by VC Angell
“As I said, this is too much space for me. Would you like to plant some things? You wouldn’t have to worry about being seen with me because this is far enough off the road to make it hard to identify anybody. You could come during the day when I am at work. Nobody could get any funny ideas about that.”
Laura smiled, and then she grinned, “I’d like that! I really would like that. I could have fresh vegetables. It would help with my grocery bill too.”
“This will need to be rototilled. Do you know anybody who would do that?”
“I have a cousin who does that for extra money. I’ll call him and have him do it. I’ll pay for it. That can be my rent for the space.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can pay for it.”
“Please let me. I don’t want to be freeloading. Besides, because it’s my cousin, I’ll get a much better deal than you could,” Laura said, looking at Jim.
“Okay,” Jim said, sticking out his hand.
Laura shook it and asked, “Can I give you a hug?”
“Sure, as long as you’re okay being seen with a sleazy newspaper owner who could ruin your reputation.”
Laura started giggling in the middle of her hug. “I don’t see anybody around looking at us, so I guess it’s okay. It won’t hurt my reputation then.” She punctuated her remarks with a peck on Jim’s cheek.
* * *
Shortly after Jim arrived at work one morning, Helen came into his office. She said, “There was a bad accident over the weekend. Bill Swedmark’s wife and one of his children were killed. Their other child, a little boy, is in serious condition in the hospital. Bill is one of our pressmen,”
Jim sat, trying to put a face to the name. Then he said, “I remember him. He seemed like a nice guy. Is there anything the Journal could do for him?”
Helen and Jim talked about the tragedy and what the Journal could do. After Helen left his office, Jim made a note to himself to buy a condolence card. Just as Jim finished making a note to himself, Will knocked on the door. Jim invited him to come in and sit down.
“I guess you heard the news about Bill Swedmark,” Will said.
“Yes, Helen filled me in. How come he wasn’t hurt?” Jim asked.
“As I understand it, his wife and kids are going to see her mother down near Minneapolis. That’s why they were on that freeway. The other driver was driving the wrong way. He was killed too. I guess Bill didn’t go because we are printing for the other papers we have contracts with in the next couple of days. We have big color ads for the grocery stores too.”
“What about that? I assume he’s not here. Can we print those papers?”
“Yes, I talked it over with the other pressmen we have. They were just teaching another young fellow to help out. With his help and a bit of overtime, we will be okay,” Will said.
“That’s pretty important because that revenue is one of the things that keeps us afloat. Have you come up with any other moneymaking ideas?”
“It’s a rough time for newspapers. What with the Internet and all. The ad revenue has been slowly declining, as you know. Did you look into buying the local radio station that’s for sale?” Will asked.
“Yes, I did. As you pointed out, I can see how the two businesses could work together to their benefit. The listenership for the AM radio station has held pretty constant. The FM station revenues are almost zilch. I can understand because the current owner pretty much uses the morning six days a week to talk about things and sell things, almost like a swap meet. If we converted that side of things from the golden oldies to modern country-western and get away from the long morning swap meet sessions, revenues would increase dramatically. To give credit where credit is due, you’re the one who came up with the idea. I would never have thought of it,” Jim said.
“How about the financing of it?”
“It’s truly a question that I’m not sure I can answer correctly. The down payment would be 30% of the asking price, according to the bank. We can almost swing that with our current cash reserves, but there might be a better way to do it. I could personally buy the radio station and then pay myself enough from the combined revenues of the two to cover the payments. I’m sure there are other ideas too. I have a college buddy who has an MBA and works in New York City. I think I’d like to run it by him and see if he has any better ideas. He knows much better other possibilities,” Jim said.
“That’s a smart move. Knowing that you do not know enough and asking for help, I think, is the sign of a smart person,” Will said.
“Since I can’t balance my checkbook without a program to help me, I know that I know zilch about finances.”
“It sounds as if we could get the radio stations, but we don’t know if financing them would drag us down or help us up.”
“That’s where I hope my friend can help.”
* * *
Across town, Ted Erickson is questioning his daughter, Pam. “Surely, he has told you something about his plans.”
“No.”
“You’re sleeping with him, and he doesn’t talk to you. That sounds strange.”
“Geez, when you and mom go at it, do you talk about business or what the weather is going to be? It’s not a time for any type of discussion,” Pam said.
The question embarrassed Ted by the color of his face.
* * *
One evening Jim arrived home from work to find the garden plot rototilled. Someone had even taken time to remove the debris from the last year’s garden and stack it in a neat pile. Jim thought about calling Laura, but the fishing season had started, and she had said it was a busy time for her. He ate supper and then turned on the TV. He had been watching a spy series on one of the streaming channels. Jim hoped it wouldn’t run out too soon. He was watching shows from season four.
The following morning just after Jim arrived at the Journal, the sheriff called.
Jim asked, “Did you find out something more about the murder?”
“No, that’s not why I called you. You know Laura Peterson?”
“Yes, and I know what she’s doing. We are old friends. I even dated her for a while in high school.”
