Free Fall Read Online Free Page A

of grilled Taylor Pork Roll, eggs, and cheese on a roll with salt and ketchup. It’s a Jersey thing.
    A little after one, I swing by the tired mansion on Beach Lane. 1818 looks even worse in the sunshine. It’s not storm damage. It’s time damage.
    I’m in a clean polo shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. I also forgot to shave. Like I said, it’s Saturday.
    When I rap my knuckles on the screen door, Christine answers it. She’s in a cheery smock decorated with kittens and puppies, loose fitting green scrub pants, and pink-and-white running shoes. She smiles when she sees it’s me. I try not to wince when I notice how much make-up she had to trowel onto her neck to hide her ring of bruises.
    â€œHey,” I say.
    â€œHey,” she whispers back.
    â€œYou okay?” I ask, wondering why she is whispering.
    â€œYeah. Dr. Rosen’s still asleep.”
    I guess when you’re ninety-four, the rules about when you should wake up on Saturday are even looser.
    â€œThanks for setting me up with Becca last night.”
    â€œSure. So, do you have some place to stay tonight?” I’m whispering now, too. Don’t want to wake the old guy up.
    â€œYes. Dr. Rosen is letting me have the other guest bedroom.”
    â€œThe other one?”
    â€œThe night nurse, Monae, already lives here. She’s asleep right now, too, because she stays up all night, every night. Makes sure Dr. Rosen doesn’t fall again. That’s why he needs the twenty-four-hour awake care. He slipped and fell a while ago. Broke his hip on the terrazzo tile floor in the kitchen.”
    I flinch. Terrazzo is hard stuff. Falling on it would feel like whacking your leg with a bowling ball.
    â€œHe went to rehab, did PT. He’s still not great on his feet, though. Balance issues. Neuropathy in his feet.”
    â€œDid you get everything out of Mrs. Oppenheimer’s place?”
    â€œNot yet. Monae’s brother and sister are going to help me move the rest. I don’t have much. Mostly clothes. Couple books.”
    â€œWhen do you plan to do this?”
    â€œTonight. Shona won’t be home. She has big plans with the Rosens.”
    Okay. Now I’m confused. “Mrs. Oppenheimer’s coming up here while you’re down at her place?”
    â€œI’m sorry. Dr. Rosen’s son, David, is married to Judith who is Shona’s sister. Those are the Rosens that Shona’s seeing tonight; David and Judith.”
    â€œSo, did Mrs. Oppenheimer help you land this job with her sister’s father-in-law?”
    She nods. I get the sense this is something else she just doesn’t want to talk about right now.
    â€œWell, I’m free tonight,” I say. “If you guys need any help with the move.”
    â€œWhat?” Christine shoots me a sly and dimpled grin. “It’s Saturday night, Danny Boyle. Don’t you have a hot date?”
    â€œNope. Not tonight.”
    â€œReally?”
    I hold up my hand like a Boy Scout. “Scout’s honor.”
    â€œGood to know.”
    Yes, I believe Christine Lemonopolous, the lovely Greek goddess, is flirting with me. Not that I mind. Hey, it’s Saturday. I’m off-duty. I have a pulse.
    Feeling the need to blow off a little steam, I head over to the Sunnyside Playland Video Arcade.
    Sunnyside Clyde, the small-time amusement park’s mascot, greets me. Clyde is this big, baggy-panted surfer dude with a huge ray-rimmed sun for a head who always wears dark sunglasses. I never understood why. If you’re supposed to be the sun, do you really need sunglasses? Why? In case you see yourself in a mirror?
    Anyway, Sunnyside Clyde waves when he sees me because the guy sweating inside the giant foam rubber ball is another pal of mine, Josh Grabo.
    â€œHey, Danny,” his voice is muffled by his bright orange padding.
    â€œHey, Josh.”
    â€œClyde, dude. I’m on duty.”
    â€œRight.