The Lost: Book Two, The Eddie McCloskey Series (The Unearthed 2) Read Online Free Page B

though Eddie and Tim had butted heads repeatedly throughout. Then … things had gone horribly wrong. Something they could have never anticipated happened, ending in the murder of two: a teenaged boy and Eddie’s own brother.
    Eddie shook his head at the nightmarish memories. A local author, Evan Ronan, had gone to work on the non-fiction account of their investigation and its aftermath. The result was the book Eddie now held in his hands.
    He packed the book. There was nothing else to collect. He cinched the sack and hefted it over his shoulder. “What made you buy this book?”
    Ana’s shoulders tensed. “I saw you reading it. I got interested.”
    “Why?”
    “You’re always reading. At the register, or on break. But one day I saw you reading that book in your car. I wondered why. You always brought your books inside, but not that one.”
    Eddie nodded. It had been stupid to bring the book to work, even if he’d only read it in the car. He wouldn’t repeat that mistake ever again.
    “Give me a lift back to the bar.”
    She opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. The words died somewhere in her tiny throat.
    She nodded.
    Eddie scanned the room one more time to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He’d never be coming back. This was sayonara.

Nine
     
    H e slung his bags into the back of her VW then got in. Ana started the engine and put it in gear.
    “Can I ask why you’re leaving?” The engine hummed, but she kept her foot on the brake.
    There was no point in lying to her. She’d read the book. “I’ll tell you if you tell me something first.”
    Her head went sideways but her eyes stayed on him. “Okay.”
    “Who brought the weed to the party?”
    Her eyebrows molded together. “Why?”
    He gave her a look. “Was it your boyfriend, what’s-his-name?”
    She shook her head. “It wasn’t Jimbo. It was his friend, Tony. He’s the guy that always brings.”
    He nodded and filed that way just in case. “I’m leaving because they’re about to slap a bullshit parole violation on me. I’m leaving because I don’t like cops pushing me around. I’m leaving because Kindler’s claims sound like bullshit. And I’m leaving because if I do this it might get noticed by a man that wants to kill me.”
    She did a double-take. Then, slowly put it together. “Sean McKenna? That kid’s father?”
    Eddie gave her a grim smile. “He’s already tried to kill me, at least once.”
    “When?”
    He took his eyes off her and put them on the thin strip of road ahead. “Ana, I have to leave. I’ve still gotta stop at Victor’s.”
    She stared at his profile a full ten seconds before she took her foot off the brake. She made a left and backtracked to the bar. They rode in silence the whole way, though Eddie could almost hear all the questions bouncing around in her head.
    She pulled into the bar’s gravel lot. Eddie didn’t see Whitmore’s cruiser anywhere. The lights in the bar were still on. George was being optimistic if he thought he’d get any more business tonight.
    Eddie opened his door. The cold night seeped through his pea coat.
    Ana watched him with sad eyes. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? This could be big.”
    “I’m sure.” He hit the lever so the passenger seat tipped forward then reached into the back for his bags.
    “Don’t you believe in fate?” she asked.
    “No.”
    He pulled the first bag out.
    “Eddie …”
    “You read the damned book, so you know why I don’t want any part of this, Ana.”
    She turned away from him and put her hands at ten and two on the wheel again. Eddie pulled the second bag out.
    He was about to walk away without saying anything. He should have. But out of the corner of his eye he saw Ana swipe the back of her hand across her cheek.
    The passenger seat popped back into place. Eddie had his hand on the door. He should have just closed it. But then Ana sniffled and he knew she was crying.
    He took a deep breath to calm himself.
    “I’m