Free Lark by Richard; Forrest Page B

routine background to complete our file.”
    â€œOh, sure. Well, Johnny came to us a few weeks ago. He was in Portland before that, Springfield, and I think he worked in Laconia right after he finished the Boston University School of Communications.”
    â€œWhy so many stations?”
    The manager smiled. “He gets fired, of course. Any DJ with a filthy mouth like his is bound to get the ax sooner or later. People like him don’t know where to draw the line, and so they can’t help stepping over it. It’s par for the course to work your way up from a five-hundred-watter to a five-thousand and then hopefully someday one of the fifty-thousand-watt flag stations. I’ll tell you this, he’s been good for our ratings.”
    â€œIs he married? Does he have any children?”
    â€œSure. He’s got a sweet wife and two little kids. The guy’s completely different when you’re in his home.”
    â€œSo I’ve gathered,” Lark said.
    They sat in the cab of Lark’s pickup down the street from the house on Mark Street where the body of the young woman had been discovered. Horse drank a diet-free cola while Lark pulled on the remains of a beer.
    â€œWhy are we just sitting here, Lieutenant?”
    â€œBecause this goddamn house with its kooky kids is all we’ve got. I want a gut feel for the place. Does that explain anything?”
    â€œNothing seems to be going on in there.”
    â€œIt’s too damn quiet.” Lark crushed the beer can with one hand and dropped it to the floor. “Let’s go.” He slammed from the truck and grabbed a metal attaché case, from the truckbed before he strode toward the house.
    â€œWhat’s coming down?” Horse asked.
    â€œWe’ve been watching that damn place for two hours and nothing’s coming down. That’s what’s wrong. There’s too many people in that joint for it to be so quiet.”
    Horse unbuttoned his jacket. Lark gave a satisfied glance at his partner. He was carrying his piece.
    When they reached the rotting front porch, Lark put the attaché case down and stood with his back to the wall as he pulled the Cobra from its holster. Horse took up a position on the far side of the door. They glanced at each other and nodded.
    â€œLet’s take it,” Lark whispered. His foot lashed out against the door and it bowed under the onslaught. Horse threw his massive shoulder against the frame until the lock splintered and the door flew backward. They entered the house with drawn weapons and made their way down the hallway.
    Lark stopped at the bedroom door. “Now!”
    The door wasn’t locked and flew open. Both officers entered the room in a shooting crouch.
    Winthrop Rutledge glared at them with bloodshot eyes as he sat up in bed. “What’s going on?” Reba, the nude girl they had last seen in the cellar room, now showed more modesty as she clutched a sheet to naked breasts.
    â€œWhere are the others?” Lark barked.
    â€œGone,” Winthrop said. “We’re the only ones left. What are you doing here?”
    â€œWe have a warrant,” Horse said as he efficiently searched the room. “Anyone else in the house?”
    â€œNo, just Reba and me.”
    â€œWhere did the others go?” Lark asked.
    â€œHome.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œTheir parents read about the murder in the backyard and came and got them.”
    â€œExcept for me,” Reba said. “My old lady doesn’t give a shit.”
    â€œThat’s nice,” Horse said as he pushed aside clothing on the closet rack to peer into the rear.
    â€œHow in the hell can you form a coven if the parents come after them?” Winthrop moaned.
    â€œThere is sanity left,” Lark said. “Get some clothes on. I want to check that room in the cellar again.”
    â€œFuck you.”
    Lark’s reaction was instantaneous. In a single motion he stepped