by Marta Acosta
I cut a lime into wedges, poured shots of tequila, and said to Oliver, “Get the salt.”
I licked the space between my thumb and forefinger, sprinkled on salt, and drank a shot. The lime was acid and sweet in my mouth. I handed Oliver the salt.
He drank his shot, and said, “You’ve got that spooky look.”
“Because I’m spooked out. Abel Myklebust ambushed me downtown and loomed over me in a threatening way. There was a dead blackbird by my truck and I think it was a cryptic warning from him. I think he thinks I know something about the murder. You’ve got to search his house, his office, his vehicles, any lockers or storage units, and find out what he’s hiding, because I know that bastard is hiding something.”
“Has it occurred to you that he may want to talk to you about something else?”
“If you’re referring to that problem with his dam, it’s physically impossible for me to have moved those boulders.”
“You could do it if you stole Abel’s John Deere.”
“I don’t know how to operate a tractor, and the dam is irrelevant. Abel knows something about Sherry Rae.”
“I know you don’t think I actually do anything, but I follow up on leads. When I interviewed Abel, he told me he’d seen Sherry Rae once at the Country Squire—when you were screaming at her about how ‘exploitive’ gambling is. He showed me his journal, including notes that you knocked over a stool and crammed a handful of maraschino cherries in your pocket as you left the bar. Also, he was in Sedona, the week of the murder.”
“He’s lying. I never raised my voice, and the stool fell over of its own volition. I wouldn’t eat a maraschino cherry if you paid me. He’s up to something.”
“Everyone in Coyote Run is up to something, yourself included.”
I sat on the floor beside Zeus, who nuzzled his head against me. “Not everyone. I saw Claire tonight. She was at the new caterer’s grand opening.”
“And you were downtown stalking her.”
“I was invited. I only went by to give Claire a late birthday present and to apologize for being such an awful girlfriend. I wasn’t trying to be an awful girlfriend. I was trying to do the best I could.” I drank the tequila, feeling it burn pleasantly as I swallowed. “Let’s take Zeus out because he needs exercise and I want to talk to you.”
Oliver picked up a new brown leather lead for Zeus and snapped it on his collar, which was also new. We went outside and I watched Oliver guide Zeus to stay on his left. “Nice job keeping him by your side, but why do I always have to tell you to keep your hands relaxed? Be aware of what’s around you and in control without tensing.”
“I don’t want to be your confidante.”
“You didn’t tell Claire about us. I was sure you would.”
“No need to tell her. It was between you and me, and had nothing to do with her.”
“This is too complicated for me.” We’d reached a lane that ran between vineyards and now I could smell the roses growing at the end of the rows. There were no streetlamps here, so we made our carefully, trying to see in the thin light of the moon.
“Because you complicate things.”
“You never liked me even before I was with Claire. You think I’m a freak.”
He didn’t speak, and my thoughts drifted off, musing about the satellites of Venus, when Oliver said, “I remember seeing you when you were maybe eight or so. You were at the Suncrest with your mom and you started shrieking bloody murder. You were on the floor, kicking and flailing. Someone had the bright idea to pour water on you to shock you out of it, which made things worse. The manager carried you out and your mother left your brother in the shopping cart. He just sat there waiting. No one else noticed him so I took the cart outside to your mom.”
“And now you know why Raymond is the way he is,” I said, my face hot. “He had a crazy sister who needed everyone’s attention and left none for him.”
“What set you off?”
“I had so many episodes I honestly can’t remember,” I said. “Life becomes intolerable and the only way to deal with it is lie on cool linoleum and thrash and shriek.”
“You were a strange little girl and now you’re a strange woman.”
“Look, Olly, I know you don’t think so, but I really try to be responsible. I run a business. I’m respected by others in my field. I have good relationships with my clients.”
“Who believe you’re psychic.”
“Only the new clients. Everyone’s happier if they have a simple explanation for why I’m the way I am. You wouldn’t understand what it is to be different.”
