Read Out of Time (Nine Minutes #2) for Free Online

and tell him to get his ass over here now. Tell him not to bring his bike and to come alone.”
    “Sure thing, Grizz.”
    “I’m gonna need your truck a little longer.”
    “No problem, man,” the bartender said and picked up the phone.
    Grizz went outside and climbed back into the old pickup truck. He looked at Tommy.
    “They’ve been hurting you.” It was a statement, not a question.
    Tommy nodded as he looked at his hands resting in his lap.
    “They been feeding you?”
    Tommy shook his head.
    “You hungry now?”
    Tommy looked at the big man. “Yeah, I’m really hungry.” After a brief pause, “Who are you?”
    “Are a burger and fries okay?”
    “Yes, please. And can I have ketchup and a drink?”
    “Yeah. Stay here.”
    Grizz went back inside and Tommy could hear him order a burger with fries and a soda. He told Mike he’d be back in ten minutes.
    “I’m sitting in your truck. Don’t bring the food out to me. I’ll be back.”
    “Yeah, whatever you say, Grizz.”
    Grizz went back to the truck. He looked at Tommy while Tommy continued to stare into his lap. He wasn’t sure how much he should tell the little boy. He’d only found out about him a few months ago.
    “You can call me Grizz. You don’t tell anybody about what happened tonight. Is that clear?”
    Tommy nodded.
    Before ten minutes had passed, a shiny light blue Camaro pulled into The Red Crab and parked a few empty spaces away from the truck. Grizz got out and walked to the car. Tommy noticed he held up his hand like he was telling the driver to stay put. The man did just that, rolling down his window. Grizz rested his forearms above the opening, leaned down and spoke. Tommy’s window was up now, so he couldn’t hear them. Eventually, the other man got out of the car, then he and Grizz walked toward Tommy. Grizz opened Tommy’s door.
    “I’m going inside to get your food. This here’s your big brother, Blue. You’re gonna live with him now.”
    And with that, Grizz walked back into The Red Crab.
    Tommy stared at Blue with a look of trepidation. He wasn’t as big as Grizz, but he looked just as scary. Should I have kept my mouth shut and stayed with Karen?
    Blue must have been reading his mind.
    “Don’t be scared, runt. I won’t hurt you.”
     
     

Chapter Five
    2000
     
     
    The ringing doorbell brought Tommy back to the present. For a moment he allowed himself to think Ginny was back, that she had just locked herself out of the house. But instantly he knew there would be no truth in that split-second thought.
    A young man with bright red cheeks wearing a courier’s uniform was at the door holding a clipboard, a large package on the porch next to him.
    “I have a delivery for Dillon. Can you please sign here, sir?” the courier said as he swiped his brow with his forearm.
    “Not expecting a delivery.” Especially not on a Sunday. “Who is it from?”
    “Don’t know. Just initials from a Florida address. Should warn you though, it’s heavy.”
    After Tommy signed his name, the apple-cheeked courier took the clipboard from him and stuck it under his right arm as he struggled to pick up the weighty package and deposit it in Tommy’s hands. He whistled to himself as he sauntered down the front steps and out to the driveway, got in his van, and left.
    Tommy stood there wondering what the package could possibly be. The kid was right. It was heavy.
    Kicking the front door closed behind him, he headed for his home office as he easily hoisted the mystery parcel and set it on the desk. Did Ginny order a set of exercise weights or something? Without looking at the return address label, he ripped it open, then sat down with a heavy sigh. This was unexpected. What did it mean, if anything?
    “Shit,” was all he said.
     

Chapter Six
    1969
     
     
    “So how’s the kid doing at night? Still having nightmares?” Grizz asked Blue as they sat at the bar and drank their beer.
    “He’s getting better, but he still won’t go