The Lost: Book Two, The Eddie McCloskey Series (The Unearthed 2) Read Free Page B

conspiratorially. “Ana! Ana, Ana, Bo-bana. Good-looking little philly and I bet she’s hell in the sack.”
    Kindler had a way of saying things that would creep out Jeffrey Dahmer. Not that Eddie hadn’t had some impure thoughts himself about the nubile Ana. But she was young and innocent and nice. Eddie did not want to be the one that tainted her.
    “Nice girl,” Eddie said.
    Kindler touched the side of his nose and pointed at Eddie like they were in on some joke together.
    “She gets all her info about this sort of thing from movies and idiotic TV shows where these frauds are stumbling around in the dark with flashlights. Don’t get me wrong—she’s motivated and wants to do a good job, but she doesn’t have the tools. Hasn’t come up with anything solid.” Kindler had said this last part more to his beer than to Eddie.
    “Maybe because there’s nothing solid to come up with. Ockham’s Razor.” Eddie was just talking to talk. He was really trying to figure out an exit strategy.
    “Or more like the razor’s edge.” Kindler mumbled to his beer.
    The guy wasn’t making sense again but Eddie let it go.
    Kindler finally looked up at him. “Lots of people have seen things. Wondrous things. Things that will make your hair stand on end. This is all prologue to something huge. Mark my words. Something truly amazing is happening.”
    Kindler had the eyes of a zealot but the sales skills of a used car peddler. If the phenomena were as prevalent as he was claiming, a professional team would have already ransacked the town. Each event would have been painstakingly researched, recorded, and reviewed. The three Rs.
    Kindler leaned in. “I know what you’re thinking.”
    Christ, I hope not, Eddie thought as he enjoyed more beer.
    “I can read you like a book, Eddie. You’re wondering why no one else has come and looked into this yet, aren’t you?”
    “The thought did occur to me.”
    Kindler smiled. “You’ve got something to prove. You’re bruised. You need this to be true, even more than me. This is your chance, Eddie. Climb out of that hole you’ve dug for yourself.”
    Maybe Kindler was smarter than Eddie gave him credit for.
    “Three days work, Eddie. You’ll be handsomely compensated. Can you afford not to take this on?”
    Eddie pretended to think about it. “If I do this, Kindler, I’m the Honcho. I don’t want anybody second-guessing what I do.”
    “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Six
     
    Kindle r celebrated like he’d just become a father.
    Eddie slid out of the booth and headed for the door. Time to get out of Dodge.
    As he approached the front door it opened and Ana breezed in. She was so tiny, two of her could have fit through the doorway. Seeing Eddie she stopped short and nervously fidgeted.
    “Eddie … I’m glad I caught you … can we talk for a minute?”  She gave him a nervous smile and puppy-dog eyes.
    She looked apologetic, which meant Eddie’s suspicions were correct: Ana had somehow gotten wind of Eddie’s past and tipped Kindler off.  But how? He hadn’t told anybody. There was only one way she could have known.
    Before he could formulate a response, he felt Kindler’s hand on his shoulder.
    “She just wants to have a word, Ed.” Kindler the diplomat.
    Eddie shrugged off Kindler’s hand and headed for the door just as Lenny the Drunk came to and nearly fell out of his seat.
    “Eddie, hold up.”
    Lenny the Drunk wobbled over and grabbed Eddie’s shoulder.
    “I’m indebted to you, sir.” Lenny let out a burp that almost caught fire. “I wanted to thank you for sticking up for an old fool last night.”
    Eddie waved him off. “It was nothing.”
    “It was to me, Edward. I won’t forget it.”
    “Forget it, Lenny.”
    Eddie exited the bar and stepped into the cold and heard Ana hot on his trail. He was half-drunk and full-angry. Never mind she’d didn’t realize how much trouble he was in.
    He noticed Whitmore had exited the bar and was staring