The Silent Boy (Emma McPherson Book 1) by A.J. Flynn (early reader books .txt) 📗

an hour. I’m scared she’ll give up on me altogether as soon as I start hitting the steeper grades.”

James frowned. “That could be any one of several things. I’ll take a look.”

“Well, you’ll have to make it quick. Remember, around fifteen-hundred pounds of food will have to be chucked to the garbage if I can’t get there soon.”

Harry held his breath after he spoke. This was clever. James had a great aversion to rushing himself whenever he was working on an engine. Car care was his job, and he took great personal pride in seeing that it ran as close to perfect as was humanly possible.

James trailed a fingernail down along his bristly cheek, and thought. “Wouldn’t want to hurry,” he muttered, while Harry’s nerves screamed.

“Maybe I better just go ahead and try to make it. That grocer will have to take a big loss if that food spoils.”

“Tell you what. You can take my car then come pick yours up on the way back. That way I can have time to work on it. It’s probably not anything serious, but sometimes it’s hard to tell.”

“If you say so,” Harry blurted, shaking with relief. “I might be back late, though.”

“That’s fine. If I’m not here, just leave the keys stowed in the glove compartment.”

Now that his plan had pulled through, Harry was impatient to get on his way. The more miles he would be able to put between himself and the cops, the better his prospects.

“Thanks a lot, James. I’ll grab my bag and be on my way. That grocer’s gonna be madder than heck if he loses money just because I’m late.”

He hurried to his car and grabbed the suitcase and his bunched-up clothes. Then he tossed them in the back seat of James’ car and, with a quick wave, drove off.

He arrived at the summit, passed the lake and started down along the other side. It seemed to mark the end of his life as it had been. He was already brainstorming what name he should use in his new life, and what sort of work he might be able to get.

The car was purring along, as any car of James’ would, when he took notice of a red flare flickering in the center of the road. It startled him so much that he slammed on his brakes, causing the car to slide on the damp road. He fought the wheel for a few moments, then finally managed to straighten it out. Then he came to a complete stop on the shoulder of the road. That was just what he needed—a wreck.

There had been a tire slide, and a good-sized one at that.

Three cars were pulled to the side of the road, and the drivers were gathered together talking. He pulled up behind them and got out. They all looked up in unison as he approached.

“Say,” one of them said good-naturedly, “if one of us has a deck of cards, we could play blackjack.”

Harry managed a smile. “Hi, there. Any idea how long it might take to clear this up?”

One of the other men spoke up. “The State trooper went out to pick up a bulldozer. Told us the garage was only three miles away, so they should be back anytime now.”

“Did he know how long it might take to do the job?” Harry insisted.

“No, he didn’t say, but I used to work in the construction business, and if their dozer is a decent size, it shouldn’t take any more than a couple hours.”

Harry’s heart sank.

Two hours… Possibly more.

He didn’t have the time to spend waiting around for them to finish, but what could he do?

“Here comes the dozer,” one of the men said, pointing down the road.

“Guess I’ll head on back to my car and have myself a nap,” Harry said nervously. “I had to wake up early this morning.” He was in no position to be dealing with the law.

Once back in the car he hunkered down behind the wheel like a man who was preparing for a nap. It took every ounce of his willpower, but he somehow managed to sit quietly for ten minutes before the craving for a cigarette grew too strong. Reluctantly, he sat up in his seat and lit up. He took a long, hard drag and inhaled deeply. The smoke stung at his throat, but it felt good.

The other drivers were standing in the road, watching the machine’s progress. He knew it might look more natural for him to join them, but he didn’t dare risk it. Every moment that passed reduced his chances of getting away, and the strain he was under was growing more noticeable.

He smoke the cigarette until the ashes began burning his fingers, then flicked it out through the window and slumped down for another pretend nap. He set his elbow on the armrest and laid his head over on his hand. He was finally settled, when a voice to his side caused him to startle.

“Say, sir,” were the words he heard.

He looked up and saw a state patrolman standing beside his open window. It was as though someone had just dumped ice water over him.

“Sorry if I woke you, but you’re gonna have to watch those butts. The woods aren’t too dry, but it could still start a fire.”

Harry sat up straight and managed an answer. “Sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

“Yeah, I know. People from the city tend to forget, but keep it in mind.”

He wanted the man to go away, but he didn’t dare show it.

“How much longer before we’ll be able to get through?” he asked.

“They’re about halfway done,” the officer answered. “Should be finished in another half hour or so. In a hurry?”

It was a perfectly normal and friendly question, but to a man in Harry’s situation it registered as danger.

“I need to fix a freezer at a grocery store down in Santana. If I can’t get there in time, the food will spoil.”

The man laughed. “If old Swan’s food is spoiled, you