In the House On Lakeside Drive by Corie L. Calcutt Page B

check in the mail each month due to a bad ticker. Cooper’s only meal ticket had run out and left him drifting in the wind, scraping by on the occasional handout or odd job not performed by that sanctimonious shit the brat lived with. “I do appreciate it.”
    “You better. You’re in the hole now near two grand, and time’s comin’ where you’ll need to settle up.”
    Cooper stared. “Two grand? Not likely.”
    “Last month’s rent on that place you call a house, plus bail and the occasional bottle of scotch. And by ‘occasional,’ I mean a bottle a week for the last year and three months. So, yeah, two grand. And mind you, we’ll come to collect.”
    The thought of Travis and his kin setting foot in Otter Lake to make good on that promise, knocking on his door to take what he owed out of him was enough to set the spiteful man on edge. The thought of the four Mason brothers tossing his house while Travis himself held the proceeds only served to make him more resentful of his only living relative. He racked his brain, forcibly sobered up due to his stay in lockup, when something occurred to him.
    “Hey, Travis,” Cooper said, “Ever been to Rick’s Tavern, just between here and North Kingston, near the highway?”
    “Once or twice. Why?”
    “Was in there a couple of weeks ago. Strangest thing, though: I think there was someone looking to pull some kind of job in there. A high-paying one.”
    The grizzled face turned, and beetle-black eyes peered out of a nest of long gray beard. “What kind of job?”
    “Lucrative. Three young fellows, eyeing up that bastard Dyer and his woman. Those kids too.”
    Travis snorted. “Sure, Cooper. Not like everyone doesn’t know you’re pissed about your nephew growin’ a pair and running from your place like a house on fire.”
    “Beside the point,” Cooper said, waving the comment off. “Sounded to me like one of them had an axe to grind with Dyer, although he didn’t use his name. Mentioned some guy named Liam or something.”
    “Your point?”
    “My point is, we find those fellows, and we could cut ourselves in on it. Let them do the heavy lifting and collect the spoils once it’s done.” Privately, Cooper imagined what he might do with his own golden goose once he had hold of him, but he kept mum about it. To his knowledge, no one in Otter Lake aside from that meddling lawyer Vendell knew about the vast fortune that his nephew stood to inherit, and Cooper wanted to keep it that way.
    “Heard about the break-in. You think that was them?”
    “I know it wasn’t me , and the cops are looking to pin that on me as well as this ridiculous restraining order violation. I’m guessing it wasn’t one of your projects.”
    “Be guessin’ right. I don’t need that kind of shit. Got other things in mind.” The look on his fellow drunkard’s face gave Cooper some hope. “Lucrative, you say?”
    “Possibly. What do we know about those other kids living with Dyer and his dame?”
    “Not enough, I’m guessin’.”
    “Wouldn’t be hard to ask around. Public records and all.”
    “Might do to find these ‘entrepreneurs’ you were talkin’ about. I’d like to know more, if you follow me.” Travis’s face worked a slow smile as big as his ample girth.
    “Rick’s Tavern is looking better and better all the time. Of course, you’ll have to buy.”
    “For some possible business? I think I could spot you a scotch or two.”

Chapter 16
    Snow fell in Otter Lake on Christmas Eve for the first time that season. Josh stared as big, fluffy flakes piled on top of each other in the yard, causing drifts to ripple up the driveway toward the lonely road above. Behind the house, the lake had frosted over, leaving only a large hole of water near the center free-flowing.
    “Too bad it’s Christmas Eve,” Remy said, standing behind the younger tenant. “Would have made for a nice snow day.”
    “But we get presents,” Josh said, barely containing his excitement.