Veiled Existence

by Barbara Pietron

  Upon reentering the dining room, she took a deep breath of the food smells, determined to force down some dinner. She’d ended up at a table with Tyler and she watched him through her eyelashes as she methodically chewed and swallowed some salmon and rice. He appeared preoccupied, alternately scanning the room and checking his phone.

  When the wait staff began clearing the dinner plates, Tyler pushed back his chair and stood. “Places to go, people to see.” He addressed Jake’s lifted eyebrows with a grin and then winked at Molly. “Molly, you can have my dessert.”

  Molly clapped her chubby hands. “Yay, ice cream!” she cheered.

  Knowing it would look odd if she followed him, Jeni remained seated. They’d left the dock and the boat wasn’t that big. She would find him eventually. When other family members finally vacated their chairs, Jeni let out an inaudible sigh of relief. Her nerves were stretched tight.

  Stepping from the Grand Staircase, she searched the cabin lounge for her cousin and then ascended to the Iowa Lounge, making a circuit of the room but coming up empty. Judging by the way he grinned at Jake, Jeni assumed Tyler was meeting a girl somewhere. If that was the case, her chances of convincing him to leave the boat were probably even lower than she’d originally guessed.

  Thinking it unlikely that he was out for a moonlit stroll, Jeni decided to try his room next. Since Ice hadn’t shown up, Tyler had the room to himself and might be making the most of it while he still could. She trudged along the deck like a death row inmate destined for the electric chair, the food she’d managed to eat sitting like lead in her stomach.

  Pausing at his stateroom door, she fingered the stone at her throat, her breathing shallow. Seesawing the pendant across its rawhide tie, Jeni asked herself for the umpteenth time if she was making the right choice.

  Sucking in a deep breath, she knocked on the door. Movement from inside set her heart pounding and she jumped at the metallic snap of the latch.

  Tyler’s face emerged in the slice of door opening, fixing her with a hard stare. “What’s up?”

  “Can I come in?”

  “No.” He swung the door the minimum width he needed to slip through, and then pulled it nearly closed behind him. Despite his efforts, Jeni caught a quick glimpse inside. A pair of legs—decidedly female—extended from the bottom bunk.

  He was never going to agree to this.

  Tyler jutted his chin toward her. “What? Your boyfriend’s sick and your friend went home so now you’re bored? Or are you lonely?”

  Jeni almost walked away then. Almost. “Neither.” She struggled to keep her voice devoid of emotion. “I need your help.”

  He regarded her with a tight gaze, crossing his arms over his chest. “What kind of help?”

  Realizing she was wringing her hands awkwardly, Jeni shoved them into her pockets. Lifting her chin, she shook her bangs out of her eyes and met his stare. “Ice isn’t sick. He’s missing.”

  His jaw muscles flexed as he clenched his teeth. “Missing.”

  “Yes, since last night. He disappeared from a party.”

  Her cousin’s features softened into a bland expression that masked either amusement or pity, she wasn’t sure which, and didn’t appreciate either. “Alone or with someone else?” he asked.

  Fisting her hands in her pockets, Jeni stabbed her fingernails into her palms. “It’s not like it sounds, okay? You know Ice. He’s not that kind of guy.”

  “Every guy is that kind of guy. Especially if they’re drunk.” Tyler leaned a shoulder on the door frame.

  Jeni exhaled an exasperated breath. “He wasn’t drunk. Look, I’ve spoken to his roommate and another friend. There’s evidence of foul play.”

  His eyebrows twitched. “Has anyone notified the police?”

  “Of course.” God, she hated his condescending tone. “But they’re going to think exactly what you think: that he got drunk and wandered off or left with some girl. But there are reasons to believe something strange is going on. I can tell you the details if you want, or I can just get to the point.”

  “By all means, spare me the details.”

  “I planned to go and help look for him. His friend agreed to pick me up tomorrow in Red Wing, but my parents won’t let me go alone.” She paused to swallow. “Carolyn had to leave. So I need…I thought I’d ask…” Her cheeks flamed.

