Read Sunshine and the Shadowmaster for Free Online Page A

about telling any and everyone exactly what he knew. And then, when the fool finally shut up, he’d do it with a gleam in his eye that seemed to say he was hoarding secrets too important to share. It irritated Lucas no end to think that his son had befriended this particular old man.
    They found Oggie sitting in his easy chair at his daughter’s house where he lived now.
    â€œCome in, come in!” The old coot laid it on thick. “What can I do for you, son?” he asked Jack, who evidently really was his son. Jack had that Jones look about him; there was no mistaking it.
    â€œWe want to ask you some questions about Mark Drury,” Jack said.
    â€œâ€˜Course you do. Fire away.”
    Jack asked the same questions he’d asked Marnie: if Oggie had seen or heard from the boy since the previous winter.
    â€œNo, son. Can’t say as I have. Can’t say as I have. But this here situation is no surprise to me, I gotta say.”
    â€œWhy not?” Jack asked.
    Oggie didn’t hesitate to elaborate. “Simple. That boy can’t communicate with his father. He needs Attention. Capital A. So he’s finally gone and done something that will get him what he needs.” He snorted and turned his beady eyes on Lucas. “You caught on yet that you ain’t doin’ a father’s job too well, Lucas Drury?”
    Jack frowned at his father. “Back off, Dad.”
    â€œIt’s all right, Jack,” Lucas said. He looked at Oggie. “Quit running us in circles, old man. Tell me. Where is my son?”
    â€œLucas, I’ll ask the questions,” Jack said, then turned to Oggie. “Where is Mark, Dad?”
    â€œCan’t rightly say as I know.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean, Dad? You don’t know—or you can’t say what you know?”
    Oggie snorted and muttered for a minute, then confessed, “All right. I don’t know. But if I did, I’m not so sure I’d tell you.”
    â€œAre you telling us the truth, Dad?”
    â€œHell, yes. I ain’t no liar.”
    â€œDad.”
    â€œOkay, okay. Gimme a bible to swear on or somethin’. My answer ain’t gonna change.”
    â€œHas Mark written to you or spoken to you since last winter?”
    â€œDidn’t I already say no to that?”
    â€œIf he contacts you, Dad, I expect you to tell us right away.”
    â€œSure you do,” the old geezer chortled.
    Lucas found he respected Jack Roper more by the moment as the deputy calmly asked, “ Will you let us know right away, Dad?”
    â€œAw, hell. Sure. You know I will. Now you two want a beer or somethin’? I think there’s a couple a lights in the fridge. You know my gal, Delilah. She won’t stock nothin’ but lights.”
    Jack said thank-you anyway, but they had to go.
    * * *
    They talked to Kenny Riggins next. It was more of the same. Kenny swore he hadn’t seen or heard from Mark. Kenny, at least, was respectful of both Deputy Jack Roper and Lucas. But then, Kenny wasn’t a Jones.
    â€œI’d like to look at the letters you got from Marnie,” Lucas said after they’d left the Riggins house.
    Jack said he’d go over them by that afternoon. And then Lucas could have them—as long as he made sure to return them to Marnie after he’d read them.
    Lucas promised he would, then asked, “What next?” He knew he’d go insane if he couldn’t be doing something about finding Mark.
    Jack gave him an understanding look. “Come on over to my place. We’ll find you some other clothes. Then you can join one of the search teams.”

Chapter Four
    B y the time Heather tied on her apron that day, there was only one thing on everyone’s mind at Lily’s Café: the disappearance of the Shadowmaster’s son.
    And in a tiny town like North Magdalene, if a subject was on everyone’s mind, then what everyone did was gossip about