Free The Buried Book by D. M. Pulley

find her here. Hiding out. Pulling a Houdini like that makes a husband pretty angry. You sure she wouldn’t come back here?”
    “I am. She was never afraid of Wen. Besides, she never really took to farming life.”
    “Yes, I hear around Burtchville she was a colorful sort. I understand she has a son?”
    Uncle Leo didn’t answer right away. “Yep. He’s been stayin’ here with us for a while.”
    “Since when?”
    “About two weeks. Althea brought him up here, said there was some things she had to do.”
    “Was this unexpected?”
    “A bit.”
    “She ever leave him here before?”
    “Sure. We’re family, ain’t we? Nothin’ strange about a nephew coming to visit for a few days here and there.”
    “She ever leave him this long?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Back when he was about a year old, he came and stayed here for a spell.”
    Jasper’s mouth fell open. He had no memory of being left the first time.
    “How long?”
    “A few weeks. Frankly, I encouraged it. City’s no place to raise a boy. Besides, the wife really enjoyed having another little one around for a bit.”
    “Did Althea tell you what she was doing or where she was going this time?”
    “Not really. Just said there was something she had to do. I’ve learned not to ask too much.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “Because Althea’s a private person.” His uncle sighed. “There’s nothin’ wrong with that. Last I checked, it ain’t a crime. I’m pretty private too, and I can’t say I’m liking all these questions. What’s it to you way down there in Detroit anyway? Isn’t this a bit outside your jurisdiction?”
    “Althea’s a Detroit resident. The county sheriff here called it in to see if we had an open case.”
    “Do you?”
    “Not yet. Let’s just say we have our interests, but nothing for you to worry about. We’re the good guys in this. Did she ever mention any enemies to you? Anyone she felt threatened by?”
    “You don’t really think somethin’ like that’s goin’ on, do you?”
    Something like what? Jasper wanted to scream.
    “We’re not ruling it out. Will you answer the question?”
    “No. She never talked about anyone, but she never talked much to begin with. Christ, Althea . . .”
    “She seem nervous last time you saw her? Jumpy?”
    Jasper remembered her hands gripping the steering wheel, trembling when she screwed open the flask.
    “A bit.”
    “Take my card. If you hear from your sister or think of anything at all . . .”
    A hand slapped over Jasper’s mouth.
    “We gotta move,” a voice hissed in his ear. It was Wayne. Jasper had no idea how long he’d been there listening too. He dragged him away from the barn by his arm and over to the chicken coop. “Sorry, kid, but he was done with the pigs. He always comes out to the pump after.”
    In the distance, Jasper could see his uncle rounding the side of the barn to the well pump. He was carrying two buckets. Wayne grabbed the basket from Jasper’s hands. He’d forgotten he was holding it.
    “I don’t think Detective Russo will be stayin’ for breakfast,” Wayne said and swung open the wire door to the chicken coop. A flock of feathers flew up at them as the hens scattered about. Wayne flopped open the wood ramp to the outdoor run, and most of them scrambled away. Jasper just stood there in a stupor while Wayne did the rounds, collecting eggs from the old apple crates.
    A loud squawk snapped Jasper back to his senses. The family rooster pecked at his legs and then tried to eat one of his shoelaces. Jasper kicked him off. Wayne finished collecting and pushed him back out the door.
    “Wayne?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Did I come stay with you when I was a baby? For like two weeks?”
    “I remember somethin’ sort of like that. I was a lot younger than you are now.” He held the door to the coop open for Jasper, then latched it shut. “I remember being all excited about being a big brother. I kinda hoped you’d stay.”
    Jasper stared at the