Follow the Evidence (A Mac Everett Mystery Book 2) by Nick Vellis Read Free Book Online Page A

know…” He put his
thumb to his mouth and mimicked taking a drink.
    “I haven’t had a drink in six, no
eight weeks. Cross my heart.” I put my hand over my heart. I didn’t mention I
thought about booze pretty near every moment of every day.
    “You know its touch and go without
a program. Why don’t you come to a meeting with me?” he suggested.
    “I appreciate it Roscoe, but I’m
OK, really.”
    “I can be your sponsor. You’ll
learn a lot about yourself, your addiction, look what it’s done for me. Without
AA I’d be dead.”
    “Roscoe, I’m not a joiner. I don’t
want to learn about myself and I don’t want to go to any damn meetings,” I
insisted. “I can do it myself.”
    “No you can’t, captain and I’m the
one who can tell you why. I tried it on my own and it didn’t work.”
    Dave arrived with our tea and a
basket of yeast rolls. If I needed a program, it was to keep me off the damn
yeast rolls. They were hot, buttery and I could eat the whole basket.
    “Meals‘ll be out in a minute. I
didn’t ask you about the veggie. We got green beans or broccoli and mashed
potatoes with or without gravy,” he said.
    “Green beans and the potatoes
with,” I said.
    “Make it two,” Roscoe chimed in.
    “Come on captain,” Roscoe insisted
when Dave was gone. “It ain’t so bad.”
    “Drop it sergeant. If I need help
I’ll ask,” I insisted.
    “You won’t need no help with this chicken.”
    I looked up to see who was
speaking.
    “Somebody order the special?” he
asked
    The huge black guy beamed with a
disarming smile. The mountain of a man with a shaved bullet head and arms the
size of my thigh stood holding two steaming plates. He wore loose dark pants, a
tee shirt, and a stained full-length white apron that came down to his black
crocs.
    “That’s us,” Roscoe said.
    The cook put the plates in front of
us and said, “Roscoe! Great to see you.”
    Roscoe leapt up and the two hugged.
Roscoe then turned to me.
    “Ben,” he said, “meet Mac Everett.
The captain and me served together. Captain, meet Ben Tracy. Best cook and
fighter you’ll ever come across.”
    “Pleased to meet you Mr. Tracy,” I
said and I shook his hand.
    “Listen to you, Mr. Tracy. It’s Ben
or its nothin’,” he replied with a broad grin. Turning to Roscoe he said, “As
for best fighter, well that was a long time ago.”
    “Ben was East Coast Military champ
in 19…”
    “Ah, never mind what year that
was,” Ben said with a touch of embarrassment.
    “Well, it’s good to meet you. I’ve
been here most every night since you started, but I haven’t had the chance to
meet you. I live upstairs.”
    “Oh, you the guy upstairs what owns
the building? I’m glad to meet you. Look I have to get back to the kitchen.
Stick around. We’ll have a bull session later.”
    Ben headed back to the kitchen
while Roscoe and I dug in. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was.
    “You’re right. This is damn good
chicken,” I said, licking my fingers.
    “It’s the secret ingredient. I’d
tell you, but I’d have to kill you,” Roscoe joked.
    “You know?” I asked.
    “Of course I know. What don’t I
know?” he said.
    “OK spill,” I said.
    “Well don’t tell anyone, especially
Ben.” Roscoe looked around then said, “He uses grape soda in the batter.
Brother it is good,” he purred.
    “Grape soda, I might have stuck
with the burger if you told me that earlier.” I took a tentative bite. It was
sweet and crispy. “You’re right. This chicken is great.”
    “Told ya,” he replied. So what’s
this new case,” Roscoe asked as he tore into another thigh.
    “It’s a fool’s errand I’m afraid.
I’m running down a girl who disappeared off a boat.”
    “Cruise ship?”
    “Nope, some sailboat found off the
coast.”
    “You don’t mean the Nassau Ghost
Ship! Wow, that was creepy. There’s even a rumor the boat was cursed.”
    “There was a hurricane, remember?”
    “That makes it worse,”