Darkness Rises_Book 1_Prelude To Insanity Page 21

  Red fumbled for a moment before retrieving his glasses from the front pocket of his flannel over-shirt. After a brief observation of the girl in the picture, he replied with a simple, “no.” He began to close the inner door. This was too much for the man on his porch or the boy from so long ago.

  Martinez, unsatisfied with the older man’s uncompassionate response tried to open the screen and stop him to no avail. It was solid despite its appearance. “I know you were there that night and I am not leaving until I get some answers!” He called shouted through the almost closed door angrily. His audacity caused him to question his manners but his frustration quickly absolved him of his unprovoked outburst. The old man slowly reopened the door and grunted at the disrespectful mustached man standing on his front porch.

  Red really didn’t like dealing with people, especially ones that were too close for comfort. He gently placed a hand just out of view of the doorway and rested it on the butt of a 12 gauge Remington fully loaded with his ‘special’ shells. “What was that young man?” He asked evenly.

  Martinez took note of the old man’s ire and evidently increased vitality. He took an involuntary step backward before responding, “Mr. Redford, I need your help.”

  Red stood resilient against the man’s request for a long moment before pointing out flatly, “You’re a cop.” He honestly wondered if Martinez recognized him but, the less law enforcement he had in his life, the better he would be.

  Though Martinez was relieved to hear the old man relent to speaking more than one word to him, he was taken aback by the brash identification. “Not anymore. Long story short, I retired not too long ago.” He admitted wondering if maybe his official status would have helped him more in his current situation.

  Red paused briefly. Deftly, he pushed the wall panel closed concealing his shotgun before unlatching the bolt from the screen door. He motioned for Martinez to follow him even though he would have been happier if the ex-detective simply left. He made his way to his recliner in the living room plopping down melodramatically.

  Martinez followed Red at a respectable distance and took a seat on a firm couch across from the old man. The place was sparsely furnished with two bookshelves, a small TV / VCR, and a coffee table. Completely unremarkable as it was, there was something more to this place and he knew it. “Thank you, Mr. Redford.”

  Red turned enough to acknowledge the man straight on. He removed his glasses from his face and rubbed them absently on his flannel shirt sighing deeply. He uttered his next words with a reluctant sincerity, “Michael, it’s been a long time.” He drifted off momentarily, “forty or fifty years but, I can’t quite remember. Call me Lawrence.”

  Martinez rolled forward. He knew this man. He owed him his life though, from a very long time ago. ‘Maybe, there was a chance….’

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  Chapter 2