BooksBarbecue
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Chapters (88)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Front Flap
  3. Title Page
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. Back Flap
  88. Back Cover

Wilbur crossed the casino floor, past rows and rows of blinking, buzzing, blaring slot machines. He wasn’t feeling great. Outside there was no breeze and it was unbearably hot. When he reached the Boardwalk, he sat down on a bench, pulled out his phone, and called Edna.

“Wilbur!” Edna cried. “How’s your day?”

“It’s okay,” he said, trying to sound upbeat. “How’s your sale?”

“Pretty good. But, Wilbur,” Edna whispered, “there’s a problem with Cleo Paradise. Her parents don’t know where she is. She might be in trouble.”

“That’s a shame,” Wilbur said, feeling a heaviness in his chest.

Edna filled him in on how surprised she was when Nora Regan Reilly showed up with her daughter, who was a private investigator. “And now Regan is on the hunt for Cleo!”

“Edna, I knew you couldn’t have an ordinary garage sale,” Wilbur joked. “Something peculiar always happens when you’re around.”

“I hope you mean that in a good way.”

“You know I do, sweetie. Well, I just thought I’d say hello.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m out on the Boardwalk. Stix is in the casino. I’m going back in and try to talk him into leaving. I’d like to get home and take a nap. I’ll call you later. ‘Bye …” Wilbur closed his phone and got up. Slowly he walked back toward the casino, which was a block away. I feel so tired, he thought. Well, what do I expect? I’m eighty years old.

Expecting a protest from Stix, Wilbur was thrilled to hear that he was ready to go. But his gambling friend didn’t look happy. They walked out to the parking lot and got in Stix’s car.

“I should have quit while I wasn’t so far behind,” Stix muttered as he started up the engine.

“Stix, I’m feeling a little under the weather. You mind if I shut my eyes for a few minutes?”

“Not at all. I’ll turn on the ball game.”

He probably has a bet on it, Wilbur thought as he pushed back his seat and fell fast asleep.

64

Regan and Jack went downstairs and found Nora in the gazebo. Edna was in the yard speaking on a cordless phone.

Nora smiled at Jack. “My favorite son-in-law located my daughter?”

“I did,” Jack said. “And she’s already put me to work.”

In hushed tones, Regan explained where they were going.

“Her super is here at the Shore?” Nora said, adjusting her sunglasses. “That’s certainly interesting.”

“And he’s not Cleo’s number one fan.” Regan turned to Jack. “You should have seen the couple who were first in line today. The president and vice president of Cleo’s fan club. What a pair of winners.”

“They were beauts,” Nora agreed.

“Mom,” Regan whispered, looking around to make sure Edna was out of earshot. “Are you sure you can’t go home now?”