“I am glad you said that. It makes it a lot easier for me. She was beaten up pretty badly by one of her johns at her apartment. The guy was ticked off by something he thought she had done,” the sheriff said.
“Is she okay?”
“Her face is all swollen, and he broke her nose. She looks like she climbed into a gunnysack with a bear. The guy that beat her up what’s not a regular customer. She remembers he told her that he wasn’t up here on vacation. She doesn’t know where he’s staying, and she’s afraid he might come back. She can’t stay at her apartment, and she’s been here in my office since very early this morning after being treated at the hospital. She said that I could call you, and you might help.”
“How can I help? I’d be glad to.”
“She needs a safe place to stay, and she thought you might let her stay at your place.”
“Absolutely, I suspect you want me to come to get her.”
“That was the plan. Can I ask, are you…”
“No, but she tells me it would be free for me. I know what happened to her. You would think that would make her choice of profession unlikely,” Jim said.
“Forgive me, but I’m a cop. What happened to her?”
After the sheriff assured Jim it would be held in confidence, Jim told him the story of Laura and her sister.”
“Jesus! I see a lot of things in this business, but that’s the top of my list for disgusting things. If he weren’t dead, I’d have his ass in a cell quicker than you could say, Jack Robinson.”
“Her father told her she was good at it. She decided that it must be the only thing she was good at. She also found out in one of her stays in jail that she is severely dyslexic. That she might be, but she’s smart.”
“I’ve seen a lot of hookers. Some of them are pretty smart. My job is to lock them up, but I’ve often wond
ered what made them a whore.”
“I couldn’t believe Laura chose that profession. That’s all water under the bridge now. I’d be happy to help her. I’ll come right over.”
* * *
Jim picked Laura up at the sheriff’s office and was driving her out to his place. He asked, “Is there anything you’d like to get from your place?”
“I’m afraid to go back there. He might be waiting,” Laura said.
“Since it was the fishing opener, is he a fisherman?”
“No, he said he was here on a business trip and if he could get things straightened out. I should have a ton of new customers, not this,” the bruising was already beginning to show in Laura’s face.
Jim was surprised by that bit of news but asked, “What was he so unhappy about?”
Laura shrugged, “I don’t know. He didn’t make any sense. The first time I saw him, it was just for a quickie.”
“You’re correct. That doesn’t make sense. He got what he wanted.”
“Some guys think just because they fucked you that they own you. He said some weird shit about punishing a bad little girl. The guy’s a freak.”
“Did he say how long he was going to be in Alma?”
“He said that he would be here until the middle of June unless he could leave sooner because the business deal he was working on went through. Are you okay with me staying that long?” Laura asked.
“You can stay as long as you want. Let’s look at the good side. You’ll be able to work in the garden. Memorial Day is just a week away. It will be safe to plant,” Jim smiled at Laura.
* * *
When Jim returned to the Journal, he called Julie into his office and told her what happened.
“We’ve got to help her,” Julie said.
“I agree, but how?” Jim asked.
The two of them tried to find a way to help Laura. Alma was a small town, and they were sure virtually everyone in the village knew what she was doing. She couldn’t work at a business where she would be seen, or the business's reputation would go down. They decided there might be something she could do at the Journal. There were part-time jobs like inserting advertisements into the newspapers. It paid very little, but it would be a start. They were unsure if it was enough to support her. They parted, agreeing to keep looking for ways to help Laura.
That evening when Jim arrived home, he found Laura had cooked supper for the two of them.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so mac & cheese seems like the best choice with what I could find,” Laura said.
“That sounds good to me. How’re the bruises?”
“I found some more.” Laura pulled up the T-shirt she was wearing halfway up, and Jim could see the bruising on her chest. She said, “This tit is going to be black and blue too. Do you want to see?” Laura pointed at her breast, which was still covered by the T-shirt.
Jim thought he would blush, but he didn’t, “No, it would just make me mad. I don’t understand how someone could hurt you.”
“You’re not a john but a friend. You couldn’t hurt me if your life depended on it. Let’s eat. I’m sure you must be hungry,” Laura said.
They sat down to eat, and Laura insisted they say grace. It surprised Jim. The mac & cheese was surprisingly good. When Jim told Laura that, she smiled and then winced before saying, “It hurts to smile. I can’t believe it.”
After supper, Laura said, “I’d like to get some clothing. What I’ve got on is all I have. I called and talked to the sheriff this afternoon. He said that if you brought me into town, he would make sure to have a squad parked outside the apartment. That should scare away the bastard who did this to me. If it doesn’t, there’ll be a deputy there to arrest his ass.”
“That’s a good idea. There’ll still be light until eight o’clock or so. Should we leave now?”
“The sheriff told me to call dispatch, and they’ll make sure there’s a squad there. I’ll make the call. Then we can leave. I’m not going to smile because it hurts, but you’ve made me happy,” Laura said.
They drove into town, and there was a squad car parked in front of Laura’s apartment. The deputy waved to them and got out of his car. He and Jim chatted while Laura collected what she needed out of her apartment. It didn’t take long before Laura reappeared with a suitcase and took it to her parked car. She walked back to where Jim and the deputy were talking and said, “I’m ready to go.”
