Dead or Alive Read Online Free

stuck the sidearm in his waistband, and told Kerry that he had to get going. He stretched his free arm around his brother’s shoulders, gave him a playful shake, and asked him not to tell anyone he’d stopped by for a visit.
    Kerry made a zipped-lips motion with his fingers and smiled in his typical bland, gullible way.
    â€œI’ll call you from the road,” Larson said. “Does Lenny have anybody working with him?”
    â€œHe sure don’t.”
    Larson left his brother on the front porch, walked up the lane, got in the Honda, and drove away. It was time to find a new vehicle, and he knew just the man to help him make the switch.
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    The garage where Kerry’s pal Lenny had his auto body repair shop was along an alley at the back of a house. Parked at the side of the garage were four cars with crumpled fenders, bashed-in front ends, or smashed door panels. Along the backyard fence, a sweet four-wheel-drive pickup with an off-road package was parallel parked.
    The sound of a grinder on metal greeted Larson as he got out of the Honda. He spotted Lenny at the back of the garage, working on a rear rocker panel, and walked to him.
    When Lenny looked up and saw Larson, he turned off the grinder, lowered his mask, and smiled. “What brings you by here in the middle of the day?” he asked. “You got some work for me?”
    Larson had figured Lenny would mistake him for Kerry. He pulled out the semiautomatic and pointed it at Lenny’s face. “You’ve got the wrong twin, my friend.”
    Lenny pushed his safety goggles up to his forehead and blinked hard. His face flushed red and he started to breathe rapidly. “What’s the gun for?”
    â€œYou’re kidding, right?” Larson said. Lenny was short. In fact you could call him stubby. He had big round eyes and a thick neck that made him look porky.
    Lenny put the grinder down. “I don’t even know you, mister.”
    Larson half-expected him to start stuttering like Porky Pig. “I’m going to kill you for calling Crime Stoppers on me.”
    â€œI did no such thing,” Lenny blustered, almost stuttering.
    â€œThat’s a lie, Lenny. Tell me one more lie and you’re a dead man. Did you do it for the money?”
    Lenny stared into Larson’s eyes for a long moment and then slowly nodded. “Times are hard. I needed the cash. Ain’t even got it yet.”
    Larson smiled. “That’s better, Lenny. It’s always good to tell the truth.”
    â€œDon’t kill me.”
    â€œWe’ll see about that. How about we get in your truck and go for a ride.”
    â€œTake the truck, the keys are in it.”
    â€œI need a driver, Lenny. Is it gassed up?”
    â€œI filled the tank yesterday.”
    â€œExcellent. Do a good job as my driver and I might let you live. But first, we need to bring that Honda in here and lock it in your garage. Let’s go.”
    Larson kept Lenny company with the handgun aimed at his chest while the Honda got put away out of sight. In the pickup, Larson stowed the rolled-up clothes under the passenger seat with the shotgun and told Lenny to head east on the state highway toward the town of Clayton.
    â€œWhere are you taking me?” Lenny asked. He was sweating through his shirt.
    â€œOn a scenic country drive.” Larson cranked up the air conditioner. “How long have you lived in Springer, Lenny?”
    â€œTwelve years come this September. I got a wife and two teenage kids. That’s why I needed the money.”
    â€œPerfectly understandable,” Larson said amiably. “Do you know the back roads around here?”
    â€œSome,” Lenny answered.
    â€œGood. I’m gonna tell you what roads to take. If you get me to where I want to go, you may just live to spend that Crime Stoppers’ money on your wife and kids. You savvy?”
    Lenny gulped and nodded.
    About twenty-five miles outside