Close Out Read Free

point for me. I’ve never been into hard turns and slash-and-bash. Everyone knows that’s how the judges score. I wouldn’t make it past the first heat. But you … Based on how you did at Fairport, you could be a real contender.”
    â€œI just don’t know if that’s what I want to be,” Kai said.
    â€œThere’s time to decide,” Bean said.
    At the mention of time, Shauna checked her watch. “Break’s almost over. I have to get back to work.”
    â€œMe too.” Everett started to get up.
    â€œWhere do you work?” Kai asked.
    â€œBlockbuster,” Everett said.
    â€œHey, that’s where I’m headed,” Booger said. “I’ll go with you.”
    Suddenly the only ones left at the table were Bean and Kai.
    â€œGuess it’s time for us to go,” Kai said.
    Bean leaned close and spoke in a low voice. “It’s breaking the law, you know.”
    â€œHow’s that?” Kai asked.
    â€œI’m not exactly sure,” Bean said. “I just have a feeling. There’s still time for you to change your mind about this.”
    Kai slowly shook his head. “I already told you, Bean, this is something I have to do. But there’s time for you to change
your
mind.”
    â€œDo you want me to change my mind?” Bean asked.
    â€œNo.”
    Bean sighed and heaved himself up from the bench. “Then come on, let’s get it over with.”

Three
    T he meeting place was the parking lot of a large, red barnlike club called 88s located on Seaside Drive about halfway between Sun Haven and Belle Harbor. The big white sign with black letters announced LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY .
    Bean pulled the hearse into the parking lot and shut off the engine. The sun was low in the western sky, but had not yet begun to turn the orange of sunset. There was probably an hour of light left. Except for a few cars, the club’s parking lot was empty.
    â€œHe’s not here,” Bean said, craning his neck and looking around.
    â€œHe’ll come,” said Kai.
    Bean slumped in his seat and leaned his head against the headrest. “You know, it’s weird, Kai. I’ve lived in this town all my life and it’s pretty much always been the same. The cool locals have always owned Screamers. The rest of us have been stuck with Sewers. Guys like Buzzy Frank have ruled this town, and Curtis has always been a thorn in their sides. Every summer Spazzy would come down and watch us, but no one ever talked to him. That’s just the way things have always been. Nothing ever changed. Then you show up and everything changes.”
    â€œFor the better, I hope,” Kai said.
    â€œI hope so too,” Bean said as a familiar-looking red Jeep pulled into the parking lot. “But at this particular moment I have serious doubts.”
    The Jeep pulled next to the hearse. Goldilocks, the guy with the long bleached-blond dreadlocks, waved at them to join him.
    â€œHere we go.” Kai reached for the door handle.
    â€œWhoopee-do,” Bean grumbled.
    They got out of the hearse and walked over to the Jeep.
    â€œGet in,” Goldilocks said.
    Bean reached for the back to climb in, but Kai got there first and gave him a look as if he wanted Bean to sit in the front. Bean frowned, but did it. Goldilocks pulled the Jeep out of the parking lot and got on Seaside Drive heading toward Belle Harbor. Kai felt the wind on his face as the Jeep cruised down the road.
    â€œSo you guys like to surf, huh?” Goldilocks asked over the wind noise.
    â€œYeah,” Kai answered. “How about you?”
    â€œI do a little surfing, but I’m more of a collector and trader,” Goldilocks answered. He slowed the Jeep down and then made a left off Seaside Drive onto a narrower, paved road. The road formed a boundary between a forest of oak and pine to the right, and a wide field of grass on the left. Kai thought it must have been a sod