Long Island Noir Read Online Free

cop noticed and added, “So I was right again.” Nick was too cold to question his logic.
    “My brother,” was all he could mutter, and the cop pulled the e-mail out from a pile of things he’d grabbed during the car search.
    “Your brother’s doing drugs?” He shook his head in disgust. “Younger or older?”
    “Younger,” Nick said.
    “So this is your fault. Okay, here’s what’s up. As far as I’m concerned he’s over on Dune Road, he’s the bay constables’ headache. If he’s still alive. I’ll radio his name to the constables. If he turns up, we’ll let you know. But you should know, I’m keeping this e-mail and he will be under arrest.”
    “What about Ed Schiffer?” Nick asked.
    “Don’t worry about him—I’m telling you about your brother—he’s out here, he’s using substances, if we find him, he’s ours. But you’ll be notified.”
    “He needs help,” Nick said, though he knew it wouldn’t matter. “He’s a prodigy—he’s supposed to do better things.”
    The cop asked him what a prodigy was.
    “A genius,” Nick said.
    The cop made a fart noise. “Some genius.”
    “Will he get help if we find him?”
    “Not up to me.” The cop was writing something. “And what do you mean we ?”
    “Can’t I go look for him? On Dune Road?”
    “Are you drunk?” the cop asked. “Say the alphabet.” Nick said it. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. These are yours.” He handed Nick four tickets and his information. “You’re gonna get into your car and you’re gonna swing the front end around so it’s facing north, okay?” Nick nodded. “Then you’re gonna take this road all the way up to the roundabout, and you’re gonna take the left exit. Got it?” Nick nodded again. “That road leads straight into Mastic and Mastic Beach. Go there. Stay there. We’ll call you if we hear something.”
    Nick, realizing he’d been listening to false directions, shook his head and looked at the tickets.
    “You in college?” the cop asked. Nick nodded. “Get good grades?”
    “Dean’s list,” he said quietly.
    “Are you bragging or complaining?” the cop said with a slight smile.
    Nick laughed a little. He started to walk away. The cop called out to him. Nick stopped. The cop walked closer.
    “One of these days when you get a house out here, you’ll realize why we’re so by-the-book. This is the gateway to the stars; there’s a lot of money out here, and they don’t want just anybody drivin’ around. Sorry I had to be a hard-ass, but you understand, right?” He waited for an answer, but none came. “I mean, look at me, I come from the same town as you—I didn’t get it either, but these people, they’re real intense about riffraff coming into the village. People bringing fights and stealing shit—people like your brother, all due respect, you know?” The cop was again answered with silence. “No hard feelings,” he said, and turned to walk away. “I hope we find your little bro.”
    Minutes later, Nick was reaching the roundabout where he needed to yield, and noticed that the cop had followed him out. He locked stares with him in the rearview mirror, and the cop nodded to him just as the circle cleared. They parted ways.
    His body warmed as he blasted the heat and watched the slick surface of Twin Ponds glide by his passenger window— frozen under a foot of ice. Winter birds waddled with their young through paths cleared by skaters. Every star was visible. It made everything inside Nick seem immense. Earth, a place to be swallowed. Mastic Beach, a labyrinth. Guilt, anger, love—unavoidable. Life … long. Stars … mighty things to hide between. Waddling birds and their roost … sage in their simplicity.
    It stuck in his chest to think so, but just then he wanted Jeffrey to run. Run and hide, and disappear. Even if it meant he would never see him again. Jeffrey wasn’t part of the same world, Nick knew this now. He’d break spirits that tried to ground him.