The Lakeside Conspiracy by Gregg Stutts Read Free Book Online Page B

for a few minutes and finished their drinks while watching the moonlight dance on the waves, interrupted only by their waitress clearing their salad plates and dropping off their sushi rolls. She asked if they wanted another drink. They both said they’d have one more. The sushi rolls were the best Michelle had ever tasted.
     
    It was almost 9:30 when they finished dinner. Michelle tried to pay for her part of the check, but Chris insisted on getting it. She argued, but he held firm.
     
    After he paid, Chris said, “Let’s walk down the boardwalk and get some ice cream.” Chris paused. “Like we used to.”
     
    “On one condition,” she said. “You let me pay for the ice cream.”
     
    “I promise not to argue,” he said.
     
    They walked downstairs and turned north up the boardwalk to find some ice cream. As they walked, their hands grazed lightly against each other. And a moment later, their fingers were interlocked as naturally as they had been in high school.
     
    Michelle could feel her life in Arkansas beginning to slip away. It was a feeling she wasn’t going to fight.
     

CHAPTER 17
     
    Once football season started, the days and weeks always flew by. It was already Thursday, the day before their second game. Thursday practices were just a quick walk-through. If the team wasn’t ready by then, no amount of practice the day before a game was going to help. Max was happy with the focus and enthusiasm. It had been a good practice.
     
    At 4:55, he blew his whistle and pulled the team together at mid-field. He reminded them to get a good night’s sleep, to make sure their game shoes were shined and to get themselves ready to beat Siloam Springs the next night.
     
    He also took a moment to remind them it was September 11 th and that they enjoyed freedom to play football because others were sacrificing their lives to defend them.
     
    “You guys were barely out of diapers when we were attacked,” he said. “Don’t take your freedom for granted. When you see a man or woman in uniform, you thank them for defending you. Understand?” They all nodded.
     
    Max didn’t feel like cooking, so he made his usual stop at Feltner Brother’s. He planned to go through the drive-thru, but when he saw Dante’s mother coming out of the restaurant, he parked. He’d only talked with her briefly at the funeral. He got out of his truck just before she got in her car. “Ms. Jones,” he called.
     
    She looked at him with a look Max could only describe as terror. It was as if she’d heard her name called and turned to see a zombie walking toward her. “Ms. Jones, it’s Coach Henry,” he said. “I saw you coming out of the restaurant. I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
     
    “How I’m doin’?” she said. “My baby is dead is how I’m doin’, Mr. Henry,” she said as she opened the driver’s door and got in. “Just please leave me alone. I shouldn’t even be talkin’ to you.”
     
    She got in the car, shut the door and wasted no time driving way. Max was left standing there trying to understand what had just happened. Why did she seem so scared to see him? As he walked into the restaurant, he wondered what she’d meant when she said she shouldn’t be talking to him. That didn’t sound like a grieving mother. That sounded like a grieving mother who was terrified of something. Or someone.
     
    Max went inside and ordered his usual. Water though instead of tea. On his drive home, he couldn’t stop thinking about Michelle. He’d given her the space she asked for so he hadn’t tried to call or text her.
     
    Maybe now was the time to reach out. The longer she was gone, the more he missed her. The more he needed her. The more he regretted how he’d abandoned her.
     
    It was time to call her.

CHAPTER 18
     
    After dinner with her parents on Thursday, Michelle went for a walk on the beach. It was a beautiful evening. The mid-September clouds were brilliant shades of orange, yellow, pink and