The Border: The Complete Series by Amy Cross Read Free Book Online Page A

few times, struggling to clear his vision as the lights of the town center blurred and spun around him. Finally, he realized with a sigh that the smiling, talkative stranger from the bar was hurrying to catch up.
    “Oh, hell no,” Joe muttered, turning and stumbling toward his truck.
    “Hey!” Reaching him, the stranger kept pace and watched as Joe pulled his keys from his pocket. “You're not thinking of driving home in this state, are you?”
    “It's two minutes. Straight line.”
    “Yeah, but still, I don't think that's a very good idea. Why don't you let me take the wheel?”
    “Ha.” Reaching the truck, Joe tried to slip the key into the lock, only to miss completely and scratch the paint. He muttered a few expletives under his breath before trying again.
    “Seriously?” the stranger asked with a faint smile. “Do I have to be the safe, boring guy who tells you not to drive? You're wasted, man.”
    “I'm used to it. I always drive home.” Still, the key wouldn't quite go into its hole.
    “Well, I believe you, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea.” He glanced both ways along the street, but there was no sign of anyone else out and about. Just dark buildings and shuttered shops. “Aren't you worried about the local pigs picking you up one night?”
    “Me and the cops are like this,” Joe replied, briefly crossing his fingers before trying once again – and failing – to get the key into the lock. “They know me.”
    “Is that right?”
    “That's right.”
    “I guess everyone knows everyone in a small town like this,” the stranger continued, glancing along the street again. Still no sight of anyone. “Must be what made it so hard when that Caitlin girl died.”
    At the mention of that name, Joe seemed to freeze.
    “It must be hard, man,” the stranger added, “knowing that a friend of yours died and there was nothing you could do about it. Or nothing you did do about it, I don't know if you tried everything. Was she just a friend, or was she your girlfriend? Was she your childhood sweetheart n'all that?”
    Slowly, Joe turned to him.
    “I'm not trying to pry,” the stranger told him, raising his hands in mock surrender, “I just figure... Hell, most people probably try to pussy-foot around you, especially on the anniversary, so I figured I'd try the other approach and really dive right in. I thought maybe you'd find that refreshing.” He paused, waiting for a response. “Or is it just painful?” he added finally. “Does it claw at your guts? All that guilt and rage, the sense that the world isn't fair, that there's no-one up there watching down on us and keeping the good people safe? Or maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Was Caitlin good? Or, hell, did she do something to bring that fate crashing down on her from the stars above?”
    “You don't know anything about it,” Joe muttered, focusing on the key again and finally managing to get it into the lock. As he pulled the door open, he realized that he suddenly felt much more sober. He needed more beer, fast.
    “Didn't mean to freak you out,” the stranger replied, taking a step back and watching as Joe pulled the door shut and started the engine. “Like I said, I just believe in being direct, even if the subject's a tricky one. Drive safe and -”
    Before he could finish, Joe put the truck in gear and hit the pedal, sending it shooting forward and then swerving to the middle of the road before finding the lane and heading off on his way.
    “Huh,” the stranger said to himself, watching as the truck's lights disappeared into the distance. “Well hey, Joe, I guess you really didn't recognize me after all these years, did you?”
    ***
    He had to kick the door a couple of times to get it open, but finally Joe managed to get into his apartment. Stumbling a little over the mat, he slammed the door shut and then stopped in the dark hallway, listening to the sound of the silent house.
    In the distance, there was a faint creaking