Page 12 of Shelter for Martina

“Martina?”

“Yeah! Bud?”

“Yep. So, are we still on for tomorrow night?”

“Yes. Well, I am if you are.”

“I am.” He hesitated for a second before he asked, “Could I ask a favor?”

“Sure.”

“Could you call me Albert? That’s my actual name, and I never hear anybody call me that anymore.”

“Sure. Not Al?”

“No, god no. I hate that,” he said and shuddered, but he heard her laugh on the other end.

“Just wanted to check! So you’ll still be here at five thirty tomorrow night?”

“I will.”

“Have you found out anything else?”

“Not yet. But I’m working on something. We can talk about it tomorrow night. So I’ll see you then, right?’

“Right. I’ll be waiting. Thanks. Goodnight, Albert.”

“Goodnight, Martina.” A tremor of excitement ran through him. For years, everyone had called him Bud. The only person who’d called him Albert was Becky. Hearing his name spoken by a woman’s voice was something he’d longed for. It was the first time Martina had called him that, and he hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

* * *

“So hasanybody physicallyseenthis four-wheeler?” Bud asked Arlen the next day.

“No. Didn’t know we were supposed to be looking for one.”

“Um-hmmm.” Something was bothering Bud, but he wasn’t sure what. “So was there any mention of Phil being in the woods?”

“No. Not in anything we’ve got.”

“Yeah. He didn’t mention that to me either.”

“So exactly where did you get that information?” Arlen asked.

“Overheard somebody talking about it in what they thought was a private conversation,” Bud explained. “I’d appreciate it if you’d—”

“Keep it under my hat? Yep. I sure will. Although you know how OhioCounty is. Gossip is rampant.”

“It is indeed. I’m going to take it with a grain of salt until I find some other evidence. And I’m going to look at registrations, see if Adams has a four-wheeler registered.”

“Bud, you know you won’t find anything. That would be too law-abiding for PhilAdams. If there’s a law, he’s going to swerve the other way until he runs right off the road. I think it’s in his DNA or something,” Arlen said and chuckled at his own joke.

“I’m sure you’re right about that. I’ll let you know if I find something.”

“Same here, Bud. Have a good afternoon.”

Bud hung up the phone and sat there. What would Renita have been doing in the woods with Marty’s dad? He saw Dennison out in the other room and called out, “Hey, Dennison, any word on Burgess?”

“Nope,” Dennison called back.

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