Read Online One Shot Away by T. Glen Coughlin - Free Book Online Page A

no hubcaps and black wall tires is in front of the house. Police. The stolen lumber smashes into his brain. Jimmy feels a line of sweat rising on his spine.
    Trish sneaks a quick view of the stoop.
    Jimmy backs into the kitchen. He’s trying to breathe normally.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?” Roxanne takes his hand.
    His mother opens the door. The bald detective is a bull with a thick neck, a large nose and mouth. He’s holding up a gold badge. The other detective is young with a dark crew cut. Trish invites them in.
    â€œI’m Detective Barnes,” says the bald detective. “This is Detective Santos. We’d like to ask your son a few questions about some missing building supplies.”
    Roxanne stands next to a cutting board hung on the wall that says “Bless This Mess.” Her green eyes flash from Jimmy to the detectives.
    â€œMaybe you should go,” whispers Jimmy in her ear. He walks her to the stoop and shuts the door behind them.
    â€œJimmy, what’s this about?”
    â€œI don’t know. Just don’t tell anyone about the cops being here, okay?” He presses his cheek next to hers.
    â€œYou’re trembling. Are you in trouble?”
    Jimmy takes her hands in his. “Don’t worry and don’t tell anyone.”
    â€œIs it something serious?”
    He shakes his head. “I don’t know yet. I’ll call you later.” They hug.
    Jimmy takes his place at the table. His hands have turned to ice.
    â€œJames, right?” asks Detective Barnes.
    â€œI go by Jimmy.”
    â€œYou’re eighteen?” he asks.
    â€œNext week,” says his mother.
    â€œYou’re a wrestler,” he says. “Varsity, right? What weight class?”
    â€œOne-sixty.”
    â€œThat’s light for your height. I figured you were heavier.”
    â€œVarsity squad for three seasons,” says his mother.
    â€œI’ve seen your son’s name in the paper,” says Detective Santos. “You have a lot to be proud of.”
    Detective Barnes writes the date on the top of his pad. He raises his eyes. “Do you help your father on carpentry jobs?”
    The question thumps Jimmy like a blow on the head.
    â€œIf this is about my husband, why don’t you ask him the questions?” His mother’s lips flatten on her teeth.
    â€œIt’s about your husband and your son. They were pulled over with a load of lumber in his truck. Your husband didn’t tell you about it?”
    â€œHe mentioned it,” she says.
    â€œYour husband told the officer that they were on their way to a job site. Jimmy, do you remember that?”
    Jimmy swallows.
    â€œWhere was that job?” asks Detective Barnes.
    Jimmy considers the lies his father told to the policeman. He doesn’t want to repeat them.
    â€œYour father was transporting lumber for a job, right?” he asks again.
    â€œRight,” agrees Jimmy.
    â€œWhat did your dad do with the lumber?”
    â€œI don’t know. He dropped me home.”
    Detective Barnes writes something in his pad. “Where did he pick up the lumber?”
    â€œI’m blanking out. I’ve been starving myself to make weight.”
    Detective Barnes smiles. “You do remember being pulled over by the marked unit?”
    â€œMarked unit?” repeats Jimmy.
    â€œThe police car, the officer?” he asks. “Your dad failed to display a warning flag on the lumber. Do you remember that?”
    â€œI was sleeping through most of it.” His palms are soaked. Jimmy wipes them on his jeans.
    â€œDead to the world, huh? Not according to the officer,” says Detective Santos. “He said you looked nervous. He said he didn’t write your father a ticket because he knew you wrestled for the high school and you looked like a good kid.”
    â€œHe is a good kid,” says Trish.
    â€œWe’re trying to learn what happened that night,” says