Death on the Mississippi by Richard; Forrest Read Free Book Online Page B

pressure Dalton’s been under lately. I decided to go back to him and drove back down here. When I couldn’t find the boat, I just thought he’d moved it for some reason. I drove up the river to Hartford, and back all the way to the Sound. I can’t find it. He’s gone.”
    â€œLet me check it out with Rocco,” Lyon said. “He’s our local police chief.” He went into the kitchen and dialed the wall phone. The call was answered on the first ring. “I have a problem,” he said without preamble.
    â€œWhen you call at three in the morning and I’m still awake, we both have problems.”
    â€œDalton Turman is missing.”
    â€œIs that a promise?”
    â€œI’m serious. The guy and his boat are gone. His wife is here and she’s worried sick. She doesn’t deserve that, Rocco.”
    â€œHer marriage proves that she’s paying for terrible sins from past lives. She must have been Typhoid Mary.”
    â€œI’m calling you as a friend who happens to be a police officer.”
    â€œDid it ever occur to you why I’m awake? I will tell you why. I am trying to create a DD twenty-three–forty-one.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œAn official form called, ‘Unauthorized Discharge of a Firearm.’ Copies go to the Mayor, the State Police, and the state. You’re the writer, tell me how to explain why I was at a party, drinking pepper vodka, and then chose to empty a Magnum at a dish cabinet filled with large snakes. You don’t happen to have any snake remains around, do you?”
    â€œWe sent them to the dump, but we still have the bullet holes in the wall.”
    â€œThat won’t help. All right, how long has Dalton been gone?”
    â€œA couple of hours.”
    â€œI can’t start an official investigation for at least twenty-four hours, and you know his tricks never last that long.”
    â€œHe’s had threats, and today someone took a shot at us.”
    â€œI haven’t seen any official reports of a shot, and as far as threats are concerned, not only is Dalton Prankenstein, he is also a builder. In his case, threats should be expected. If you think the bad guys are after him, you’re really a glutton for punishment.”
    â€œThe houseboat seems to be gone.”
    â€œIt’s either on the river or on the Sound. If we’re really lucky, he’s in Spain by now.”
    â€œI repeat,” Lyon said, “someone shot at us on the boat today with a high-powered rifle.”
    â€œYou thought someone fired at you. That’s easy enough to stage. You know, this guy is going to keep chewing you up until you stop playing his games.” Rocco paused, waiting for Lyon’s agreement. When it wasn’t forthcoming, he continued. “Okay, if you’re going to spend the rest of the night looking for the Mississippi , you might try the bridges. That barge is as big as a damn destroyer and can’t go upstream or out into the Sound without making it past a bridge. Do you know the ones I mean?”
    â€œYes, there’s one upstream from us at Haddam’s Neck, and another at the mouth of the river.”
    â€œRight, and either one would have to be opened for the Mississippi . They’re manned twenty-four hours a day, and the operator keeps a log on each opening. Go talk to bridges while I try and invent a good story about snakes.”
    Lyon had prepared a hot Thermos before they left the house, and they drank coffee as they drove toward the Haddam’s Neck bridge. Pandora cupped a plastic mug with both hands and spoke in a quiet voice that was far removed from her earlier staccato speech.
    â€œSomething terrible has happened to him or he has decided to leave me.”
    â€œOr he’s going to let us spend all day looking before he appears with a drink in his hand and that damn laugh of his.”
    â€œEither that rotten man who calls at night has