Misery Bay by Steve Hamilton Read Free Book Online

get to my truck, it started to snow again.
    *   *   *
     
    I checked into a hotel on Shelden Avenue, down in the center of town, close to the water. From my window, I could see the lift bridge and the light stream of traffic crossing in either direction, headlights on as the snow came down harder and dimmed the late afternoon light.
    I took out the list of names and numbers Raz had given me. There were only three names—Bradley, Wayne, and Charlie’s girlfriend Rebecca. That was it. I started with Rebecca’s number and got her voice mail. I left a message, told her who I was and that I just wanted to ask her a couple of quick questions about Charlie. I asked her to call me as soon as she got the chance.
    I called Bradley, got his voice mail, and left a similar message. As I called Wayne, I wondered if I was about to get shut out completely. It’s quite possible that nobody will talk to you, I said to myself. If they don’t want to deal with this, they’ll just avoid you.
    But Wayne answered the phone. I went down the same path with him, who I was, why I was here in Houghton. When I was done, the line was silent for a few seconds.
    “I understand,” he finally said. “I don’t know what I can do to help you, but … I mean, I’ll do whatever I can.”
    “I called his girlfriend, and this other friend of his. Bradley? Do you know him?”
    “Yeah, Bradley. We’re two of Charlie’s apartment-mates. We were, I mean. Anyway, I’ll see him in a few minutes. But did you say his girlfriend? You mean Rebecca?”
    “Yes, that’s the name I have here.”
    “Your information’s a little out of date,” he said. “I guess his father didn’t know.”
    “They weren’t together anymore?”
    “No, not for a while.”
    “Would it be possible to meet with you for a few minutes? Just to ask you some questions?”
    I could hear him letting out a long breath. “Yeah, why not? We’re gonna be at the Downtowner tonight. It’s right on the end of the main drag, next to the bridge.”
    “That sounds good. And hey, if you happen to think of anyone else who might have known him well…”
    “I’ll see if I can round up some people,” he said. “Say about eight o’clock?”
    “That would be fantastic, yes. You’ll see if Rebecca can come, too?”
    “Yes. Of course. She’ll be there.”
    I hadn’t even met the kid yet, but I could tell he was feeling funny about something. It was right there in his voice.
    “You and Rebecca…” I said, taking a shot.
    “Yeah, we’re kinda together now. But she and Charlie were broken up since last fall, I swear.”
    “You don’t have to explain.” I thanked him and I told him I’d see the whole gang at the Downtowner at eight.
    I hung up the phone and looked out at the snow. Okay, that’s one possible reason to kill yourself, I thought. As old as mankind.
    *   *   *
     
    I left the hotel around 6:30, figuring I’d get something to eat before talking to Charlie’s friends. It was still snowing. The sun was going down and it was getting even colder. I walked down Shelden, feeling my face go numb and the snow collecting in my hair. There were bars and restaurants on either side of the street, each one glowing with warm light and looking more inviting than the last. I saw the Downtowner at the very end of the street, just as Wayne had told me. I stepped inside and saw that it was doing good business that night. Mostly college kids, all hanging around the high tables, drinking beer and talking over the music. There were televisions over the bar, a basketball game on some, a hockey game on the others. The whole place was loud and smoky and basically everything that the Glasgow Inn would never be in a thousand years.
    There was a back room with big windows overlooking the bridge. It was a little less noisy and there was room to sit down, so I grabbed a table. When the waitress came over—another college kid, of course—I ordered a hamburger and a beer. She didn’t