Read Online Walleye Junction by Karin Salvalaggio - Free Book Online Page A

I’ve been working with them. We pray together. I’d like to think it helps.”
    Macy gave him a small smile. “You sound more like a minister than a computer engineer.”
    â€œI guess you could call it social engineering. I like to help out in the community where I can. Mentoring, sponsoring at AA, that sort of thing. I’m worried about what I’m seeing.”
    â€œAnd what are you seeing?”
    â€œNow that the government has realized they’ve got a crisis on their hands they’re handling it all wrong. They’re cutting off the supply of prescription painkillers without funding programs that could help people who’ve become addicted to opiates. People are turning to heroin instead.” He took a deep breath. “It’s incredibly frustrating.”
    â€œThere’s been a spike in heroin overdoses throughout the country.”
    â€œIs that what killed Carla and Lloyd?”
    â€œWe believe so.”
    â€œCarla was in rehab. I was so hopeful she’d turned a corner.”
    Kyle looked up at the approaching waitress and smiled as she handed him a mug of coffee the size of his head.
    â€œThank you.” Kyle took a sip of his coffee. “This is my only addiction.”
    â€œI like to live dangerously. I mix it up with a little Diet Coke.”
    â€œNow, that is living on the edge.”
    â€œKyle, when did you last speak to your aunt and uncle?”
    â€œCarla came by a couple weeks ago. She apologized for Lloyd showing up the day before asking for money and then went and did the same thing. The only difference was that Lloyd threatened me with physical violence and Carla used emotional blackmail.”
    â€œDid they give any indication that they might be planning something?”
    Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Like a suicide pact?”
    â€œNo, like a kidnapping.”
    He took a quick glance around the room before lowering his voice.
    â€œExcuse me,” he said, leaning in close.
    â€œKyle,” she said, keeping a close eye on his reaction. “Your aunt and uncle were involved in Philip Long’s kidnapping and murder. Their fingerprints are all over the house where he was held and the stolen van that was used in his abduction was parked near their bodies this morning.”
    â€œThat’s crazy. They wouldn’t—”
    â€œI realize that it’s a lot to take in, but we really need your help.”
    He raised his voice. “Where’s Sean? Is he okay?”
    â€œI was just going to ask you that.”
    He made a sudden move for his pocket and Macy almost reached for her gun. Oblivious, he pulled out a cell phone and tapped in a message.
    â€œSean will call me back right away. We’ve always been close.”
    â€œWould he have confided in you if he was worried about his parents?”
    â€œI hope so. I’d like to think he trusts me. I gave him a key to my new place so he could come use it whenever things got too rough at home. When I got back from Missoula this morning, I could tell that he’d stayed over.” He frowned. “He didn’t leave a note though.”
    â€œWas that unusual?”
    â€œSean is always compensating for his parents’ behavior. Generally speaking he’s very well-mannered.”
    â€œDid Sean use drugs?”
    Kyle hesitated. “Not in the past, but I’ve been worried about him for a while now. He has a new girlfriend. She seems the sort who could get him a lot of trouble.”
    â€œYou’ve met her?”
    â€œBriefly. I think her name was Kristina, but she goes by Xtina or something silly like that. Sean said she was an event planner.”
    Macy raised an eyebrow.
    â€œMy reaction exactly,” said Kyle. “The girl looked more like a prostitute than someone who would plan a wedding.”
    â€œDid you catch her last name?”
    â€œNo, but she had an accent. Sean said she was Latvian. Not a lot of those in