The light was enough to show me the flash of a smile. “Only you would think that twins are considered normal. From birth, I was never simply Oliver—I was the Twins, and everyone wondered which of us the evil one was. And I grew up defending my out and proud sister. She’s done the same for me.”
“Don’t let Zeus cross in front when you turn. Do it again in figures of eight.” I waited while Oliver guided the dog in circles and then we headed back. “Why do you need protection from anyone?”
“Still against the law to shoot ex-wives.”
“I saw you talking to Heather at the fracking hearing.”
“We’ve been friends since kindergarten. She was wearing her lottery-jackpot goggles when she agreed to marry Dawg.”
“I remember when you two were the Barbecue Sauce King and Queen of Bonanza Days. Heather wore a scarlet dress and was dazzling. You wore a red tux and looked ridiculous.
“Ridiculously magnificent,” he said. “About the dead bird. It’s likely a prank. Be aware, but there’s no need to be paranoid.”
“Says the man ordering the Bearcat for a hick nowhere town.”
“Keep talking and I won’t give you a ride. The rep from the military surplus firm—Hugo Bishop, he was at the Country Squire the night you were allegedly drinking a soda—said we might get it before the end of summer.”
“I saw him outside the Suncrest last week. He was too busy with his goddamn phone to notice actual life happening around him.”
“I’ll tell him to stop and smell the roses.”
I skipped over the ditch beside the road to the nearest yellow rose bush and plunked a bloom to slide under Zeus’s collar.
Then the quiet was ruptured by a truck roaring toward us. Oliver and I jumped, cussing, as the truck sped by so fast the dust and gravel flew up around us.
“Goddamn!” Oliver said. “Did you catch anything? The license, make and model?”
“No, but I have a feeling it was Jim Hardworth, the dude from the hardware store. He drives like a maniac.”
Oliver pulled out his phone and made a call. “One of my guys will try to nab him if he’s still around.”
The sound of his steps sounded different. “What’s wrong, Ollie?”
“Nothing. I’ll walk it off.”
“You can’t walk off a twisted ankle.”
“Anything short of an amputated leg can be walked off.”
We reached his house and, under the porch light, I saw him grimacing. “In the off-chance your medically unsound he-man methods don’t have a beneficial effect, I’ll take Zeus with me and give him his morning run.”
“Thanks.” Olly shifted his weight to one side. “I’m not going to lie. Your little glitches bothered me at first... But now I’m used to it.”
“Gee, thanks for telling me. I’m almost used to your unrepentant conventionality.” I felt calm here, with him. “What do your friends think about us working together?”
“Haven’t asked because I don’t give a damn—I’m the one who decides who is okay and who isn’t. Night, Maddie.”
“Night, Oliver.”
I took Zeus’s leash, glad to have the powerful animal by my side as I went in the dark to my truck and then home.
Chapter 18
“WHY DID YOU INVITE Christopher when you don’t have time to get things ready for him?” I said, looking at Kenzie’s multicolored shopping grid.
“Because I’m counting on you to help me. I’ve listed everything by store section and ordered the berry pie so all you have to do is pick up items and pay. You like pie.”
“I like your homemade pie, not store bought pie. The bottom crust is always raw with a glue-like texture. Send your horrible brother to buy groceries. I can’t believe you invited him when he’s been torturing me.”
“It’s better to have him on good terms with us, Maddie. Otherwise...”
“Otherwise, he’ll put a claim on the house, I know. I reserve the right to stab him if he gets within five feet of me. Your extensive planning does not bode well. Christopher will think we have nice meals every night and be very disappointed when he learns the truth.”
“Stop looking for excuses. You should be able to get the shopping done within an hour.”
“In ordinary circumstances, but I’ll have to go in stealth mode to avoid Abel.”
“At least we agree on that: stay away from him. He can cause problems if he gets angry.”
“How did we come to exist in perpetual fear of extortion? It’s not too late to cancel.”
“Don’t make substitutions. Call if you become flummoxed.”
“I was born flummoxed. Luckily, I have my very own live-in therapist.”
