Secrets Can Be Deadly by Nancy Roe Read Free Book Online Page B

street under an oak tree. Mason waved back, kissed Sophia, walked down the steps. He waited for a break in the traffic, then rushed across the street.
    “What’s going on, Dad?”
    “I’ve got to go out of town for a few weeks. An old friend is dying of cancer. I want to see him one last time,” Walter said, avoiding eye contact.
    “Sorry , dad. Who’s the friend?”
    “Richard McFarland. Old high school buddy. We played football together. Haven’t seen him in a long time.”
    “When are you leaving?”
    “In a couple hours. I’ll call you when I start home.” Walter turned, walked towards his car.
    Mason took a few steps forward and yelled to his dad. “Have a safe trip!”
    Richard McFarland didn’t sound familiar. It was odd that his father had never mentioned the name, or that he was leaving town on such short notice.
    Mason found Sophia in the crowd, took her hand, held it tight. Sophia finished talking to her roommate, Ruth, then gave Mason a kiss on the cheek.
    “Charlotte and her boyfriend broke up last night. Ruth and I are going to swing by the apartment and spend the afternoon with her. Maybe you can spend the day with your dad.”
    “He’s going out of town. Sick high school buddy. Besides, I’ve got some paperwork to finish , and go through George’s reports to make sure he filled them out right.”
    “Don’t work too hard. I’ll come by tomorrow night and fix dinner. Love you.”
    “Love you, too.” Mason gave her a kiss and a hug, then watched her walk to Ruth’s car.
     
    Papers lay across the coffee table. Mason’s list of questions was growing. He couldn’t make a connection between the two dead couples. Not yet.
    Mason decided to drive to his dad’s house to borrow the family history binder. Maybe it would give him ideas on the types of documents to look for. Flipping through the pages, h e realized he had information on his dad’s side of the family dating back to the 1820s. There wasn’t anything about his mom or her family.
    What are you hiding, Dad?

13 Tuesday, May 24, 1977 (Sam)
    I had two days to finish searching the house. Then, I’d pack the few things I owned, drive to the nearest bus station, and buy a one-way ticket to Florida. Grandfather might find the car, but he’d definitely never find me. My final city destination had yet to be determined. I’d saved three hundred dollars. It would last me long enough to find a job and earn a steady income.
    I’d eat breakfast, then visit Grandfather. The worst part of my day would be over. Then the search could continue.
     
    “You’re early,” Grandfather said.
    “I need to return a few books at the library and get groceries. Thought I’d do that before I started cleaning.”
    “You’re not working today?” Grandfather grunted.
    “I have the week off, remember?”
    “Why would you need a week off work? I need to talk to Red.”
    “It was Red’s idea. He wanted me to get my things in order before I started working full-time next week.”
    “What do you need to get in order?”
    I was thinking about what I’d say when Red walked into the room.
    Grandfather glared at Red. “Why’d you give Sam a week off? You didn’t tell me.”
    Red stood at the foot of the bed. “ Morning to you, too. I came by the house to tell you. Instead, I found you lying on the ground groaning. I guess getting you to a hospital was more important at the time.”
    “You’re getting soft in your old age.”
    Red and Grandfather chatted about my new full-time schedule. Little did they know it didn’t matter what they decided. I wouldn’t be around. I sat in the chair, nodding.
    I was getting bored, stood. “I’m going to leave so I can run my errands. I’ll be back to see you tomorrow.”
    I was almost out of the room when Grandfather shouted, “The house better be spotless when I get home.”
     
    Grandfather’s bedroom was the first room on my search list. I remember ed entering this room only once as a child.
    The thunder