Allhallow's Eve: (Richard Laymon Horror Classic) by Richard Laymon Read Free Book Online Page A

that.’
    ‘I’ll check.’
    ‘I know you will. Persistence is such an admirable trait.’
    ‘When did you see Thelma last?’
    ‘Yesterday afternoon, when I dropped her off at the Oakwood Inn.’
    ‘You’re sure?’
    ‘Would I lie to you?’
    ‘If I find out you have lied, Elmer, I’ll put you in jail.’
    ‘Meany.’
    In his patrol car, Sam called the station. Ethel’s voice came over the radio. Betty, he realized, had already gone home; the day shift was over.
    ‘Would you look up Elmer Cantwell’s home address for me?’ he asked.
    ‘Hold on,’ said Ethel. Moments later, she gave him the address.
    As he drove there, he thought about what he’d learned from Elmer. Thelma had been in town as of Tuesday night, at least. She’d spent some time with Elmer, and made it with him – hard to believe. According to Elmer, they’d been together yesterdayafternoon, but not last night. So she didn’t have him as an alibi for the time Dexter was murdered.
    She still looked good as a suspect.
    Looking better all the time.
    Sam stopped at Elmer’s house. He rang the doorbell a dozen times. Though he felt sure that the mother was home, she didn’t answer the door.
    Elmer probably phoned, gave her advance warning.
    Could Thelma be inside, too? Possible, but not likely. If the rumors were true, Elmer wouldn’t want his mother knowing he was involved with another woman.
    He rang a few more times, then left and returned to the station.

9
     
    She spooned thick tomato sauce onto Eric’s spaghetti. He counted the chunks of Italian sausage, and saw that she was giving him more than usual. Too many chunks to count. He smiled up at her.
    ‘Did you have a good day at school?’ she asked.
    He thought about his troubles with Nate and Mr Doons. He sure wouldn’t tell Mom about that. ‘I got invited to a Halloween party,’ he said.
    ‘Oh? That sounds nice. When is it?’
    ‘Halloween night.’
    She stepped to her side of the kitchen table, and began serving herself. ‘Who’s having it?’
    ‘Somebody from school.’
    ‘Anyone I know?’
    He shook his head. ‘It’s a costume party.’
    ‘What’ll you wear?’
    ‘Haven’t decided.’
    She sat down. ‘Would you like to say grace?’
    He lowered his head, and rattled off his memorized prayer. ‘Dear God, who giveth us food for the body and truth for the mind, so enlighten and nourish us that we may grow wise and strong to do thy will, Amen.’
    ‘Amen,’ she mumbled.
    Eric started to stir his spaghetti. ‘Are you going out?’
    ‘Tonight? No, I don’t think …’
    ‘I mean on Halloween.’
    She shook her head. ‘I’ll stay here for the trick-or-treaters, I guess.’
    ‘Will Sam come over?’
    He watched her face turn red. ‘Sam has to work. He’s a policeman.’
    ‘He is ?’
    ‘He’s an awfully nice man, Eric. We’ve been … I’ve been seeing him for a long time, now. We’re very good friends.’
    ‘Oh.’
    ‘He’d like to meet you.’
    ‘I don’t want to meet him .’
    ‘ Eric .’ She sounded sad. ‘He’s my friend .’
    ‘Must be.’ Eric took a bite of sausage, and slowly chewed. It was his favorite meat, but he felt tight inside and he didn’t want to swallow.
    ‘I’m sorry you ran into him, that way.’
    ‘Does he come here every night?’
    ‘No. He’s only been here a few times.’
    ‘Sneaking around.’
    ‘He does not sneak around. I just didn’t want you to meet him, yet, because … things don’t always turn out and I didn’t want you getting attached to him, like you did with John and Raymond.’
    He managed to swallow. He pushed at his spaghetti, but didn’t take another bite. ‘You shouldn’t go messing around with men if you aren’t married.’
    ‘You don’t have to be married to love someone.’
    ‘Then you get kids without fathers.’
    ‘You have a father.’
    ‘Oh yeah? Where is he?’
    ‘He went away.’
    ‘Because he got you pregnant and you weren’t married.’
    ‘That isn’t