“No, you have a live-in sister.” Kenzie rubbed her forehead. “Thanks for helping, Mad.”
THE CITIZENS OF COYOTE Run were still treating me like a celebrity, and I talked to anyone nearby so I’d have blockades if Abel appeared. The owner of the wine shop gave me a bottle of cabernet, saying, “This is for rescuing Eileen Wainwright. I would have hated losing her monthly order for Amaretto.”
“Glad to oblige. Could I trade this wine in for a six-pack of beer?”
She said, “You’re so funny!” I didn’t see how, but was glad for the beer anyway.
The girl at the flower stand helped me find a bouquet of hydrangeas in Kenzie’s favorite blue. The pie wasn’t ready, so I visited the veterinary clinic. Dawg was putting together a complicated order of medicine for a man with a senior border collie. While they reviewed dose directions, I went to Dawg’s mutt, who’d raised his head and snuffled. Crouched behind the reception counter, I saw a sleeping bag shoved under the desk. Heather must have thrown Dawg out again.
“Hey, Gizmo, it’s me.” I picked him up and Dawg said, “Let him sleep, Maddie.”
“He’s fine, Dawg.” I let Gizmo nestle against me and scratched under his neck. “He’s telling me about a dream he had about hot dogs.”
Dawg gave an odd smile. While he bagged the medications, I carried Gizmo over to the poster of dog breeds and whispered, “We need a category for Wirehaired Scruffilous dog.”
The customer asked several questions and Dawg was uncharacteristically brusque. As soon as the customer left, Dawg hurried to me. “Gizmo’s been grousing lately and I don’t want him to nip at you.”
I scratched the mutt’s back before handing him over. “Is Ben free? I wanted to say hi.”
“He’s with the tech. They should be done in a minute.” Dawg took his dog back to the pillow behind the reception desk. “I’ve seen your brother a few times. He’s pretty entertaining.”
“He can be on a selective basis. He mentioned going to the casino.”
“Poor guy couldn’t catch a break. He was talking about starting a card counting team, and I was like, ‘Dude, you have to be a math genius to count cards,’ and he said, ‘or maybe a mind-reader.’”
My shoulders contracted toward my spine. “The house always wins, Dawg.”
“Raymond said the sheriff ‘assaulted’ him. I got the impression there was more to the story, because Olly’s cool for a cop. Guess you and him are spending lot of time together with the Midnight Runners.”
“The Dutch Shepherd is a dream, so the challenge is teaching someone with zero dog experience to be a handler. Now, if you would put down the doobie every now and then, Dawg, you could build up your lung capacity to be a great tracker. Think about it.”
He laughed hrr, hrr, hrr, and said, “Has Ollie gotten any farther on the case of that woman who was killed?”
“I have no frigging idea. Is it okay if I go back now?”
“Sure, let me tell Doc Ben you’re coming.”
Dawg picked up the phone as I went through to the big room at the back with recovery crates and an operating table. Ben was washing his hands and his new tech guy introduced himself and left for lunch.
“We must be on the same wavelength, Maddie. I was just going to call you and invite you for drinks with me and Ava. The kids are with their grandparents and she wants to meet you and get an insider’s view of the town.”
“Wish I could. Kenzie’s boyfriend is coming to dinner for the first time. My brother will be there. Why don’t you and Ava join us?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Ben, we always behave better with witnesses. Your presence will greatly reduce the possibility that Raymond and I will brawl.”
“You’re very persuasive.”
“Not to brag, I have been called a bad influence on numerous occasions.”
“What’s for dinner?”
“Lasagna, salad, pie. Some sort of appetizers, I suppose.”
“We’ll bring a bottle of red.”
I smiled at the handsome man, wondering what sort of woman he’d married. “Oh, why don’t you offer to give Gizmo a once-over? Dawg says he’s out -of-sorts.”
When I left, Dawg was at his usual station, but Gizmo was nowhere to be seen.
AFTER FULFILLING KENZIE’S demands that I dust, polish, and vacuum, I escaped to my center.
