AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His phone signaled a text and he took a quick glance.
Widow Lake. The reunion.
He sucked in a breath.
He had to get on the road.
His pulse jumped at the thought.
TWENTY-TWO
SMOKY JOE’S
Beverly Hooper slipped into a booth at Smoky Joe’s, where she and her friends had once gathered in college to party. The clock on the wall was layered with dust and the floor littered with peanut shells where everyone tossed them.
The place hadn’t changed at all, as if it was lost in a time warp. Same cheap brown vinyl stools and benches, same tables with names of lovers etched into the wood by the students, same smells of burgers, greasy fries and onion rings.
Same jukebox with the familiar country tunes they used to listen to, with the exception of rap and rock that had been added to the menu.
A string of coeds’ bras dangled from the ceiling with dollar bills taped to the wall, dollars earned by the girls shedding their underwear during a drunken dare.
Just like back then, kids hung in corners chugging beer, playing darts and making out in the hallway that led to the rear exit. Only now they’d added an area for ax throwing.
She rolled her eyes. Just the kind of recreation drunk kids needed.
Some of the creepy guys used to congregate here, too. One had scars and tats all over his arms. Another claimed he wanted to be a director and convinced students to act out murder scenes while he filmed them.
A cold chill engulfed her. She wondered if they’d show up for the reunion.
The floor creaked as students piled onto the dance floor. The sea of people blurred her vision, but suddenly Janie appeared, the past decade falling away as if it was just yesterday. Although Janie had wanted to be a famous designer, she’d married a tax accountant, had climbed the social ladder and now had two kids. Still, she constantly complained about her boring life and craved excitement to break the doldrums.
“Did you hear they found a body in the lake?” Beverly said as Janie scooted into the booth. “I wonder how long it’s been there.”
Janie worried her bottom lip with her teeth, her eyes darting around. “I’ve been thinking about that. About Amy suddenly being gone back then.”
They sat in silence for a minute, both reliving that night. There were things they hadn’t told the police. Things that might have helped them find her.
TWENTY-THREE
He tugged his ball cap lower over his forehead and adjusted his dark glasses to shield his face as he watched from the corner of the bar. The cap would help him fit in. The glasses would offer a disguise. Not that anyone ever really looked at him or would recognize him if they did. He wasthatkind of guy.
He’d known this place well back in the day. It was where the pretty girls hung out. The sorority chicks and frat boys who partied like there was no tomorrow. Ones whose parents bought their admittance into schools instead of forcing their kids to earn it like he’d had to do.
Resentment bled through him.
He hadn’t fit in. He’d thought no one was like him. But then he’d met the others and they’d created their own frat. Laughter burst inside him—their group wasn’t recognized by the college, but it bore its own set of rules.
The brothers would be here soon. But tonight, he wanted to watch the crowd. He’d known some of the snots would show up. He recognized Beverly and Janie. They’d snubbed him like he was a pesty ant that needed stomping on.
They’d also reported Amy Dean missing which had triggered police to comb the campus and forced the Brotherhoodto stay under the radar.
After that night, he’d had to find another hunting ground so he’d spread his wings.
Beverly stood, checking her phone then scanning the bar with a jittery look. Janie lurched up and the two of them wove through the crowd, eying everyone they passed as if they sensed something bad was going to happen this reunion.
He tried to recall which one of them had been the nastiest to him. He curled his hands into fists. Didn’t matter. He’d make them both suffer.
TWENTY-FOUR
