Exposure by Susan Andersen Read Free Book Online Page A

pulled off the country road into the drive. Gravel crunched beneath its tires and glowing red lights swirled from its roof, illuminating then retreating from the dingy white clapboard siding of Elvis' house.
    Breathing heavily, Elvis dropped his arm to his side and turned to look at Sam who was sitting in the shadows on a tree stump a short distance away. The only distinct feature he could make out was his friend's cigarette glowing red as Sam drew on it. "You'd better take off," he advised him. They both heard the front screen door bang against the side of the house as Lee Overmyer rushed out to greet the sheriff.
    Sam flicked the butt into the yard. "Forget it," he said. "I'm stayin' right here."
    "No, Sam. You're gonna get into trouble, too, and you didn't do anything to deserve it."
    "Big deal; so what else is new? You'll tell him I wasn't involved just like you always do, and eventually he'll let me go." Sam shrugged and gazed up at Elvis. "Like he always does." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned into the weak pool of illumination that was thrown out by the bulb over the garage door. Tucking his hands into his armpits and slapping his elbows against his side, he hunched his neck into his flipped-up collar. "Jesus, it's cold out here."
    "I mean it, Sam; take off," Elvis insisted urgently. "Bragston's been pretty good about you always being there when someone calls in a complaint about me. But I think some of the folks in my neck of the woods have been givin' him some grief lately about always lettin' the rich kid go while bustin' my penniless ass, and if the day ever comes when he gets tired of hearing it, he could make some serious trouble for you. Do us both a favor and get out of here. Please?"
    Because Sam could see it was important to Elvis, he climbed to his feet. "Yeah, all right; I'm goin'.
    I'll see you tomorrow, though, huh?"
    "Yeah."
    "If you're not in jail, that is." Sam gave him a cocky smile. "Well, hey, if you are, I suppose I can always bake you a cake."
    Elvis looked at the mess he'd made of Overmyer's car. Part of him was real pleased with the havoc he'd wrought. But there was another part that was ashamed, and he almost felt like crying. Deliberately he looked away, doggedly turning his attention back to his friend. "Good idea," he said with forced cockiness. "Be sure to include the file."
    "You got it, babe." Sam hesitated a moment, then sauntered off into the woods behind the house, melting into the darkness just as Nadine Donnelly's customer and the sheriff rounded the comer.
    Propping his hip against the front fender of the car, Elvis leaned over to place the sledgehammer, head down, on the ground, its handle against the car bumper. Then he straightened and clasped his arms defensively across his chest as he watched the two men advance.
    "There he is," Overmyer snarled. His jaw dropped open when he saw the damage to his car, and he turned the air blue with his obscenities. "Arrest him," he ultimately demanded, shaking with rage.
    "I want the little bastard thrown in jail."
    John Bragston eyed the "little" bastard. Mammoth within the play of moonlight and shadows that fell across his face and torso, Elvis stared back at him without expression, but there was no disguising the turmoil in his neon blue eyes. And as it always did, that suppressed emotion tugged at something in Bragston.
    How the hell would he feel, he wondered, not for the first time, if it were his mother locking him out of the house while she serviced some self-important, pompous son of a bitch? It was difficult for boys that age to even acknowledge the possibility that their mothers might be sexual beings, never mind having the knowledge that yours was the town hooker thrust in your face night after night.
    On the other hand, Elvis had destroyed some property here tonight and his acting out couldn't be allowed to escalate this way.
    Damn it to hell. What a mess.
    He turned to Overmyer. "Well, I can arrest him, all right," he