The Stolen Ones by Richard Montanari Read Free Book Online Page A

just at the wrong place at the wrong time after all, an ordinary man who just happened, by the luck of the draw, to cross paths with a madman, someone who would pound a railroad spike into his skull. The elements of money and sex – as it were – had just entered the room.
    Jessica once more pulled from the shelf the copy of
Dreams and Memory.
She opened it, looked at the inscription.
     
    Perchance to dream
    Before returning it to the shelf, Jessica glanced at the last page. ‘Kevin.’
    Byrne crossed the room. Jessica held up the book. ‘These drawings,’ she said. ‘These three shapes.’
    Byrne glanced at the book, then down the hallway in which they had found the hidden box in the ceiling. There could be no mistake. The hallway, the light switch to the left, and the square light fixture above.
    ‘It’s a drawing of the hallway and the fixture,’ Byrne said.
    ‘Sure looks like it.’
    ‘It’s as if he left a little treasure map for us,’ Byrne said. ‘He wanted us to find that box.’
    ‘My thoughts exactly, partner.’ Jessica took out a paper evidence bag, and slipped the book inside, adding one more piece of this ever-growing puzzle.
     
    On the way out to the car Jessica noticed that the front door of the row house next door was open.
    She got Byrne’s attention, then knocked on the screen door. The woman who answered the door was in her late twenties, and had about her the harried look of someone trying to wrangle young children.
    As Jessica introduced herself she heard screaming in the background, accompanied by the loud soundtrack of
Finding Nemo
. She told the woman she would be brief. She asked what the woman knew about Robert Freitag.
    ‘I told the other detective that I saw him the night that he disappeared.’
    Jessica wanted to correct the woman on Robert Freitag’s ultimate fate, but there was no need. ‘So, you saw him on February twentieth?’
    ‘Was that when it was?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘I only know this because Robert would usually get home the same time my husband gets home. The kids are always at the door waiting for Howard. They’re watching the street, I’m watching them. That’s how I know.’
    ‘So Mr Freitag came home that day at the regular time?’ Jessica asked.
    The woman nodded. ‘Yeah. When Howard got home that night I asked him to run up to the store and get a few things. I met him on the porch and gave him a shopping list. I looked up and saw Robert walking down the street.’
    ‘Which direction was he coming from?’
    ‘That way. Like always.’ She pointed toward Allegheny Avenue.
    ‘Was he with anyone?’
    ‘It’s hard to remember clearly now, but I don’t think so. I’m not sure I ever saw him with anyone.’
    ‘What about his hands?’ Jessica asked. ‘Was he carrying anything?’
    The woman shrugged. ‘Sorry. I just can’t remember. I don’t think so.’
    ‘Do you recall what he was wearing?’
    ‘Not really. Probably something black or gray. He was a pretty drab guy.’ She brought a hand to her mouth. ‘I’m sorry. That wasn’t very kind.’
    ‘It’s okay,’ Jessica said. She made a few notes. ‘Did your husband know Mr Freitag well?’
    ‘No. He didn’t care too much for the guy.’
    ‘How so?’
    ‘Well, it’s not that he didn’t like him. He didn’t really know him. It’s just that he found him a little… creepy.’
    ‘Creepy in what way?’
    ‘He called him a Gloomy Gus.’
    ‘He called him “Gus” because of Robert’s middle name?’ Jessica asked.
    The woman blushed. Admitting this would mean that she probably had scanned the man’s mail, and knew Freitag’s middle name was August. ‘No,’ she said. ‘It’s just an expression his parents used to use.’
    Jessica put her notepad away. ‘Okay,’ she said. ‘Again, we thank you for your time.’
    ‘Oh, you’re welcome. I’m just glad that we’re going to have new neighbors.’
    ‘Neighbors?’ Jessica asked.
    ‘Yes, new tenants are moving in next