The Body of Martin Aguilera Read Online Free Page B

tells me he’s drowned in the river and you tell me this.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Taylor dropped his cigarette and stepped on it. “Sheriff told me I could pick up Gramp’s things tomorrow. Did my grandfather talk to you about something that was bothering him?”
    â€œHe didn’t mention anything.”
    â€œAre you sure?”
    â€œLast time I saw him was a couple of weeks ago and he didn’t say anything out of the ordinary.” Lewis remembered that visit. He and Martin were sitting out in the yard looking at a full moon. Coyotes were howling in the canyon and they laughed as Martin’s dog Rojo tried to bay with them.
    â€œWell,” Taylor said, “I’m staying at the Best Western in town. If you think of anything—”
    â€œI’ll call.”

Chapter Six
    Maggie and Laura met Lewis at the front door. Maggie waved a quarter in his face, said, “What is this? Have you ever seen one of these?”
    â€œWhat are you raving about?” Lewis asked.
    â€œThis is a quarter, Lewis.”
    Lewis sat down on the sofa, kicked off his shoes.
    â€œYou drop one of these into a pay phone and dial and you can tell the people who are sick with worry that you’re okay and not dead in some ditch.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Laura sat beside him.
    â€œI just got off the phone with the sheriff.”
    Lewis looked at her.
    â€œI was calling to tell him you were overdue, but he told us you’d been there.”
    â€œSo, what’s the fuss.”
    Maggie cleared her throat. “I’ll make tea.”
    When the woman was out of the room, Laura said, “Maggie’s mad.”
    â€œYeah, well, she has a right to be. I’m sorry I worried you.” He looked at the kitchen door. “Maggie?”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDid Mondragon say anything to you about Martin?”
    â€œNo.”
    Lewis got up and walked to the phone on the wall just inside the kitchen. He asked the operator to dial the sheriff. “May I speak to Sheriff Mondragon, please? Yes, it’s important. Manny?”
    â€œYeah?” said Mondragon.
    â€œIt’s me, Lewis Mason. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
    â€œI told you everything, professor. Aguilera died in the river while fishing.”
    â€œAnd that’s all you have to say to me?”
    â€œThat’s what my report says.”
    Lewis let the receiver down in its cradle. He looked up to find Maggie and Laura staring at him from the kitchen table.
    â€œMartin drowned in the river.”
    Maggie frowned. “But you said—”
    â€œI know what I said. Don’t ask me to explain anything. The sheriff is writing in his report that Martin Aguilera drowned while fishing in the rapid water of the Rio Grande. I don’t think my name appears.”
    â€œRelax,” Maggie said.
    â€œSomething really strange is going on. Martin’s grandson showed up.”
    â€œAlready?”
    Lewis sat down at the table. “Claims he got a letter from the old man saying something was wrong. Taylor’s his name. Says his mother married a white man and got Martin mad. If he’s got Mexican blood, I do.”
    â€œWhy is the sheriff acting funny?” Maggie asked.
    Lewis shrugged. “I thought he didn’t want to say anything in front of Taylor. But now I don’t know. Maybe he’s scared of something. “He picked up his mug and sipped the hot tea. “Have you met the new vet?”
    Maggie shook her head.
    â€œCyril Peabody. A nice guy.”
    â€œWhere’d you run into him?”
    Lewis decided not to mention the squirrel. “In town.” He looked out the window at the afternoon. “So, how did you two get along today?”
    â€œGreat,” said Maggie.
    â€œNo fighting or anything like that?”
    Laura laughed. “No,” she said. “We played cards and went for a walk. We saw a