The deputy said, “I’ll follow you and make sure no one tries to follow you.”
The little caravan arrived back at Jim’s place without incident. There was a message on the answering machine from Pam. Jim called her back and explained about Laura.
“I don’t care what job you are in; you don’t go around beating up women. I was thinking of coming out there tonight. It’s the wrong time of the month, so don’t get any ideas,” Pam laughed.
“You’re always welcome. Do you know Laura?” Jim asked.
“Not well. I recognize her when I see her. We chatted a few times briefly. We aren’t friends by any means.”
“I’m sure it will be okay with Laura if you come out.”
After getting off the phone with Pam, Jim said, “That was Pam Erickson. We’ve been seeing each other. I told her it was okay if she wanted to stop out. I hope you don’t mind.”
Laura tried to smile, “Ouch! I forgot that hurts. I can disappear into the bedroom you gave me.”
“That won’t be necessary. I told Pam you were here and why.”
* * *
Pam arrived. She took one look at Laura’s bruised face and said, “What kind of a bastard would do that to you?”
Laura shrugged, “A mean one.”
“Are there many guys like that?” Pam asked.
“No, at least not around here. This guy said he was here on a business trip. He was going to make some kind of deal. The worst I’ve seen before were guys getting real excited and unintentionally hurt me. They’re kinda like a stallion when he finds a mare ready to breed,” Laura said.
“God, I’ve seen that. The stallion goes crazy. Guy’s get like that?”
“Yup.”
Jim said, “Why don’t we go in the living room and sit down?”
Laura asked, “Pam, would you like coffee or something to drink?”
“Coffee sounds great. Black, I’m trying to cut back on the cream and sugar,” Pam said.
“When I heard you were coming, I made a new pot. Go sit down in the living room, and I’ll bring it in,” Laura turned to Jim and asked, “Do you want a cup?”
“I have my mug, so all I need is some freshening of what’s already in the cup,” Jim said.
Pam and Jim went into the living room and sat down while Laura went to the kitchen for the coffee. Laura brought a tray with the coffee pot and an extra cup for Pam. She served everyone and then sat down on the couch.
Jim asked, “You said the guy was here on a business trip. Did he say what kind?”
“No, just that it was a big deal,” Laura said.
“My dad said something about a big deal too. I don’t listen to him when he is talking about business, so I have no idea what it’s about,” Pam said.
“It can’t be about a huge business,” Jim said, “Because we would’ve heard about it in the redevelopment committee.”
“You might not hear everything. There are guys like Ralph who don’t want anybody knowing about their businesses,” Pam said.
“Ralph Larson?” Jim asked.
“Yep,” Pam said.
“The guy who did this,” Laura pointed at her face, “Said he found about me from Ralph.”
“It’s a small world in Alma,” Jim said.
Pam asked, “Do you mind if I ask you if Ralph Larson uses…”
Laura said very factually, “No, he doesn’t like to fuck. He’s more a blowjob man.”
Jim could see Pam wince at the honesty of Laura. Jim tried to lessen the impact of Laura’s words, “Pam, I take it from my discussions
with Laura. These things are commonly known in certain circles.”
“I always thought Ralph as being too much a holy roller to pay for sex,” Pam said.
Laura laughed, “They are the worst type. Their wives seem to believe in what they say about being God-fearing, even if they aren’t. Ralph’s wife wouldn’t think of blowing him. Those wives should watch some porn and see how to do it. A lot of older men come to me for what they can’t get from their wives.”
Pam said, “I thought… I didn’t think any of them would break their marriage vows.”
“It isn’t their fault. Their wives should do what they want. If they don’t know how to give a blowjob, they could learn it someplace. I even remember seeing an article in a magazine about how to give your husband a blowjob. It’s a good thing to know when it’s that time of the month, and your husband wants you,” Laura said.
Pam seemingly was stunned by Laura’s words. It was a few moments before she said, “That makes a lot of sense. You should care enough about your husband to take care of his needs. It seems to me the only problem is it’s messy.”
“It doesn’t have to be. That’s just porn. You keep it in your mouth and swallow. Guys like that,” Laura said.
“I think there’s a lot I don’t know about sex,” Pam finally said.
“The strange thing about it is I know wives who will do it for their lover but not for their husbands,” Laura said.
“That is weird,” Jim said.
Pam seemed to be lost in thought. Laura took a sip of her coffee, “It’s still too hot.”
Pam frowned and asked, “How about my dad…”
Before Pam could finish the question, Laura said, “I’ve never seen him. I know some of the other gals and never heard his name.”
Jim asked, “You exchange names?”
“Yes, you remember me saying some guys will hurt you even if they don’t mean to,” Laura said, pointing at her face, “So our protection is letting each other know who is safe and who isn’t. That sometimes doesn’t work because there are strangers like the guy I met.”
Chapter 9
The following morning when Jim arrived at work, Helen immediately came into his office. She said, “Bill Swedmark’s son died yesterday. He is complete without a family now.”