Chapters (95)
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- Eighty-Four
- Eighty-Five
- Eighty-Six
- Eighty-Seven
- Acknowledgements
- About the Author
- Also by David Swinson
- Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.
“Yeah, well, they took my whole vinyl collection, a lot of which I bought from you, and my CDs, too. I thought since you sell used records, maybe you’d keep a lookout for them. I know most of these burglars try to turn the property over fast for a quick buck.”
“Yeah, they do, and I don’t mind helping you out, but I don’t buy what I think might be stolen. Most of the used records here I find at garage or estate sales. If someone comes in off the street, he has to have a driver’s license or some form of real ID. Not that fake shit. Excuse the language.”
“Doesn’t bother me.”
I try to scan the area behind the counter. There are crates with records in them, some new and some that look used, but nothing I can make out as belonging to me. I notice the kid looking our way, then moving to look at another row of music.
“I hate to say it because it feels like profiling, but I know drug addicts when I see them, and they usually have ID that looks like they got it made at Staples or on someone’s home computer. I always send ’em off. I think the word got out that I’m not the place for that. Last guy tried it was over a month ago.”
I pull a piece of paper out of the inner pocket of my suit jacket, unfold it, and hand it to him.
“Nevertheless, here’s a list of all the titles I can remember. It’s pretty diverse, as you can see, and so an easy collection to note. Lot of the older records belonged to my deceased mother.”
“Hell.”
“Yeah, so it’s, ah…it means something. Probably too late now, but if anyone does come in with a collection like this, do me a solid and buy it. I’ll reimburse you for everything, including your time.”
I again catch the kid through the corner of my eye. He seems a little too interested in what we’re saying.
“I’ll keep a lookout for you,” the owner says while looking at the titles. “But like I said, anything we buy from someone off the street—someone legit, that is—we have to keep a record of for the police. That’s another reason I don’t do it anymore. It’s too much of a hassle.”
“Any other places you know of that buy and sell used vinyl and CDs?”
“Sure. Two pawn shops down the street, probably. You also might want to check out some of the thrift stores around here. I don’t know the names.”
“Appreciate it.”
“Sorry for your loss, man.”
And I wonder if he means my mother or my music. Doesn’t even know about my cousin. I smile.