THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 70

THE DEAD GAME — DAY 70

     Sam was shocked. “I’m going over to End House.” He stood up to leave.
     Todd stepped in front of him. “You can’t go by yourself. We’ll go together after we inform the proper authorities.”
     “I am the authorities,” corrected Sam.
     “This time we need outside help. This is beyond anything we’ve ever encountered before.”
     “If you think we need additional help, then I can make some calls before we head over to the house.” Sam sat back down at his desk and picked up the phone. “I’ll try to get in touch with Carl again, but I doubt he’ll bother to pick up his phone.”
     Todd leaned on the corner of Sam’s desk and waited for him to call Carl. With an annoyed look on his face, Sam slammed down the receiver. Nothing ever bothered Sam, but this time he seemed angry with his young deputy.
     Todd turned his face away from the others and whispered, “Why? What’s happened to Carl?”
     “I’ve tried calling him all evening. He’s disappeared again.”
     “Do you mean that this has happened before?” Todd asked, an uneasy feeling growing in his gut. He’d always thought of deputy Carl as a loner—not fitting in well with the rest of the residents. He’d never understood why Sam had hired him in the first place. It was the only time that he hadn’t been privy to one of Sam’s decisions beforehand. But he’d wait for now…he’d question him later, when they had a chance to speak in private.
     “Yes—it’s happened too many times.” Sam stood up again. He reloaded and holstered his gun. “Anytime something goes down in town, Carl is sure to disappear.”
 “We’ll have to keep a closer eye on him for now on.” Todd wanted to know where he disappeared to when he couldn’t be found.