Forty-Four Box Set, Books 1-10 (44) (130 page)

“The food wasn’t so good over there, huh?”

“Well, I don’t want to throw a blanket over the cuisine of the entire state, but the places we went to, yeah, they were lacking.”

“You can’t have it all,” I said.

“I suppose not.”

We got a table out by the river.

“How was your day?” I said.

She shrugged.

“It was okay. How about you?”

“Slow and long. I’m really looking forward to David getting back. It’s not as fun there without him.”

“He’s anything but boring, that’s for sure.”

I’d been working a lot of hours with Lyle and Mo. I liked them both, but they each had well-earned reputations for being moody at times. In Mo’s case those times pretty much amounted to every waking minute.

As the waiter set down our drinks, I told Kate about the wedding magazine I had seen in Paloma’s purse.

“Are you kidding? Well, good for her. When’s the date?”

“She didn’t say anything. It’s just a magazine, Kate.”

“It’s not just a magazine, Abby. I mean when was the last time you had one of those in
your
purse?”

“I don’t really use a purse.”

“Okay, your backpack then?”

“I guess I see your point.”

Kate smiled and after a while the food came.

“I like the view down here,” she said.

I asked her if she had heard how they were planning on closing off the lawn section during the concerts at the amphitheater.

“No, I didn’t hear about it. What’s going on?”

“Well, it seems to be about money. Supposedly the musicians don’t like looking across the river and seeing non-paying customers listening to their concerts. The organizers are saying that’s why the big names aren’t coming to Bend anymore.”

“That’s a bunch of crap on a stick,” Kate said. “Yeah, the lineup has basically sucked the last few years, but it’s foolish to blame that little strip of grass. What they really need is a new booking manager, if they’re serious about attracting talent. Cutting off the little man isn’t the solution. Those people aren’t going to suddenly be able to afford tickets.”

She shook her head and gulped down some wine.

“Not my problem anymore,” she whispered before digging into her
Butternut Squash-Gorgonzola Ravioli
.

“How is it?”

“Well, it doesn’t rival your stuff, but it does make me feel like I’m not in Maui anymore. In a good way. Man we ate some bad food over there.”

“Did you have any Spam?”

Kate smiled, shaking her head.

“Hey, by the way, how did everything go with Evan last night?” I said.

“Oh, fine.”

She didn’t elaborate, instead telling me that Erin had already bought another ticket to Hawaii to see the whales in winter. She primarily focused on eating and drinking after that. I found myself doing most of the talking.

Toward the end of our meal, I could tell something was bothering her. Something besides the closing of concert lawns.

I pushed away my empty plate and went for it.

“Hey, what’s on your mind? You seem somewhere else.”

“I guess I’m practicing,” she said.

“Practicing? What do you mean?”

“I quit, Abby. I’m done with
The Bugler
.”

I looked at her with large eyes.

“I’ve been offered a job in Portland at an online newspaper,” she said. “And I said yes.”

I wasn’t sure what to say. I knew this was coming. I had even pushed for it. I was the one who had told Kate to get out there and follow her dream. I was the one who had said I could take care of myself. But now that the moment was here, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.

“I’m moving,” she said, her eyes beginning to water. “I’m leaving Bend. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you yesterday. I’ve been trying to find the right words, and it hasn’t been easy. I don’t know why really. I’m excited about it. Really excited. And I knew you would be happy for me. It’s just… I don’t know.”

We were the only family each other had. And now we would be apart. We would see each other once in a while and probably during holidays, but it wouldn’t be the same. It would never be the same.

“When did all this happen?”

“I got the call offering me the job right before I left on vacation,” she said. “I was surprised, honestly. I’ve been looking for a while and I only had one interview with them. But I got it. And I told them yes. It sounds exciting and much more cutting edge with a younger readership. I mean, you can’t get much older than the people who read
The Bugler
. Well, and be alive. Anyway, I’ll be making some decent money for the first time in my life. It’s gonna be good.”

“Your editor sure must have been surprised,” I said. “He must not have seen it coming.”

I was really talking about myself. How had I missed this?

“Yeah, he seemed kind of shocked, but who the hell cares. I mean, since they let all those people go, we’ve been expected to do the job of three. And how many school board meetings can a person cover without going insane? I think I went at least one over the official count because I’ve been feeling more than a little crazy lately.”

I forced a smile. I was missing her already.

She gave me a hug while I told myself that I could do this. The voices in my head weren’t so sure.

“What did Evan say?” I said.

Kate sighed.

“He said he was happy for me. We’re going to try it, the long distance thing, and see what happens.”

“It’s all good,” I said, not knowing what else to say.

It’s all good
. What the hell was that even supposed to mean,
it’s all good?

I sat staring out at the river flowing by, turning down the bend and disappearing forever.

CHAPTER 34

I checked my phone when I got off the river and saw that Frazier had called. I was surprised he hadn’t gotten back to me sooner. Maybe he was busy or figured that my contribution to the case was at an end.

After signing out at the office, I walked over to the Jeep and dialed his number. He picked up halfway through the second ring.

“Thanks for getting back to me.”

“I would have sooner, but I was on the river all day. The reception out there is very hit and miss. Today it was a miss.”

“Not a problem,” he said. “Listen, I want you to know that this doesn’t change anything regarding the investigation. We’re still on it. And I would like for you to continue being part of it as well. If Emily is dead it steals from us any joy we might get from finding her, but it doesn’t remove the urgency. If anything, it increases it. He needs to be stopped. We need to catch the son of a bitch who—”

He didn’t, or couldn’t, finish.

“I’m there,” I said. “But I can’t literally be there for a few more days. If that’s all right?”

