Bad Moon Rising. Джонатан Мэйберри

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      “Like I said earlier…is this over? Did the problem start with Ruger and Boyd? If so, now that they’re dead is the situation over?”

      “Maybe they started it, I don’t know. With Cowan and Castle we know that there were at least two more of them. That’s why I’m so concerned about Mark…he was killed by Boyd, who also killed those two cops.”

      “Yeah, on that subject—Cowan and Castle were buried. Have you checked their graves?”

      “Have I dug them up? No. Have I checked to see if their graves look like someone crawled out…then, yes, actually,” Weinstock said, surprising him. “Every morning I check Castle’s grave in Crestville, every afternoon I swing by Rosewood Memorial here in town to look at Cowan’s. The graves look undisturbed, but we’re talking recent burials—bare earth, nothing growing there yet—so they could have been dug up and reburied, and as long as the job was done neatly, then who would know?”

      “Damn.”

      “Which means that we’re going to have to check.”

      “Check how? Dig them up?”

      Weinstock gave him a silent, steady look.

      “Oh, crap,” Crow said.

      Chapter 10

      (1)

      Weinstock went to do some paperwork and Crow spent some time with Val, who was awake again. They talked about Sarah’s request and then Val drifted off again, so Crow went back to the solarium to make some calls. His first was to his store and Mike answered on the fourth ring, “Crow’s Nest. We have everything you need for a happy Halloween.”

      “You sound chipper, young Jedi.”

      “Crow? Hey! Your friend Dave Kramer just stopped in to get some stuff for the Hayride and he told me what happened last night! I can’t believe it. How’s Val?”

      “She’ll be okay.” Crow gave Mike an abbreviated version of what had happened, sparing him the more lurid details and all of the backstory. Mike kept telling him how sorry he was and to give his best to Val.

      “I’ll tell her, kiddo…but listen, there’s no way I’m coming in today, and probably not tomorrow, either. You good there? I know it’s a lot to ask…”

      There was a brief pause before Mike answered. “Sure, Crow…I got the routine down now. I can handle things.”

      “Terrific. You know I’ll take care of you come payday.”

      “Man…don’t even go there. I’m having fun here.”

      “So, you’re telling me retail sales is your heart’s desire?”

      “Duh, no…it’s just that I like doing this. I like being here. I feel…I don’t know…safe here.” Mike immediately added, “I know that sounds stupid and all—”

      “No it doesn’t, kiddo.” The moment turned awkward and to cover it Crow said, “Take some cash from the drawer and have food delivered. Whatever you want. There’s a whole bunch of menus in the third file drawer. You need a break, just lock the place up.”

      “I got it. Thanks, Crow. Look, there’s a couple customers coming in. I gotta go.” Mike hung up.

      Crow frowned at the phone for a moment, saw Sarah Wolfe coming toward him. “How’s Val?”

      “Sleeping.”

      “Sounds like what we should all be doing. I’m heading home now to see the kids, get showered, and find some fresh clothes. I feel like I’ve been wearing these for a month.”

      “I should probably do the same,” he agreed. “I must stink like a skunk.”

      “A little bit worse than a skunk,” she said, trying for a joke. The effort was an encouraging sign and he gave her a smile. Sarah touched his arm. “Have you given any thought to what I asked you?”

      “Yeah. About running the Festival? Sure. I talked it over with Val, and she thinks I should do it, but I still don’t know if it’s a good idea, Sarah. With all that’s happening, I’m not so sure bringing in more tourists is a good thing.”

      “We have to, or the town will—”

      “I know, I know.” He felt frustrated and hamstrung by having his fears on one hand and the realities of the town’s needs on the other. Sarah stood there, looking into his eyes, her need as strident as if she were shouting it. He sighed. “Oh, hell, sure. Why not?”

      Sarah gave him a short, fierce hug. “Thank you, Crow…I know it doesn’t feel like it matters, not with Val and Mark and all. With what’s happening with Terry I feel the same way. But it’s what the town needs. It’ll help all of our friends. You’re doing the right thing.”

      So why does it feel like I just made the worst mistake of my life? he asked himself, but to her he just smiled and nodded.

      Sarah gave him another quick peck on the cheek and left. He got up and bought a Yoo-hoo from the machine, shook it, cracked it open, and drank half of it down as he sank back onto the couch, punching in another number on his phone.

      “Hey, Newt? It’s me.”

      “Crow…what’s…um, happening? Is there anything new?” The reporter sounded wary, and Crow couldn’t blame him.

      “What condition are you in?”

      “I’m a train wreck. What the hell do you think?”

      “Well, maybe this will help.” He brought Newton up to speed on everything, emphasizing their belief that the whole thing was pretty much over except for Boyd’s missing body.

      “Doesn’t feel over,” Newton said.

      “That’s ’cause we stepped in it in the last inning.”

      “Still doesn’t feel over.”

      Crow said, “Whether it is or isn’t, we need to know more than we do right now. I hate like hell fumbling around in the dark. Which brings me to my next question. Are you in any condition to help me out with what’s going on?”

      “If that means tramping around through graveyards with a Gladstone bag filled with stakes and holy water, then…no, I’m not. On the other hand, if you want me to help with research and that sort of thing, then I’m way ahead of you. Since I left the hospital I’ve been doing nothing but surfing the Net and sending e-mails. I’ve tracked down about twenty people, just in this end of the country, who are considered top experts on…these subjects.”

      “Anything we can use?”

      “The one person who seems to be the absolute golden boy of this particular kind of folklore is a guy from U of P, Professor Jonathan Corbiel. Do you remember me telling you yesterday about a website I was at that mentioned you-know-who down in Dark Hollow?”

      “Sure. СКАЧАТЬ