Американские боги

           Helpingmyuncletransportafour-posterbed."

           "Yougotanywayofprovingit?Ticketstubs?Anythinglikethat?"

           "Sure."Hehadbothhisboardingpassstubsinhisbackpocket,pulledthemout."What’sgoingon?"

           ChadMulliganexaminedtheboardingpasses."AlisonMcGovern’svanished.ShehelpedoutupattheLakesideHumaneSociety.Feedanimals,walkdogs.She’dcomeoutforafewhoursafterschool.Oneofthoseanimalkids.So.DollyKnopf,whorunstheHumaneSociety,she’dalwaysrunherhomewhentheyclosedupforthenight.YesterdayAlisonnevergotthere."

           "She’svanished."

           "Yup.Herparentscalleduslastnight.SillykidusedtohitchhikeuptotheHumaneSociety.It’soutonCountyW,prettyisolated.Herparentstoldhernotto,butthisisn’tthekindofplacewherethingshappen…peopleheredon’tlocktheirdoors,youknow?Andyoucan’ttellkids.So,lookatthephotoagain."

           AlisonMcGovernwassmiling.Therubberbandsonherteethinthephotographwerered,notblue.

           "Youcanhonestlysayyoudidn’tkidnapher,rapeher,murderher,anythinglikethat?"

           "IwasinSanFrancisco.AndIwouldn’tdothatshit."

           "ThatwaswhatIfigured,pal.Soyouwanttocomehelpuslookforher?"

           "Me?"

           "You.We’vehadtheK-9guysoutthismorning—nothingsofar."Hesighed.