“Where have you been?” Jaison said. “Nevermind. Guess who’s back?”
“The number of possibilities is too vast. Just tell me.”
“Heidi.”
“Where was she?” I asked, and he was practically skipping around me.
“Not Heidi II, Heidi I, the original, often imitated, but never duplicated. Her owners dropped her off while you were out. I put her in a kennel because I wanted you to help introduce her to Heidi II. Ha!” he screamed and grabbed my hands and danced me around, and all the dogs came over to join in the excitement.
When he stopped, Jaison told me that Heidi I’s owners claimed she snarled at them. Under interrogation, they admitted they wanted a small dog. “They wanted to take Thing One, and I said, ‘Hell, no.’ What kind of people think you can trade in a dog like a car?”
“Congratulations, Jai, you’ve got yourself a dog.”
“I can’t keep a dog. I’m a rambling man. I’m a road runner, baby. I’m a rolling stone.” He thumped his chest with the flat of his hand, splaying his skinny fingers.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let’s get your girl reacquainted.”
Jaison’s joy at being reunited with the Rottie was contagious. I began feeling more hopeful about dinner and said, “You should come to dinner. The house is super clean and there’s abundant food. Invite Julie.”
“I already told Kenzie ‘no.’ As much as I love you ladies, and I do, I don’t want to get messed up in your drama.”
“I will make a concerted effort to be very nice.”
“You can make a whole damn symphony of effort, but I’m not heading into the lion’s den. I heard you threatened to kill your brother.”
“It was a figure of speech, like ‘I’d kill for cold drink.’” I wanted Jaison to be there with me, the kid brother I should have had. “Kenzie’s making lasagna. There’ll be ollalaberry pie. Mmm, pie.”
“Save the leftovers for me.”
“FIX YOUR HAIR, MADDIE,” Kenzie said as she came in with a vase of the blue hydrangeas.
“My hair is fine.”
She dragged me to the bathroom, scrubbed gel in my hair, and spiked it. “What about those earrings and the necklace I set out for you?”
“I didn’t see them,” I said, confident she wouldn’t look for them behind the toilet paper in the hall clos
et.
She went to my bedroom, first looking on top of the dresser, and then began pulling out the drawers. “Where did you put them?”
“Kenzie, don’t! I didn’t put them anywhere. Look in the bathroom.” I tried to grab her hand as she rummaged through a stack of shirts.
She pulled out a large thick envelope. She read the return address. “What’s this?”
“Kenzie.”
“You tested our DNA! You swore—”
“The envelope’s still sealed! I didn’t open the email they sent me or check the results on the website. It’s only for an emergency, if we need medical information.”
Her gray eyes glistened with tears. “We’re sisters. Or don’t you feel that way?”
I took the envelope and ripped it in half and handed the pieces to her. “I don’t need to know. Throw it away. But you deserve better siblings. You’re like an innocent village girl stolen away by an evil trolls.”
“I love my troll sister.”
She looked like a little kid then and I knew I’d hurt her feelings, fucking up things on her special night. “I’m sorry, Kenzie. I was curious and...I’m sorry.”
The doorbell rang and she said, “We’ll talk about this later.” She slipped the torn envelope into her pocket and went to answer the door.
I took the opportunity to change the playlist to one we both liked, more Adele and no Mariah. I was trying to shake off my tension when my sister returned with Christopher.
He wore corduroy pants and I knew I’d have to hear the swh-swh-swh of the material every time he moved. Kenzie introduced us and when he stepped toward me with his hand outstretched, his pants went swh-swh-swh.
Kenzie said, “You two get to know each other and I’ll finish up dinner.”
I’d researched Christopher Miller, of course, and assumed he didn’t photograph well because Kenzie’s taste had previously run to gym rats who talked endlessly about the dangers of gluten. Chris was shorter than me, and he had a round boyish face with pink cheeks, big blue eyes behind gold-rimmed glasses, and flyaway brown hair. His lips were wide and when he grinned, he showed a nice gap between his front teeth.