Page 34 of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Book
“Doyoulike the display?” Logan asked.
“No,” Jeb had told him. “I don’t. Aside from what they did in Europe, my grandfather fought a war against those bastards and came home crippled.”
“It’s just history.” Logan finished signing the check and handed it to Jeb with a smile. There was disappointment in the younger man’s eyes, and Jeb realized he’d failed a test. “We got a lot of history buffs around these parts.”
That made it clear. His interest wasn’t a hobby, and it wasn’t a game. And Jeb knew that incident in the woods had not been an accident. Logan Walsh was fucking dangerous.
“What do you mean Italktough?” Mitch sneered.
“Forget that,” Jeb said. He couldn’t have Mitch getting all distracted. “Just listen to what I’m trying to tell you. There’s a man in Troy named Nathan Dugan. His wife just fled town with their son, and before she did, she emptied out a secret room he’d been keeping in the basement. It was filled with Nazi memorabilia. Ask around. Everyone in town knows about it.”
Mitch shrugged. “You’ve obviously never been in a prop house,” he said. “They got Nazi everything and nobody’s worshipping Hitler.”
“You’re not listening. Logan Walsh is buddies with Dugan. He’s got the same shit in his den. They aren’t filming movies or doing some cosplay shit. Theyarefucking Nazis.”
Mitch rolled his eyes. “You don’t know that,” he said.
“And you haven’t lived in the real world for a very long time. There have always been people who kept a swastika or two hidden away in a drawer. I don’t know if there are more sympathizers these days, but I will tell you this—our generation’s Nazis aren’t quite as shy.”
“I don’t give a shit what people keep in their drawers. This is a free country. They can think whatever they want.”
“It’s a slippery slope between tolerating Nazis and becoming one, Mitch. Ask anyone who lived in 1930s Germany.”
Mitch reached the gate. “I can’t. They’re all dead.”
“And that’s a big part of the problem.”
“Open the fucking gate, Jeb.”
“So you’re just going to leave? I’m telling you your new friends are dangerous.”
“You’re making me uncomfortable, so I’m getting the hell out of here. Which is exactly what you should do if you think you’re surrounded by terrible people. Just pack up your bags and head for Manhattan like all the other libs.”
As Jeb opened the gate, he realized his brother was onto something. Too many people hadn’t stuck around. Most of those who remained couldn’t afford a fight.
Mitch got into the truck and turned over the ignition. “Here.” He motioned for Jeb to come to the window. “I brought you a present,” he said, reaching an arm out. Clenched in his hand was a hardcover book. “Lula’s not so bad. She’s been giving out free books in that little library of hers.”
Jeb took the book. It wasThe Art of the Deal.
“If you want to get ready for the future, you better start reading that.”
Mitch peeled off, leaving his brother in a cloud of dust. Jeb walked back to his porch and took out another Bud Light. He stared at Donald Trump’s smirking face on the cover. Then he cracked open the book. Inside was a cartoon panel with two men—one older, one younger—wearing mouse masks.
People haven’t changed... Maybe they need a newer, bigger Holocaust.
The image was instantly familiar, but it took Jeb a moment to realize what he was looking at. He pulled back the dust jacket. The book inside wasMausby Art Spiegelman.Jeb wondered who could have switched the covers—and what it all meant. He didn’t reach any conclusions or compose a list of suspects. Still, there was no doubt in his mind. It was a sign shit was gonna get ugly. But Jeb Sweeney was staying put.
Chapter 14
A Field Guide to the Mushrooms of Georgia
The door to Mara Ocumma’s office swung open just as she turned a page of the latest Stephen King novel and took a giant bite of her roast beef sandwich with homegrown horseradish and wild greens.
“Sorry to bother you on your lunch break, Mara,” Natalie whispered. “I thought you should know. Mrs. Sykes is here.”
Mara held up a finger while she finished chewing. “She come alone?”
Natalie nervously checked over her shoulder. They were all on edge these days. “Looks like it.”