“Yes, that’s fine. Do you need transportation?”

“No, I’ll drive.”

We said goodbye.

I was more determined than ever to help him. But deep inside I wondered what difference that would really make.

CHAPTER 35

I tapped lightly again and this time the door slowly opened, but only an inch.

“You got the raspberry-filled right?” said a voice from the darkness on the other side.

“Got ‘em,” I said, holding up the box.

“And those chocolate ones with sprinkles?”

“They’re in here, too.”

Silence.

“And you went to that one donut store over by Macy’s, right? Those are the only ones I like.”

“Those are the only ones I got. Now are you going to let me in?”

David opened the door but then disappeared. I went inside and found him in the living room, wearing sunglasses and lying on the sofa.

“And you just got back a few hours ago?” I said, looking around.

A microburst had touched down in his living room, leaving suitcases and their contents scattered over every surface. The few spots void of clothing were occupied by empty liquor bottles. The curtains were drawn. A hat dangled from one of the corners of his turtle terrarium.

“Sebastian must be glad you’re back,” I said, wondering if reptiles even had such emotions. “And I’m glad too.”

“Have a seat anywhere,” he said, all the life drained from him.

I put the box down on top of a pile of
People
magazines that were littered across the coffee table, found a couple of small plates in the kitchen and brought them out.

“You’re lucky,” I said. “The donut shop was just closing for the day.”

“Abby Craig, how could this have happened?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “All I know is that it sucks.”

“I won the battle, but I lost the war.”

His show hadn’t been picked up for a second season. The network had said the ratings were too low.

“They’re always cancelling my favorite shows,” I said, pushing back his legs and sitting next to him. “Whenever I find something that I like that lasts more than one season, I feel like I’ve won the lottery or something.”

I knew it couldn’t have been very comforting, but it was the best I could do. He gave no outward signs that he had heard me as he reached for a maple bar. I sat quietly as he inhaled it in record time before turning to the sprinkles.

“Jesus, these are good. I haven’t had any sugar in months.”

“Can I make you up some eggs too?” I said. “Protein might be good to throw into the mix.”

He made some sort of wounded animal noise, shook his head, and continued to stuff his face.

“It’s going to be donuts and vodka until I feel better. Here, have one.”

I took a raspberry.

A lone tear leaked out from under his dark glasses, sliding down over his lips and down his pointy chin.

“It’ll be okay,” I said, patting his leg. “You’re going to find something else soon.”

“I don’t want something else. I want to keep being a detective who chases vampires and werewolves. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

He slouched down into the sofa as more tears dripped off his face.

“I had already picked out the exact Mustang convertible and the condo on the waterfront downtown that I wanted. And now it’s all gone. All of it.”

“But you’re just starting out,” I said. “The magic is going to happen for you again. You’re going to make it happen because you’re so good at it.”

“Maybe I am and maybe I’m not. But even if I do have some talent, talent without luck and without connections leaves me just where I am. Back here in this little house, barista by day, liver killer by night. Maybe I need to accept my future as a coffee slave.”

“Come on, now you’re talking stupid. What did the producer or whoever he was call you again?”

“Resplendent.”

He looked over at me and the slightest Mona Lisa smile crossed over the gloom that had moved in where his face had been.

“I bet he doesn’t call all his actors resplendent. Who knows? Maybe you made a connection in the industry and he’ll help you out down the road.”

“You think?” he said.

There was now something in his voice still too weak to be called hope, but a few shaky steps above despair.

“I do,” I said, watching him reach for another donut.

CHAPTER 36

As I drove home I noticed something out of the corner of my eye.

I pulled off the road and got out and stared.

The sun had dropped down below the peaks of the Three Sisters to the west.

It was the most beautiful sunset I’d seen since my accident, since I had lost the ability to see colors.

The sky was a deep shade of red, like cherries. Or blood.

And I saw it.

CHAPTER 37

When I got home, I sat on the sofa and stared at the television for a long while, thinking.

The sunset was a clue.

Was it Emily sending a message? Or something worse.

I flipped around, not finding anything to watch. Not finding any answers.

I went to bed and drifted off.

***

I was running through the woods again.

Running down that muddy trail, the branches and bramble reaching out for me, gashing at my legs. The meadow, bathed in moonlight, was behind me, getting farther and farther away as I plunged deeper and deeper into the darkness.

The night squeezed in, tightening around my chest like a vise, like a heart attack.

I wanted to stop, to turn around and go back toward the light. But I couldn’t.

Something was pulling me down the path, into the darkest part of the forest. Something that I couldn’t resist, something that was bigger than me.

The fear that had been building and bubbling inside spilled over.

I was shaking now as much as running.

I began to hear the sound of moving water, louder and louder with each uncertain step.

Fighting back the tears, I kept going, my bulging eyes on the trail. 

And that’s when I saw it.

Up ahead, at the end of the path.

A small structure. A cabin.

And a silhouette.

There was someone standing there in the shadows.

Then dread as thick as the darkness, as thick as the night, blocked out everything else.

Even my screams.

***

It seemed so real.

I could still taste the fear in my mouth. And there was something else. A smell.

I could still smell it.

Coconut.

I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing, tried to shake off the black energy.

His energy.

It was a little after four in the morning and I was supposed to be at work in a few hours.

But I knew where I really needed to be.

CHAPTER 38

“Leave your message after the tone,” the recording said.

I hesitated and then did.

“Hi, this is Abby Craig. Something’s come up. I have a, ah, personal emergency I need to, ah, take care of and I won’t be able to work today or tomorrow. Sorry for the late notice. I, ah… Bye.”