  Tyler’s eyes glittered as he watched her flounder. He knew what she was getting at, but had no intention of making it any easier for her.

  “Please.” The appeal rang of surrender. “Will you go with me?”

  Both of Tyler’s eyebrows disappeared behind his shaggy hair, and then reappeared as he narrowed his eyes at her. He pushed off the door frame, seeming to tower over her. “Wait a minute, let me get this straight. You’re asking me to go with you to look for Ice?”

  He was drawing out the moment just to torture her. “Forget it,” Jeni said, turning away.

  Tyler caught her shoulder and rotated her back to face him. “I’ll go.” His voice was oddly soft.

  Jeni blinked. “You…you will?”

  He nodded. “You know why?”

  Jeni shook her head.

  “Because I know if I don’t, you’ll go anyway. You’ll sneak off the boat and make everyone worry. So for the sake of the rest of the family, I’m gonna cover your butt. Again.”

  Jeni glared at him defiantly, wanting to spit back that he could forget it, she didn’t need his help, she’d figure it out for herself. “Whatever,” she barked instead, spinning on her heel. “Nine-thirty tomorrow morning.”

  She stomped away, fuming, her teeth grinding together. It infuriated her that she was so desperate. That she couldn’t argue with him.

  Because he was right.

  The morning dawned gray and overcast. As Jeni stood in the doorway double checking for her room key, the wind whirled around, pasting a strand of hair to her face. Pulling the door closed, she turned into the current of air, letting it sweep all of her hair behind her head. She hesitated, debating whether or not she should knock on Tyler’s door. Shaking her head, she proceeded to the stairwell, drawing her phone from her pocket. She was twenty minutes early and didn’t particularly want to stand around making small talk with her cousin.

  Besides, for all she knew, he might still have company this morning. A text message would suffice to let him know she was heading down to the Cabin Deck and if he’d overslept, hopefully the alert would wake him up.

  Jeni had spent more of the night tossing and turning than sleeping, and unfortunately, one of the things that surfaced in her scattered thoughts was who the girl was in Tyler’s room last night. Her cousin had been spending his time with the family; she hadn’t seen him with a girl since the night he got shot down in the Iowa Lounge.

  Adjusting her backpack, Jeni shook her head, clearing her musings regarding Tyler. Surely she had better things to think about.

  Her lips curled as she recalled the look on her mom’s face last night at the news that Jeni had asked Tyler to accompany her to Minneapolis. It reminded her of the first time she’d voluntarily washed a load of laundry: first her mom’s eyebrows shot up, then her eyes tightened, and finally, the corners of her mouth rose slightly.

  But the only question she had asked was, “Did he agree?”

  “Believe it or not, he did,” Jeni said.

  “Well, that’ll make Dad happier about this.”

  Jeni fought the urge to roll her eyes, though she’d expected no less. And despite her capable chaperone, her mom still wanted to meet Dale.

  The riverboat had docked sometime in the night and the gangplank was already lowered to a cement walk. A sign aptly designated the area, Levee Park—a strip of land flanked by the river on one side and a road on the other. She dropped her bag and leaned against the white painted wall of the boat to take refuge from the wind while watching ca
rs pass by.

  Jeni had texted with Carolyn for a while last night. Carolyn’s grandma was stable; she had a nasty bruise on her face that apparently looked worse than it was, but her vitals were good. The fall hadn’t been caused by a black-out, her knee had given way and she smacked her cheek on an end table as she collapsed.

  Although it was hard to judge via text message, Jeni got a restrained vibe from their exchanges, her friend’s responses coming across carefully worded. When Jeni revealed that Tyler was standing in for her, Carolyn had replied in all caps. The shocked reaction was appropriate, still, the large letters felt like overcompensation. Of course there was always the chance that Jeni’s pensive mood had clouded the conversation.

  It seemed too soon when she heard footsteps on the stairs and saw Tyler’s unmistakable colorful sneakers. His hair was damp and looked odd laying down relatively tame instead of wild and messy. He plunked his backpack near hers. “So what’re we looking for?”

