Read Online The Death Doll by Brian P. White - Free Book Online Page B

Craig’s presence, which was becoming a habit. 
    As usual, it was up to Craig to initiate contact.  “Hey, buddy.  How’s your homework coming?”
    “Fine,” was all the kid said without missing a pencil stroke.
    He sat up, trying not to groan like an old man despite the aching of his back.  “The new teacher working out?”
    “She’s okay,” Jake said with a hint of impatience.
    “Not too tough or easy?  Don’t want you getting bored or overworked.”
    “Can I please finish so I can knock out my chores?” Jake asked heatedly, then went back to his homework.
    Craig restrained his knee-jerk desire to smack the kid across the back of the head, settling on gritting his own teeth and throwing his hands up.  Jake had never presented himself as what one would call a balanced individual; he had been a nasty little bastard since the day Didi and Cody brought him and Ben a year and a half ago.  His vicious temper and negative outlook were too hard to get through, but the similarities between him and Craig’s younger days were hard to deny.  Craig thought he could help, but no matter what he did the kid never warmed up to him.  He tried reaching out, doing things with him, and every trick in his anger management book to put up with the kid’s temper, but nothing worked. 
    Drawing back on his anger management lessons, he sat up and opted to be assertive.  “Jake, spare me a minute.”
    The irritable youth did his usual huff and eye roll, plopped his pencil down, and faced Craig without looking him in the eye.
    “You know I’m trying, here.  From the beginning, you’ve told me flat out that I’m not your dad, and I’ve respected that, but as your guardian I’m still going to look out for you.  I asked for this, so that should indicate that I care.  Don’t you think?”
    Jake stared for a moment, then gave a half-hearted shrug.
    “I’m not asking for much, here.  So, why not just tell me what’s bothering you and I’ll see what I can do to help?”
    Jake sighed and leaned forward.  “I’ve worked hard for Cody’s internship.  I scrubbed every floor and helped with every meal.  Haven’t I done enough yet?”
    Craig knew this was coming.  He understood why Cody made his decision, but with Jake’s pattern of simmering anger, he now had to be careful how to answer the boy’s concerns.  “You know the Panel only has so much say.  When it comes to Didi or Cody, there’s no wiggle room.  A pre-med student was just bad timing, but that doesn’t mean—”
    “That’s just it.  He was barely an undergrad.  What medical stuff could he have really learned?  I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.”
    “Apparently, so did Pepe, but he’s older and a little more experienced.  Maybe we could—”
    Jake crossed his arms and faced his desk. “I knew you wouldn’t understand.”
    Craig rubbed his forehead.  “Be fair, Jake.  No one’s saying you won’t—”
    “You never side with me,” Jake yelled as he rose from his chair, prompting Craig to stand.
    “It’s not about sides.  This temper of yours is only getting worse and, believe me, it’s not going to help anything.  I’m trying to keep you from doing something that’ll get you or someone else hurt.  Mostly you.”
    “I’ve got work to do,” Jake groused as he ran out of the room.
    Craig yelled after, but he knew it was no use.  Burying his face in his hands, he clawed at his crown and jaw to avoid breaking something.
     
    *****
     
    Storm Lake looked as desolate as Rachelle expected.  Every street had seen panic and death.  A tree had fallen on one house.  A car had crashed into another.  Toppled kids’ toys.  Crushed lawn ornaments.  Overgrown lawns.  The grass in one yard grew wild through a skeleton, its skull crushed by a birdbath.  None of the other withered bodies they passed got up, either.  Too bad, too.  She couldn’t wait to test her skills against the dead. 
    The truck pulled into a two-block