The Dells Read Online Free Page B

sixteen and started hanging out with a pretty rough crowd.” She looked at Shoe. “What was the name of that biker gang she ran with for a while?”
    â€œThe Black Skulls,” Shoe said. “They were mostly weekend warrior types, though. Rough enough, but hardly Hells Angels material.”
    â€œAre her parents still alive?”
    â€œI don’t know. They retired to Florida or California, I think.”
    â€œDid she have any brothers or sisters?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œDid Cartwright know any of the other victims?”
    â€œNot to my knowledge,” Shoe said.
    â€œNo idea,” his father said.
    Rachel said, “I don’t know.”
    â€œMrs. Schumacher?” Lewis said.
    â€œI don’t know,” Shoe’s mother said.
    Lewis scribbled in her notebook, then asked, “Do the families of any of the other victims still live around here?”
    Shoe’s father said, “The only ones we knew were Marty’s folks.”
    â€œThe McKinnon girl and her family moved away not long after her attack,” Shoe’s mother said.
    Lewis looked at Shoe.
    â€œI don’t know where Miss Hahn or the park worker lived,” he said.
    â€œAll right,” Lewis said. “We’ll check it out. One last thing. Is there anyone else who still lives in the area who knew Mr. Cartwright?”
    â€œLet’s see,” Shoe’s father said slowly, rubbing his stubbly chin. “There’s Dougie Hallam and his sister, Janey. Stepsister, actually. I’m pretty sure they knew Mr. Cartwright. Dougie did, anyway. He was one of the boys that played tricks on him. Don’t know for sure if Janey knew him or not.” He looked at Shoe.
    â€œNo better than I did,” Shoe replied, as memories of Janey Hallam bubbled up from the recesses of his mind. Janey had been his first serious girlfriend, the one with whom he had shed his virginity — at a far too tender age, he recalled with a high degree of discomfort — and with whom he’d once believed he’d spend his whole life. He was surprised she still lived in the neighbourhood; the last time he’d seen her, shortly after she’d graduated from high school a year behind him, she’d told him she’d taken a job as flight attendant and was leaving Downsview forever. Did she remember him as well as he remembered her? he wondered. Or as fondly? Perhaps he would look her up, he thought, see how she’d turned out. Or was that a rock better left unturned? He had no desire to resume the acquaintance of her stepbrother, Dougie.
    â€œAnd there’s Tim Dutton,” Shoe’s father said.
    The name triggered a memory of a stocky boy with freckles and unruly red hair. Tim Dutton’s father had opened one of the first so-called “big box” hardware andbuilding supply stores in the area and had become quite wealthy, although he’d continued to live with his wife and two children in the modest three-bedroom house they’d bought the year before Shoe’s parents had bought theirs. At one time or another, Bart Dutton had provided most of the neighbourhood kids with summer jobs. Tim, though, had been the boss’s son and had made certain that everyone understood and appreciated the fact.
    â€œThere’s no one else I can think of,” Shoe’s father said.
    â€œMs. Schumacher,” Lewis said to Rachel. “Do you remember the names of the other kids Cartwright invited into his house?”
    Rachel was lost in thought for a moment, then said, “Besides Marty, the only ones I remember are Mickey Bloom and Bobby Cotton.”
    â€œThose are boy’s names?”
    Rachel nodded. “But I have no idea where they are now.”
    â€œThank you,” Lewis said. She closed her notebook and slipped it into the side pocket of her jacket. “That should do it for now. We appreciate your help. If we need anything else, someone will be in