The Best of Me - Nicholas Sparks [60]
As much as he hated his family, he couldn’t bring himself to kill Ted. At the same time, he wasn’t sure what to do with him. He supposed he could call the sheriff, but once he left town he knew that, trial or not, he wasn’t coming back, so nothing would happen to Ted anyway. Dawson would still be tied up for hours, giving his account of events, which would no doubt be met with suspicion. After all, he was still a Cole and he had a record. No, he decided, he didn’t want the hassle.
But he couldn’t just leave Ted out here, either. He needed medical attention, and dropping him off at the medical clinic would no doubt involve the sheriff again. Same thing with calling an ambulance.
Reaching down, he rummaged through Ted’s pockets, finding a cell phone. After flipping it open, he punched some buttons and pulled up the contact list. A few names in there, most of which he recognized. Good enough. He fished around again for the keys to Ted’s truck, then jogged out to the garage and gathered some bungee cords and wire, which he used to truss Ted up. Then, after the sun went down, he slung his cousin over his shoulder.
He carried Ted down the drive and tossed him into the bed of the truck. Then he climbed into the driver’s seat, started the truck, and pointed it in the direction of the parcel of land where he’d been raised. Not wanting to draw attention, he shut off the headlights as he made his way to the edge of the Coles’ property before stopping at the NO TRESPASSING sign. There he dragged Ted from the bed of the truck and propped his cousin against the post.
He opened the phone and hit the entry labeled “Abee.” The phone rang four times before Abee answered. Dawson could hear loud music in the background.
“Ted?” he shouted over the noise. “Where the hell are you?”
“It’s not Ted. But you need to come get him. He’s hurt bad,” Dawson answered. Before Abee could respond, Dawson told him where to find Ted. Hanging up, he tossed the phone to the ground between Ted’s legs.
Back in the truck, he accelerated off the property. After disposing of Ted’s gun in the river, he figured he’d swing by the bed-and-breakfast right away and grab his things. Then he’d trade out cars, leaving Ted’s truck where he’d originally parked it, and find a hotel outside Oriental, where he could finally shower and eat before turning in for the night.
He was tired. After all, it had been a long day. He was glad it was over.
9
Abee Cole’s stomach felt like someone was branding it, and the fever had yet to break, making him think that he should probably ask the doctor about his wound the next time he came into the room to check on Ted. Course, they’d probably want to admit him, too, and that wasn’t gonna happen. Might bring up questions that Abee didn’t feel like answering.
It was late, coming up on midnight, and the hospital had finally begun to quiet down. In the dim light, he looked over at his brother, thinking that Dawson had done a real number on him. Just like last time. Abee thought he was dead when he’d found him. Face covered in blood, arm bent sideways, and all he could think was that Ted had gotten careless. Either that, or Dawson had been waiting for him—which got him to thinking that maybe Dawson had plans of his own.
Abee felt the pain flare in his gut, triggering waves of nausea. The hospital wasn’t helping. It was like a damn furnace here. The only reason Abee was still in the room was because he wanted to be around if Ted woke up, so he could find out if Dawson was up to something. He felt a shiver of paranoia but assumed that maybe he wasn’t thinking straight. The antibiotics had better kick in, and soon.
The night had gone to hell, and not just because of Ted. He’d decided to swing by and see Candy earlier, but by the time he got to the Tidewater, half the guys in the bar were crowding around her. One look was enough for him to know that she was up to something. She was wearing a halter top that showed off everything she owned and