Read The Lost: Book Two, The Eddie McCloskey Series (The Unearthed 2) for Free Online Page B

their last investigation. He’d been more in tune with that one, emotionally invested because of the clients. A nice family, living in a house where a triple murder had taken place years before, was in danger of having the same violence visited upon them.
    As intense as the investigation was, the tension between Eddie and his brother had grown to an all-time high. Eddie, living in Tim’s apartment, was becoming a third wheel. Tim was about to become engaged and once the girlfriend moved in, Eddie would be persona non grata. Eddie knew he was wrong to think the way he did, but still he felt betrayed. Tim’s engagement would signal the end of Eddie’s safety net. He’d need to figure out the course of his life, once and for all.
    The danger of the investigation and their bickering had somehow brought them closer. They’d made a major breakthrough. They were brother, linked by a tragic past, but also supportive of each other’s future.
    Then things went to shit.
    He tried pushing aside the horrible memories and just focus on Tim and how he organized the investigations. But try as he might, the image that kept forcing its way to the forefront was of his brother Tim, the knife embedded in his chest, trying to talk as the tears streamed down his face, his lifeblood draining ...
    * * * *
    A nagging headache woke Eddie. The sun slanted through the windows, hitting the wall and making the headache worse. Eddie rubbed the sleep from his eyes, popped three aspirin, took a scalding shower, and rooted through his duffel bag for the least objectionable garments he could find. He shrugged into his pea coat. As he left the apartment he remembered that his car was still back at the bar so he hoofed it to the grocery store.
    It was damp out. The air smelled of snow.
    Twenty minutes later, he entered Victor’s store thankful to get out of the cold. It was a new building made to look like an old log cabin.
    Victor tapped his wrist as Eddie removed his coat.
    “Sorry I’m late,” Eddie said. “I forgot I didn’t have my car this morning.”
    Victor gave him a skeptical look. Rather than go into further explanation, Eddie kept his mouth shut.
    Victor said, “I had a talk with Marty Kindler. He filled me in on what’s going on.”
    Eddie nodded. “You want me on the register this morning?”
    “No, Eddie. I want you to stock, then clean the meat trays and take care of the dumpster.”
    Eddie scanned the shelves of the nearest aisle and saw they were in decent shape.  He’d scoured the trays yesterday. And the dumpster …
    Eddie realized this was Vic’s way of punishing him. But for what? He’d come clean last night.
    The Old Eddie would have given his manager lip. “You got it, boss.”
    As Eddie walked to the back to hang up his pea coat, Kindler stepped around the corner of an aisle and ambushed him.
    “Eddie, Eddie. I wanted to have a few words and figured there was no time like the present.” Kindler’s hair was slicked back and he wore an expensive track suit and vintage Air Jordans.
    Eddie felt Victor’s eyes glued to his back as he met Kindler in the aisle.
    Kindler pursed his lips and tried to look intelligent. “Funny how things are so much clearer the next morning, isn’t it? I realize now I was out of line. I didn’t mean to offend you by offering you money last night. I know your brother, when he did this, kept his fees nominal, just expenses really. Forgive me. A man like you, he doesn’t do this sort of thing for the money. He does it for the truth. You’re like an artist that way. It’s all about the …” Kindler stuck his thumbs and forefingers out and joined them in a rectangle. He pretended like he was looking through a screen, like some director. “ ...It’s all about that. Right there. The truth. Offering you money, that was, that was gauche, as they say.”
    Eddie laughed. “You’re right, Kindler. I don’t do it for the money, but while we’re on the subject my fee is a grand plus