After Life by Andrew Neiderman Read Free Book Online

house. Jessie had put on her robe and
    was waiting for him in the doorway.
     
    What is it? Some guy was drinking booze. He stopped, probably because
    he didn't know where the hell he was, and somehow he opened his door on
    the driver's side and fell out, only his feet got caught under the
    steering wheel, so he was just dangling there. He did me the honor of
    throwing up most of what he had drunk and eaten during the last few
    hours. Well, where is he?
     
    He's sleeping comfortably on the side of the road, Lee said. I hate to
    disturb him, much less touch him, he added. He didn't mention the
    bloodstains.
     
    Oh. Jessie turned in the direction of the truck. But I heard such a
    loud noise, more like a gunshot.
     
    Since when do you know about gunshots, Jess? You probably heard him
    screaming for help or something until he passed out. He had seen a
    rifle on the floor of the cab, but he didn't want to mention it. Let's
    wait inside, he said. I'll make some warm milk so I can fall back to
    sleep after the police arrive.
     
    Reluctantly she permitted him to turn her away from the door and then
    she followed him back to the kitchen.
     
    Twenty minutes later the police arrived.
     
    Gardner Town was part of a township that consisted of seven villages and
    hamlets. As such it was patrolled and protected by a township police
    department, a complement of twenty officers with one full-time
    detective. The police department had fourteen patrol cars, but usually
    had only two in operation during the late evening hours.
     
    The two officers who arrived were local boys. The driver, Burt Peters,
    was a stout six-foot-two-inch man with curly black hair. He had gone to
    school in Gardner Town and remained in the community after graduation,
    working first as a private security guard and then becoming a town
    policeman. His partner, Greg Daniels, was a lean, muscular, six-foot
    black man who grew up in one of the neighboring hamlets, Hurleyville,
    and had come to the police force directly after his stint in the army.
     
    Lee and Jessie greeted them at the outside door. Lee saw that they
    already had picked up the drunken truck driver and placed him in the
    back of their patrol car.
     
    He sat with his head against the window.
     
    Sorry you were disturbed, Burt said. It's Tony Benson; he's sorta
    famous for this kind of thing.
     
    He doesn't even have a license to drive anymore, Greg added, shaking his
    head. Lost that last time we picked him up.
     
    Someone will come by in the morning to pick up the truck, Burt said, and
    nodded. The two patrolman started to turn away. just a minute Lee
    said. He looked at Jessie and then stepped forward. He had kept it
    from her as long as he could. There may be someone else out there.
     
    Sir? Burt said. I saw bloodstains on the street, but I didn't find any
    wounds or gashes on the driver. Bloodstains? Greg said. He looked at
    Burt, but Burt shrugged. You wanna show us, Mr. Overstreet? Burt
    Peters asked. Sure, he said, and led the patrolman off the porch and
    down the street to the truck. Their flashlight was a great deal more
    powerful than his. It washed the darkness off the pavement. Lee went
    to the spot and stopped. He knelt down and felt the road. There was
    nothing there. But I saw it, he said quickly, looking up at the two
    policemen. You sure it was here, Mr. Overstreet? Greg asked.
    Positive. And they weren't little stains either. It looked like gobs
    of blood had been spilled.
     
    The two patrolmen nodded sympathetically. Burt ran his flashlight over
    the road alongside the truck.
     
    Don't see anything now, sir, he said.
     
    I know, Lee said, standing. I can't understand it.
     
    Well, the night plays tricks on you, sir, Burt said.
     
    Maybe it was just some spilled booze, Greg said.
     
    Both policemen laughed. No, no, this was blood, Lee said, and there was
    a stench.
     
    Well, there still is, sir, Burt said. Only we have it in the back of
    our car. They laughed