  “A white Chevy Cruze.” When Jeni asked the same question yesterday, Dale said he’d let her know when he picked up the rental car Nik had arranged for him. He’d texted the description a couple hours ago.

  Tyler pressed his back to the wall and crossed his arms loosely. Jeni hadn’t told him they weren’t going directly to Minneapolis and didn’t intend to divulge that information until they were in the car. Although she’d been prepared to deliver the long explanation last night, she was relieved when Tyler didn’t want to hear it. The more convoluted her story, the less likely her cousin would’ve been to go along. The ride today would give her plenty of time to explain. Plus, she’d have Dale to back her up.

  “Who’s this guy picking us up?”

  Jeni tracked a white car that’d just turned the corner. “Dale. One of Ice’s friends.” The driver looked much too old to be Dale, but Jeni continued to watch anyway.

  “Did I meet him in Minnesota?”

  Jeni shook her head. “Probably not. I don’t remember him.”

  “Do you even know what he looks like?”

  “As a matter of fact…” Jeni bought out her phone, poked it a few times and then held the screen toward Tyler. “I looked him up.” She didn’t expect any props for thinking to do that, and didn’t get any. Tyler simply nodded.

  Hands burrowed in her pockets and chin stuffed into the top of her jacket, Jeni began to wish she hadn’t left her room so early. Besides the cold, the few passengers that trickled by weren’t enough activity to break the uncomfortable silence between her and Tyler. She regretted telling her mom she’d text when Dale arrived.

  As nine thirty came and went, Jeni swallowed the ominous sense of déjà-vu rising in the back of her throat.

  “That looks like a Cruze.” Tyler nodded to a white car rolling past.

  “And possibly Dale.” Jeni watched as the car drove out of sight. Seconds later her text alert sounded. “That was him. He saw the boat and is looking for a place to park.” She quickly sent a message to her mom.

  When Tyler picked up his pack and hiked it onto his shoulder, Jeni did the same. “My mom’s coming to meet Dale, but we might as well walk down to the park.”

  “He knows you told your mom that Ice is sick?” Tyler asked.

  “Yeah. He knows what to say.” She ignored the twinge of guilt in her belly.

  Dale’s tall form crossed the road and entered the park. Even from a distance it was obvious that he topped Ice’s six foot height, and Jeni guessed he might also be taller than Tyler. His hands were stuffed into his pockets and his wavy black hair lifted in the brisk breeze coming off the river.

  Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as he left the path through the park and stepped onto the wide strip of cement along the water’s edge. Friend of Ice’s or not, he was a complete stranger. She shuffled her feet, momentarily disoriented by a surge of gratefulness that Tyler was going with her.

  “Hey,” Jeni said when Dale was close enough. “I’m Jeni.” She motioned with her head. “This is my cousin, Tyler. Tyler, this is Ice’s friend, Dale.”

  Dale looked a little older than Jeni expected, his face drawn, eyes pinched. He gave Tyler a perfunctory nod, his attention focused on Jeni. “Am I still meeting your mom? Because we’re running a little late.”

  “Late?” Tyler looked at Jeni, and when she didn’t answer he addressed Dale. “Late for what?”

  “The appointme—”

  Jeni waved an arm between them, cutting Dale off. She met Tyler’s eyes. “I’ll explain in the car. Let’s just do this so we can go.” Catching movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned to see her mom on the gangplank, and she wasn’t alone.

  Tyler groaned. “What am I, twelve?” he muttered.

  But Jeni was glad to see Tyler’s mom rather than her dad. That was, until her aunt began questioning Dale and Jeni reflected that the mother of two boys—especially one like Tyler—probably knew how to wrangle information from teenagers. Dale, however, seemed hard to rattle, supplying ready answers delivered brusquely.

  Then her mom’s arms were around her. “He’s Ice’s friend? Not very warm and fuzzy is he?” she murmured into Jeni’s ear.

  “He was a little friendlier on the phone.” Jeni whispered. Although she actually wouldn’t have applied the word “friendly” to her conversations with Dale. “Business-like” seemed more appropriate. “Maybe he’s just shy.”

