The Maine Events by Rodney Riesel (most important books of all time txt) 📕

went to the bench to help support his weight. “Myheart.”

“Christ,” said Driver, walking over to Cam. “Just what Ineed.”

“He's having a heart attack,” said Vinny.

“Now you've done it,” said Allen.

Driver stepped toward Cam. “Calm down, old man.”

As Driver leaned forward, Cam's right hand came up with asnub-nosed .38. Driver's eyes widened and he took a step back.

Cam hooked the toe of his cowboy boot behind Driver's ankle,sending him tumbling backwards to the grass. Cam jumped off the bench andlanded on Driver's chest. He shoved the barrel of the .38 up under Driver'schin.

Vinny went for his weapon.

“Don't do it!” Cam shouted. “I'll blow what little brainsthis turd has right through the top of his skull!”

Vinny froze.

“Get his weapon, Allen,” said Cam.

Allen lifted Vinny's sweater and pulled his .38 Special outof its holster.

Cam reached down with his left hand and removed Driver's 9mmand tossed it under the picnic table.

“Now, I know this is gonna be real embarrassin' for youboys, but now you gotta go back and tell Mr. Strong that a seventy-two-year-oldman took your weapons away from you.” Cam pulled back the hammer on hisrevolver. “I'm gonna get off ya and I want you to get to your feet real carefullike. I'm an old man and this trigger finger's a lot shakier than it used tobe.”

Cam pulled the pistol away from Driver's chin and climbed tohis feet. “Get up, and get outta here,” he said, kicking Driver in the leg.

Vinny was halfway back to the Lincoln by the time Driverclimbed to his feet.

As Driver turned back toward the car, Cam gave him a swiftkick in the ass. “Giddy up!”

Allen and Cam watched as the two men climbed back into theLincoln.

“This ain't over,” said Driver, as he put the car inreverse. He backed into the street and spun the tires.

“I gotta sit down,” said Cam. “I don't want to have a realheart attack.”

Allen chuckled. “I'm just a decrepit old man,” he parroted.“That was beautiful.” He looked around to see if anyone had seen what had justtranspired. The walkways of the Sunrise Motel were empty. His eyes went to theoffice window. No sign of Crystal. Even the construction workers were tooinvolved in their work to notice.

“Oscar winning performance, if I do say so myself,” said Cam.“Hey, let me see the gun you took off that goombah.”

Allen handed Cam Vinny's weapon. The old man shoved it intohis waistband and bent down to grab the other gun under the table. He stuckthat one in his waistband as well, then struck a heroic pose, flexing his wirymuscles.

“Look, I'm Rambo,” he quipped. “Now all I need is a camoheadband.”

“You look like Rambo's grampa to me,” said Allen.Cam's hackles rose. “His grampa? I think me and Sly Stallone are about the sameage now.”

“Oh yeah, I guess you are.”

“So, what was that all about?”

Allen spent the next few minutes telling Cam what had takenplace at Stones Throw the day before. They discussed what they should do withthe guns, toying with the idea of tossing them into the ocean at low tide., ormaybe surrendering them to the police. They decided Allen should hold them forsafekeeping for the time being.

Cam handed over the two handguns, then walked back to hishotel. Allen took the guns up to his room. Before stowing the 9mm under themattress, he removed the shells from the magazine. He hadn't brought any extrashells with him for his own gun, so why throw them out? Better to be safethan sorry. After all, the man with the slicked back hair said it wasn't over.He opened the drawer in the nightstand and dropped the shells inside. With theshells in his own clip, he now had fifteen rounds. If Vinny and Driver tried tosettle the score, he'd be ready.

Allen slid the 9mm under the mattress alongside the .38Special.

“What do ya think, Frankie? Maybe I should give SergeantRose a call and let him know what's going on.”

Frankie yawned and returned his attention to the television.

“That's what I think too. Throwing the guns in the drink wasa half-assed idea anyway.”

Allen picked up the business card off the table, took outhis cell phone, and dialed.

“Sergeant Rose.”

“Rose, this is Allen Crane.”

“No kidding! Would you believe you're the most famous personwho has called me today?”

Allen sensed the sarcasm in Rose's voice. “Yes.”

“What can I do for you, Mr. Crane?”

“Vinny Tubbs and another man just paid me a visit.”

“That was fast. What happened? Did they make any threats?”

“Not verbally, but the other guy—not Vinny—pulled his jacketopen to show me his weapon.”

“What did you do?”

Allen thought it best not to bring up Cam's name. “I tooktheir guns away from them and told them to beat it.”

Rose laughed. “Sure ya did.”

“I did, and now I need you to come over here and pick uptheir guns.”

“Are you shittin' me?”

“Nope.”

“Did they say why they were even there?”

“They wanted me to accompany them to see a man by the nameof Mr. Strong.”

“Benny Strong—that's Bobby Jordan's half-brother.”

“So they said. What is it you think they want with me? Itwasn't my fault the guy had a heart attack.”

“Well, you did provoke him and get him all worked up.”

“But I didn't think he was going to have a heart attack.”

“Anyway, I don't know what Strong wants with you. He andBobby have never gotten along. Not even when they were kids, according to mychief. The two haven't spoken in years. Maybe he wants to give you a medal.”

“Your chief has known them since they were kids?”

“Yeah. They're originally from Jersey, but the boys’ motherand Strong's father vacationed here for a month every summer. Chief said theboys were always getting into trouble when they were here, but Strong's old manhad enough money to keep them from getting into any real trouble.”

“That's handy.”

“The two had a falling out after Strong's old man passedaway. Benny moved to York soon after and brought his mother with him. Bobbymoved up here a few months later.”

“Even though they don't speak.”

“My guess is that Bobby wanted to keep an eye on the oldlady. She's got a shit ton of money. Probably didn't trust his brother