Erik Handy Read Online Free

deep creases in his face, Jacoby reclined as if at a beach enjoying the sunshine. And why wouldn't he? His appointed position held no expectations to no one, not even his superiors. Keep the order with minimal effort. And the definition of order was up to the constable. 
    Nolan wanted to reach across the man's imposing, messy desk to slap him.
    After he arrived in town, the priest had briefly met with the constable. Meeting the local law and possibly befriending him could have aided Nolan in his mission. His predecessor Father Bernard warned him not to count on it.
    Nolan found a drunk Jacoby at the bar. He was playing backgammon with a local.
    Introductions were curt. They exchanged names, no hand shakes -- Jacoby's hands were too busy holding a bottle of beer and a cup of dice-- and that was it. Jacoby didn't say anything else to Nolan. To him, Nolan and his predecessors were jokes and not worth his precious time. Nolan quickly took the hint and left. It was the last time both had seen each other until a few minutes ago.
    That bastard.
    Nolan passed several townspeople in the street who just kept going, not acknowledging his presence, him barely acknowledging theirs like shadows of their actual selves, shuffling through this town and life, only existing to allow Death to give them a long runaround.
    Nolan felt a pang of hurt in his gut. He couldn't help everyone here. He hated to admit defeat, but he was starting to believe that even God could help everyone here. But if something good, no matter how minute, could infiltrate this piece of Hell, then Nolan could deem his mission a success and then go home.
    Nolan was close to the store, just a few short blocks away.
    Someone was trailing him from the next street over, noticeable at each intersection. One man with a discreet interest in the priest.
    Nolan immediately saw him.

Chapter 12
    Nolan tried to keep his cool. Whoever was following him could be one of the men from the night before. A killer. And having already tried to enlist the help from Constable Jacoby and failing, Nolan knew he was on his own.
    Nolan slowed at an intersection and looked over at the next street.
    No one appeared --
    -- until after Nolan cleared the intersection.
    A man entered the parallel intersection, looking in Nolan's direction. He was obviously following the priest.
    Nolan sped up.
    He passed another intersection with the man keeping the same pace, lagging just behind, a watchful eye on his quarry.
    Nolan could think of only one thing to do.
    He quickly backtracked and cut across to the street his pursuer was on.
    Nolan only saw the back of the man, but no weapons were evident.
    The man, a local, Nolan figured by his dark complexion and dirty clothes, still stood at the next intersection up, head bobbing side-to-side, trying to find the priest on the next road. When he couldn't, he turned around only to find the roles of hunter and prey reversed.
    ***
    It was like a scene from a western: the good guy on one end of the street, the bad on the other. However, both men didn't expect such a face-to-face encounter. Nolan shook all over and the stunned look on his hunter's face told his own story. A story that ended with him turning tail and running away up the street.
    Nolan considered giving chase, but ultimately thought against it. He had to stay on track and get back to the grocer and bring Marie and Jean Paul to safety. Plus he was woefully unprepared for any physical confrontation.
    Nolan waited until his hunter was out of sight before pressing on. He still felt the paranoia of someone following him and was sure he'd bear that curse for a long time to come. He let that paranoia guide him cautiously to the grocery.
    The store was a familiar place with friendly people inside. That's what Nolan needed right now, to feel safe. This terror would soon be over.
    A few yards from the respite from all that had happened in the past twelve hours, Nolan watched the grocery door open.
    The grocer stumbled