The Body of Martin Aguilera Read Online Free

the sheriff, the body was gone.”
    Lewis imagined that Cyril was now skeptical. “My granddaughter was with me. She saw him, too.”
    â€œWhat did the sheriff say?”
    â€œWhat could he say?” Lewis wrapped the squirrel up again. “Thanks for looking at Mortimer.”
    â€œWait. Where you going?”
    â€œHome.”
    Cyril scratched his belly through his denim shirt. “Want me to ride out to the old man’s place with you?”
    Lewis studied the man. “Okay.”
    â€œI’ve got to look at that dog out there. You mind waiting?”
    Lewis shook his head. “Can you get rid of the squirrel?”
    â€œNo problem.”
    Lewis went back to the lobby and waited. He smiled at the assistant, but she ignored him. “Mortimer died,” he said.
    She looked up.
    â€œMortimer is dead.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said. “What was Mortimer?”
    â€œAlive.”
    She went back to the papers on her desk.

Chapter Five
    While Lewis drove he told Cyril about everything, but he did not repeat his observation that there were no animals in the canyon. That sounded too strange and it scared him too much. Lewis wondered why the man was taking such an interest and coming with him, but he was glad to have the company. He felt a little less scared. Strength in numbers and all that, he thought.
    â€œHow long have you lived around here?” Cyril asked.
    â€œGoing on three years.”
    â€œRetired?”
    â€œYep.” Lewis didn’t like the word.
    â€œFrom?”
    â€œI was a university professor?”
    â€œWhere?”
    â€œBennington College.”
    â€œNo,” said Cyril. “My daughter just started there.”
    â€œHow about that.” Lewis looked at the road. “When did you open your office here and where were you?” Lewis didn’t like the way he’d asked the questions.
    But Cyril seemed unbothered. “Used to practice down in Albuquerque. Got tired of city people and little dogs.”
    â€œMartin was my friend,” Lewis said.
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    They crossed the river, passed the cafe and followed the trail to Martin’s house. Lewis stopped fifty yards away and looked at a blue Camaro parked in front of the cabin.
    â€œWhat is it?” Cyril asked.
    â€œThat car.”
    â€œWell, let’s go see who it is.”
    â€œRight.” This made perfect sense. Lewis felt like a coward. He came to a stop directly behind the strange car.
    â€œIt’s a rental,” Cyril said.
    â€œHow do you know that?” Lewis asked.
    â€œSays so on the license plate bracket. See, Budget.”
    â€œOh.”
    The men got out of the car and walked toward the cabin. Lewis glanced into the Camaro on the way by and saw nothing. A man stepped out of the cabin.
    Lewis stopped.
    Cyril waved. “Hey there, how you doin’?”
    The young man smiled, waved, and came toward them.
    â€œWhat’re you doing out here?” Lewis asked.
    The man was taken aback by Lewis’ tone. “Looking for my grandfather. What are you doing here?”
    â€œYour grandfather?” Lewis asked.
    â€œMartin Aguilera.”
    Cyril reached his hand out. “I’m Cyril Peabody and this is Lewis Mason.”
    â€œJoseph Taylor.”
    â€œMartin never mentioned a grandson,” Lewis said.
    Taylor looked at Lewis for a long second. “What’s going on here? Where is my grandfather?”
    Cyril lookd at Lewis.
    Lewis didn’t know if the young man was on the level or not. But if this Taylor was who he said, then he didn’t want to hurt him.
    â€œI’m not sure,” Lewis said. “I’ve been looking for him ever since yesterday.”
    The young man looked back at the house and seemed to be lost. He didn’t seem to know what to do.
    â€œYou want to ride to the sheriff’s station with me?” Lewis asked.
    â€œWhat’s happened?”