* * *
Louis knew it was bullshit aimed at John Simmons. Still, what Melanie was saying sounded plausible. He’d get the real story later, though he wasn’t sure he even wanted it. Right now, he was listening to Melanie’s fanciful version of what had just happened and wondering if he was supposed to be proud that he’d raised such an accomplished liar.
“—kids,” Melanie went on, convincingly. “My son David’s friends. They’re on a monster kick, costumes and all. They pull this kind of thing all the time. That’s why Dad reacted the way he did.”
Louis figured he’d help out and add a little reinforcement to the story.
“They could have caused one of those old folks to have a heart attack. Really, Mel, you should talk to—”
“Dad, I can’t control David’s friends. That’s up to their parents.”
Amanda broke in, “Well, it’s over now. Let’s not worry about it. Maybe in the future we can get the kids interested in some other pursuit.” With a casual move, she put her hand beside her mouth so John Simmons couldn’t see her grin, pointedly, at Louis and Melanie. “Perhaps a thespian club,” she said. “I’ve noticed lately that some of us are very good at acting.”
Melanie ignored Amanda’s little witticism, hoping that Simmons didn’t catch it.
She said, “Anyway, no real harm done.”
John Simmons looked as if he was having trouble swallowing Melanie’s explanation. He might have said so had not Emma Paul, standing in the middle of the intersection of Brandell Boulevard and Stillman Road, chosen that moment to loose a barrage of double-aught buckshot up the Boulevard.
Goodbye Lucifer Page 23