After
the breakin, the men decide that it's not safe at the dorm and take
the girls to town. Will's landlord, Mr. Reiger, allows them to stay
in an empty apartment next door to Will.
"Will-Billy?"
Luke gasped, laughing hard.
"Patty-Cake?"
another fit of giggles hit her and she doubled over.
"Good
night," Patty said, shoving Luke out the door.
"Night,
Patty-Cake," he replied, winking. "Dollie, you're gonna
bust a gusset if you ain't careful. Good night." He gave her a
quick kiss.
Will
kissed Patty one last time and the men went to Will's apartment after
making sure the girls were locked and bolted into the apartment.
It
was well after three when they finally settled down again. Will found
it difficult to fall asleep. His mind was racing and he wondered who
would want to harm the girls. They didn't know anything. They were
innocent. Suddenly, it occurred to him that the reason they were
being pursued was because they were innocent. They knew
nothing and had no knowledge that anyone would find useful. However,
they could be used as leverage against Will and Luke. Someone thought
they knew something and they had better figure out what and soon.
Luke
stirred in the living room. He was lying on a Murphy bed that pulled
out from the living room wall. The bed was old and the springs
squawked loudly when he moved.
"It
sounds like a flock of chickens took over my living room," Will
said from the bedroom door.
Luke
sat up, looking slightly embarrassed. "Sorry. I'm worried about
the girls."
"Me
too." Will jerked his head toward the kitchenette.
The
brothers sat at the tiny, round table while a pot of coffee perked on
the stove. They knew they were never going to get back to sleep.
"Something
strange is going on," Will said. "I wish to hell I knew
what."
"Me
too," Luke agreed. "I got this feeling like I ought to
know, but it's not quite there."
"I
got that same feeling. Strange that the Sheriff asked about a will."
"Yeah,
and he was real odd on the phone. He acted like he was expecting a
call. I mean, how often you reckon that Ed actually stays at the
office all night?" Will pulled at his lip, thinking.
"Not
ever. He's the boss."
"Exactly.
I don't know a boss on God's green Earth who works all night."
"Me
neither," Luke mused. "Did he sound surprised that we had
an intruder?"
"Not
really. He sounded more confused that it was me calling than the fact
we had a break in."
"That
doesn't surprise me. I think Ed knows more than he's letting on."
"Yup.
I think you're right, little brother."
They
didn't go back to sleep. Neither of them could settle down and relax.
Instead, they made a list of questions to ask the bank manager and
the lawyer, both of whom they intended to see the next day.
Around
7:00, the girls knocked on the door. They didn't seem surprised to
find the men up and about.
"We
couldn't sleep very well once we got here," Patty admitted. "It
was cozy and all, but my nerves were too jangled."
"Mine
too," Dollie admitted.
"You
should have come over," Will said, kissing Patty.
"We
thought you'd be asleep."
"We
thought you were."
"Just
as well," Luke said. "If you'd come over, Mr. Reiger might
of thought somehin' was up."
"Good
point. So, are you going to the bank today?" Dollie said.
"We
are as soon as it opens up."
"We've
got to go in to the office," Patty said with a pout. "It's
getting on for the end of the month. I have to get the paychecks
ready."
"And
I've got the newsletter," Dollie said. "And they've asked
me to help the students do a newspaper next year, so I've got some
planning to do. I've got some equipment to buy, so I'll be looking
through catalogues. Won't that be fun?"
Luke
shook his head in wonder. "I never did see why girls like to go
shopping so much."
Dollie
swatted at him, giggling. Will didn't have much food in the
apartment, so they went to the diner. After eating, the men went to
the bank and the girls took Dollie's car back to the school. Lucius
and Will got to the bank just as it was opening. The manager, Mr.
Kelly, greeted them at the door.
"What
can I help you with, gentlemen?"
"I
guess you've heard about our daddy," Will said.
"I
have," the bank manager said. "I'm sure sorry. Have you
come to see the box?"
"Yes,
sir. I got the key right here." Will pulled out a key that
dangled from a red ribbon.
"Come
this way," Mr. Kelly said. He led them to the vault and ushered
them inside.
The
walls were covered with safe deposit boxes, large and small. He led
them to a medium sized one, number 187. He took another key out of
his pocket, put them both into the slots and turned. He handed Will
his key and took the box out of the wall. He carried it to a small,
private room and set the box down before going out. As he pulled the
door shut, he spoke.
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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