Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors Read Online Free

Dot?"
    The prim and proper secretary suppressed a smile. “Oh my, no. We used to have a hotel, but that was years ago. You're going to have to go on down to Charlotte to find a motel, but it's only 30 miles or so."
    “I'll be back bright and early Monday morning."
    “Don't make it too early. Mr. Coan is not as young as he used to be. He usually gets here about 10:00."
    “Thanks for the tip,” Tim grinned as he turned the handle on the door.
    “Oh, wait Mr. Dollar. I almost forgot. Mr. Coan told me to go ahead and give you the keys.” Victoria White, now a bit flustered, rummaged through one of her desk drawers.
    “Keys to what?” Tim asked as he accepted the proffered key ring.
    “Why, to the house and hardware store, of course."
    “I'm sorry, Mrs. White. I don't remember my uncle at all and know practically nothing about him. Mr. Coan's letter said I inherited my uncle's estate, but it didn't give me many particulars."
    “I told Mr. Coan when I typed that letter he should be more specific. That man never listens to me. The hardware store is down the street about one hundred yards. To get to Mr. Harlow's farm you go back to 13, turn right and go three or four miles. Where the road bottoms out you'll see a farm pond on your right. As you go up the hill there's a graveled driveway that leads to the house. I don't know what kind of condition the house is in. Mr. Coan has been paying Bobby Elliott to look after the place, but Bobby isn't the brightest man you ever met. You might be able to spend the weekend in the house, though. Did you bring any clean sheets with you?"
    “No ma'am,” Tim replied, “but we'll make out all right."
    “Oh, is Mrs. Dollar with you? I thought you were divorced."
    “Well,” Tim answered, “there's more than one Dollar in the bank."
    As he descended the stairs, Tim thought that explaining Sandra was getting to be a problem.
    “I sure as hell hope you didn't run the battery down playing the damned radio,” Tim said crossly as he slid into the drivers’ seat. He breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief when the motor sprang to life with the first turn of the starter. “The lawyer wasn't in. I'll have to come back Monday. It seems that I have inherited a house, or farm, or something, and a hardware store. It's supposed to be just down the street."
    “I see it, over there on the left. Guess what?” Sandra said in a sarcastic voice. “Its named Dot Hardware."
    “Let's go take a look."
    Tim parked in front of the Dot Pharmacy, which was across the street from the Dot Hardware.
    “Give me a couple of bucks,” Sandra said.
    “What for?” Tim replied while reaching for his wallet.
    “I'm beginning to hurt pretty bad. While I was with the Van Fans I learned that a double dose of Alka-Seltzer Plus is the world's greatest pain reliever."
    “Sound's dangerous,” Tim replied, handing her a ten.
    Sandra lurched unsteadily towards the pharmacy, her aching muscles preventing graceful movement, and Tim crossed the street to the hardware store. The third key he tried tripped the cylinder and he stepped inside. Except for a little dust, the place seemed fully stocked and ready to open for business. It took several minutes to find the light switches, which were not beside the door but rather behind a counter on the far right wall. After the florescent bulbs began to glow, Tim explored the aging aisles, wondering at the fully stocked shelves.
    “I don't know what half of this stuff is,” he muttered. “It shouldn't be too hard to find a buyer, though."
    “Tim, where are you?"
    “In the back, Sandy."
    “Feeling better?” Tim asked when Sandra joined him.
    “The stuff works fast, Tim, but not that fast."
    “What do you think?” he asked. “Want to buy a hardware store?"
    “No thanks, but I sure could use some food. I haven't eaten anything in...” She let the sentence drop.
    “Well, let's go try Mom's Diner."
    “Dot's Diner,” Sandra corrected.
    Tim glared at her. “If you want