Lucky typed in his password and began searching out every scrap of information available on James Andrew “Andy” Polatty.
Nothing. Squeaky clean. Too clean. Like Simon Harrison’s records. Lucky might be out of the hospital now and in protective custody, but the asswipe with the silly grin still roamed the halls near Lucky’s nearest and dearest.
Nothing. Not even a speeding ticket.
And Magnolia Manor Long-Term Care turned out to be a legitimate entity, though they might want to rethink their uncomfortable beds. Why did so many Southern care facilities insist on calling themselves “Magnolia” something or other?
Nothing but four walls to stare at and plenty of time. And no TV. Maybe Lucky could findSouth Bend Springsonline.
But wait. In all the time he’d been outcast, and as many people as he’d dug up dirt on, he’d never checked on family. They didn’t want him around? He’d give them their freedom.
But now?
Now he stood a chance of one day clearing his name and possibly being invited back into the fold.
Embarrassing Lucklighter histories? Come to Papa.
Damn. Things had really gone downhill for Daytona. Twelve stints in rehab, four arrests. Bad credit. The family farm listed for his last known address. Even though Victor paid for his college, he still hadn’t finished.
Dallas hadn’t wasted his education. Ran his own building contracting company. Modest house. Still married to his childhood sweetheart. Still had only the one daughter. Decent credit. Member of First Baptist Church of Greensboro.
Charlotte made the newspapers a few times for being a Boy Scout den mother and doing charity work. Hmmm… She’d started taking some online courses. Maybe she hadn’t lost her dream of becoming a nurse after all.
Her boys seemed to be doing well in school. Ty played high school soccer and Todd ranked second on the tennis team. They’d both been in band.
Next, he searched for his Uncle Ned’s obituary. He’d died of natural causes about midway between Lucky’s arrest and conviction.
Natural causes, huh? Twelve or thirteen different substances could make a death appear natural, and be hard to find unless suspected. No wife. No kids. No telling who the old man left his measly belongings to, though five minutes plus his computer equaled answers.
Did Lucky really want to know about Bristol? The strangest Lucklighter had always been ashamed of the name, never brought friends to the farm.
Wow! Huge house. Decent job at a bank. Decent, but not enough to afford a house four times the size of Lucky and Bo’s. And why such a pretentious place with only him living there?
Country club. Damn, what a car. And get a look at the beauty queens in pictures with him. Bristol always had been the one in the family out to prove himself. Seemed he’d overcome his redneck past after all.
And grew into a no-account asshole who wouldn’t help his own father.
Nice article on him speaking to the Chamber of Commerce. Nothing but time on Lucky’s hands. Why not click the video link?
“Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.” Some man in a suit droned on and on, singing someone’s praises. Couldn’t be Bristol’s.
When the man stepped away from the podium, another took his place who shared features Lucky saw every morning in the mirror. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.”
That voice!
Oh shit.
Chapter Eighteen
The voices jumbled in his head, Nurse Andy’s and Bristol’s, both saying, “You should have stayed dead.”
Victor’s old home territory included Richmond. What if someone who’d dealt with him hadn’t gotten the word about Victor still living and decided to get revenge?
Or a million other bastards out there might have it in for Lucky.You should have stayed dead.
Lucky last “died” during the Ryerson pill mill case. Surely Dr. Ryerson and her accomplices hadn’t come after him. Would be his luck to survive the worst drug lords in the country to be taken out by a Southern belle with a ruthless streak. But one never could tell what people might do with their backs against the wall. Her trial got delayed yet again, and she walked relatively free for now.
Nurse Andy could be working for her. But Bristol’s voice sent chills up his spine. Could be a holdover from their past, but might be more.
