Evil Behind That Door Read Free

all that often, they stick in her mind.
    â€œYeah. But…” I glanced around the shop. Quiet for once. I knew I’d better talk fast. “I was just wondering. The Mitchells—did they only have one kid?”
    She gave me that look. The Aunt Penny what’s-the-real-story look. I’m not really good at explaining myself, and that look never helps. I shrugged. “I mean it’s a big house. Lot of bedrooms. I just wondered, you know, if there were other kids. Before Barry’s time, maybe.”
    I thought I’d covered up pretty well, but this time Aunt Penny gave me the eyebrow too.
    â€œWhy? Has Barry said something?”
    I shook my head quickly. Then I had a stroke of genius.
    â€œThat’s the thing. I thought I saw signs of another kid, but I don’t want to upset him by asking. You know Barry.”
    The frown disappeared. She sighed and leaned across the counter, like she was sharing a secret.
    â€œPoor Pete and Connie have had more tragedy than any family should have a right to, and ending the way they did…it’s just so sad.” She bowed her head. “Sad, sad. There were supposed to be other children, Ricky. Connie wanted a whole house full. But the good Lord had other ideas.”
    It wasn’t often Aunt Penny brought up the good Lord. She figured if he was running things, he wasn’t doing that good a job and she was better off doing it herself. But sometimes people are funny when it comes to life and death.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œStarted years ago, when Connie lost her first child. Girl, stillborn.” She stopped and looked at me. Like she was trying to decide how much to say. “Pete loved Connie, don’t get me wrong. But it’s no secret he was a drinker, even back then. I’m not saying he caused it. Might have been just the stress of all his yelling, but anyway, the birth was rough. Wrecked up Connie’s insides so the doctors weren’t sure she’d ever have another. Then along came two boys, Barry and his younger brother, I forget his name. Cute little boy, Connie’s favorite. Blond like her, where Barry’s burly and dark like his dad. Things were looking up. Connie was never strong, but in those years I remember she came out of herself.”
    I was holding my breath, like it would stop the awful thought running through my head. There was no younger brother when Barry and I were at school. Aunt Penny looked sad. Ed Higgins from the bank came in. She didn’t laugh at any of his jokes and waited for him to go before she sank back on her stool. She rubbed her arms as if they were sore.
    â€œThe little boy got leukemia. It came out of the blue. They took him to the hospital in the city and Connie stayed there with him for weeks. Pete had to be here with Barry, but it was hard on everyone. Back then there wasn’t much you could do. I was surprised she ever came back. She was like a ghost. All they had left of him was a little copper urn.”
    â€œHow old was he?”
    â€œI don’t remember. Barry and you were in kindergarten, I remember that. She was never the same after that.”
    Neither was Barry, I thought. Doors punched in, chairs thrown across classrooms. Fight after fight. By the time he got sent away, no kids were allowed to play with him.

CHAPTER FOUR
    T he bell over the shop door rang and I turned just as two cops came in. Sergeant Hurley, the commander of the local unit, and behind him Constable Swan. My pulse spiked.
    Hurley slapped me on the back. For some reason he was always trying to take me under his wing. Give me advice, like he was my father.
    â€œWell, O’Toole, keeping out of trouble?”
    Beneath her cap, Constable Swan’s blue eyes twinkled at me. My face burned. Before I could untangle my words, Aunt Penny piped up.
    â€œRicky’s working for Barry Mitchell. Fixing up the old place for sale.”
    â€œOh yeah?” Hurley said. His grin