  Her mom’s shoulders lifted. “Well, keep me updated. Let me know when you get there.”

  “I will.” Jeni hugged her mom again. “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Take care of Ice and we’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

  Jeni nodded, confused by a flash of unexpected reluctance to leave. But Dale touched her arm. “Let’s go.”

  She waved to her mom and then followed Dale and Tyler along the cement walkway. Dale’s urgency was evident and Jeni hustled to keep up with her long-legged companions. “Any news about Ice?” she asked.

  “His mom got in last night,” Dale said over his shoulder, his voice clipped. “She checked into a motel and is keeping tabs with the police.”

  “Good.” She was glad someone was in the Twin Cities prompting the search.

  At the car, Tyler opened a rear door and dropped his pack inside. As Jeni caught up and moved toward the front passenger door, he slipped in front of her, climbing into the seat.

  “Uh…” Jeni protested, standing outside the open door.

  “First come…” Tyler cocked an eyebrow at her.

  After the agitated look Dale sent over the roof of the car, Jeni glared at Tyler and then slumped into the back seat. “What time is the meeting?”

  Dale started the car and buckled his seat belt. “Noon.”

  “Meeting?” Tyler peered into the back seat. “What meeting?”

  “We’re meeting the priest,” Jeni replied.

  Dale tapped his phone screen a few times and it began to spout directions as he set it on the console.

  “I thought we were going to look for Ice,” Tyler said.

  “First we’re trying to find out what happened to Ice,” Jeni corrected.

  Tyler looked over his shoulder and then at Dale. “Somebody needs to tell me what’s going on.”

  Catching Dale’s frown in the rear view mirror, Jeni told Tyler about Nik’s hunch that the old church was connected to Ice’s disappearance.

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Tyler stated.

  “Yeah, well, lots of things in this world don’t make sense,” Jeni snapped

  Before her cousin could reply, Dale interjected. “We’re not talking about this world.”

  His statement diffused the bickering and for the next few minutes the only sound inside the car was the robotic voice telling Dale where to turn next. Once they reached US Highway 63/61 and his navigation program stopped spouting directions, Dale spoke again. “Nik called me
a little while ago more convinced than ever that this church is connected to Ice’s disappearance.”

  Jeni turned from the window to look at Dale. “Why?”

  “After the ceremony yesterday, the medicine men went for a sweat and Nik had some disturbing visions.”

  “Did you say ‘sweat’?” Tyler asked.

  “Yeah. You know, like in a sweat lodge?” Dale didn’t pause for an answer. “A sweat is for purification and healing. I imagine they wanted to renew their energies. But many of them felt like the healing process was hampered by something menacing. They said it felt like there was a disturbance between worlds that was jamming transmissions.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” Jeni said. “What about Nik’s visions?”

  “During a sweat, people sometimes have visions about their future or their path in life. Nik saw this church. He looked it up on the internet after the sweat and confirmed it was what he saw. He saw Ice too.” Dale glanced up, meeting Jeni’s eyes for a second. “He was sick.”

  Jeni’s heart skipped a beat, leaving a hollow feeling in her chest. “Sick? What kind of sick?”

  Dale shook his head. “He didn’t say.”

  Tyler shifted in his seat. “So what are we looking for at this church?”

  “Accounts from its past,” Dale said. “I saw online that you can order a book of the church’s history. It was written by a previous pastor but the woman on the phone said she thought the resources were still at the church. So I made an appointment to see the current pastor.” He paused, and then added, “I think Nik also expects me to pick up on any weird vibes or sensations.”

  “You’re one of Nik’s students?” Tyler asked.

  “No,” Dale replied. “Nik has only one apprentice, Ice. I was a candidate once, but it turned out that my spiritual nature is inherited from my Irish ancestors. Nik couldn’t train me.”

  “But he sent you to find Ice?”

  Jeni sat forward. “Jeez, don’t be rude, Tyler. Nik had some other stuff going on.”