Weep In The Night Read Free Page A

entrance sent twitches to his stomach muscles and his breath quickened, as he separated Debra’s voice from others. Should he acknowledge her presence or slip out unnoticed?
    Oscar Santos made the decision for him by slapping him on the shoulder. “Hey, Sam. Want to join us?”
    Sam? His cover name, of course. Bowen turned and recognized several people from Rhodes. “I’ve eaten already.”
    Debra paled and averted her eyes as she stepped behind April.
    “We’re here for pie and coffee.” Oscar slugged Bowen on the arm. “Come on. We’ll make room for one more.”
    Bowen could change his evening plans for an opportunity like this. “Guess there’s always room for pie.” He tucked the case under his arm and followed Oscar.
    The waitress directed the group of six to a large semi-circular booth. Debra shadowed April, eyes downcast. The group’s general camaraderie covered Bowen’s intense observation and analysis. Debra, seated between April and Oscar, acted as if she’d never met him before. Bowen figured he had a long way to go to gain her trust. Maybe he shouldn’t have mentioned his fictional dead wife so early in their acquaintance.
    After coffee mugs were filled and assorted pie slices served, Bowen kept a stealthy eye on Debra while he chatted with Victor, April’s boyfriend.
    Greg shrugged out of his jacket and draped it in his lap.
    Giggling, April pointed to his blue T-shirt. “Why do you have that silly horse on your shirt?”
    With a pained expression, Greg clutched his shirt over the faded white outline of the animal. “It’s not a silly horse. It’s a mustang. My high school mascot.” He stretched out his pecs and frowned down at the shirt.
    April took a sip of coffee. “What high school?”
    “Raul Medina in El Paso. The Medina Mustangs. It’s an awesome mascot. What’s yours?”
    “A yellow jacket.”
    Almost choking on a bite of pecan pie, Oscar sputtered, “A what?”
    “A yellow jacket. You know, a wasp.” April flapped her arms like wings.
    Oscar backed away. “Bzzz, real scary.”
    “That’s nothing, you guys. My mascot was an owl and I nearly killed him one night.”
    “You’re kidding.” Greg tapped his fork on the plate. “What happened?”
    Victor cleared his throat like he had an earth shattering announcement to make. “I ran into him during the Homecoming football game. Squashed him flat. Poor guy.”
    No one spoke for a bit while they cackled at Victor’s expense.
    Then Debra removed her glasses to wipe her eyes and set the frames on top of a menu.
    Bowen stared at the print through the lenses—no magnification. Her glasses were fake.
    A jolt like electricity shot through his chest. He glanced away quickly so she wouldn’t see his reaction. In his mind, a giant arrow pointed at Debra. Her glasses were part of her disguise. Why else would she camouflage her chocolate eyes with unflattering frames?
    Greg elbowed him. “You haven’t told us about your mascot. Where’d you go to high school?”
    Unable to avoid participating in the discussion any longer, Bowen glanced at Debra across the table and blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Dayton, Ohio.”
    Why’d he say that? He gave himself a mental thump when he realized the predicament he’d created. If Debra was Sadie, she’d know he lied. Why didn’t he tell the truth about his high school in L.A.? He reeled in his lone excuse—his cover story didn’t go back that far. Still, experience should have kicked in.
    “What was your mascot?” Oscar asked.
    Bowen stirred his coffee and then took a big gulp. When words did exit his mouth, he stammered, “It’s so…so long ago, guys.”
    “Come on.” Oscar gave him another thump. “You’re not that old.”
    Bowen racked his brain. What were the odds he’d think of a real mascot for a real school in Dayton? “A cougar.” Then to flesh out the lie he added, “Central High Cougars.”
    Debra’s gaze locked on his. Cover story blown. But what