sure as hell hope he don’t decide to settle there.” Marshall knelt down and began stroking the cat’s back. Alfie arched his back and wiggled every time Marshall’s hand got to the base of his tail.
    “You know, when he drove by me today, I didn’t think anything about it. I sure as hell didn’t want him to stop. I was glad he didn’t. But I got a . . . a real funny feelin’, like . . . like. . . .” He supressed a shiver. “Like something’s real wrong, or something’s gonna be real wrong.”
    Alfie closed his eyes with pleasure and began to purr softly. “Yeah,” Marshall continued, “I know, I’m probably gettin’ carried away feelin’ . . . feelin’ hmmm, yeah.” He shook his head