Read Online The Last Town (Book 2): Preparing For The Dead by Stephen Knight - Free Book Online Page B

thousand.” Corbett pointed out the window again. “They’re the ones who are taking it. All the transients. People out of Los Angeles and Las Vegas, each trying to get to someplace where they’ll feel safe. Though I don’t know what qualifies as ‘safe’ right now.”
    “Well, if you need some gas, Barry, I can get you squared away,” Danielle said.
    Corbett smiled. “Thanks, Marine, but I’m good. Believe me.”
    “Okay, but if times get tough, keep me in mind. I owe you and all that.”
    “Thanks.” Corbett looked up at her critically. “Well, I see no engagement rings or anything of the sort, so it looks like you’re still on the market. Maybe you should let your hair grow out a bit, slap on some nail polish, and stop dressing like such the tomboy, huh?”
    She laughed. “Not happening. Besides, no one’s very interested in a peg-leg.”
    Corbett clucked his tongue and shook his head. “Self-pity, Marine? Really?”
    “Reality, Marine … reality,” she replied. “No one in a one-horse town is interested in a one-legged girl. Except for maybe Willy Simmonds, and he’s a known deviant. I’m not missing out on anything, anyway.”
    Corbett grunted and looked down at the menu again. He wasn’t terribly hungry, but he knew it would be a long night. He needed something.
    “So what’ll it be?” Danielle asked, her pad at the ready.
    “Tomato soup and a grilled ham and cheese,” he said.
    “What, shouldn’t you be watching your cholesterol level?”
    “Cholesterol isn’t the thing that’s going to kill me.”
    Danielle smiled. “And to drink?”
    “Unless you guys suddenly received a liquor license while I was away, just water will do.” Corbett looked out at the traffic moving past the diner. “Though Lord knows I could use a couple of bottles of tequila, right now.”
    *
    Gary Norton was among the first to arrive at the town hall that night, and he let himself into the meeting hall. Single Tree’s major, Max Booker, was there, along with Chief Grady, the head of the town police. They sat at the curved table at the front of the room, and they looked up expectantly when Norton walked in. Booker got to his feet and leaned to his right, as if trying to look past Norton.
    “It’s just me,” Norton said.
    “Well, where’s Corbett?” Booker asked.
    Norton shrugged. “He’ll be here, Mayor. Where do you want me?”
    “Are you going to be, well, presenting anything?”
    Norton shook his head. “Only my award-winning smile.”
    Booker returned to his seat, a disappointed look on his face. “Just take a seat wherever, then.”
    There were three rows of auditorium-style seats facing the curved desk, behind which the town council would sit. Norton sat down in a second row aisle seat and leaned back, trying to get comfortable in the seat’s narrow confines. It was an impossible task.
    The rest of the town council slowly entered the chamber. Norton groaned when he saw Hector Aguilar head toward the front of the room. The pharmacy owner shot him a nasty look, then descended upon Chief Grady like a vulture swooping down on fresh roadkill. Grady leaned back in his seat and steepled his hands before him. Norton wondered if the chief was praying that Aguilar would leave him alone. If so, his prayers went unanswered.
    “Chief, I want to talk to you about one of your officers,” Aguilar snapped. “He released three shoplifters today!”
    “You mean after he shot Wally Whittaker?” Grady said. “He told me about it. I thought it was kind of odd that you didn’t mention it then.”
    “Well … well, we’d just had a shooting , for God’s sake! Of course I wasn’t going to bring it up!”
    “Hector, sit down,” Booker said.
    Aguilar glared at the mayor. “I have legitimate business to discuss here, Max.”
    “Not now, you don’t,” Booker said. “Sit down, or leave the chamber.”
    Aguilar blinked behind his glasses. “Excuse me?”
    Booker looked at Aguilar evenly. “I didn’t