Blackout

by Chris Ryan

  'Okay, okay,' said Josh quickly. He took Kate by the arm. Come on, we're going.'

  Outside, the sun was higher in the sky and there was more traffic on the road. Josh hesitated as he left the Motel 6, glancing back towards the two-storey row of rooms stretching back a hundred yards from the lobby. I have been here before, he realised.

  97

  / might even have stayed at this motel before I was shot.

  'Some more coffee,' Josh said to Kate. He was thirsty again: the same dry, burning thirst in his throat that he'd had ever since he'd been shot. 'Then we go see if this Elaine woman works on Sunday mornings.'

  Another man sitting alone and sipping a coffee. This guy had a baseball cap pulled down tight onto his forehead. Josh looked at him once, through the window of the restaurant, then averted his gaze. More surveillance, he judged. He couldn't be sure how he knew. Maybe I've had that training myself, he mused. Maybe that's why I can recognise them.

  Kate came out of the restaurant with two cups of coffee and two turkey-breast sandwiches, and walked across to where Josh was waiting. Ten yards away, a couple were getting their kids out of their car, and a group of bikers had just pulled up in the parking lot of the diner. There were six of them: big men, with long hair, muscles that bulged out of their T-shirts, and fat guts that hung out of their jeans. Half past ten. Boisdale was starting to wake up.

  'Let's go,' said Kate. 'We can eat while we walk. If we're going to be sure of catching this reporter we need to get to her office now.'

  Josh started to walk down the street, taking bites from his sandwich as he did so.

  'Josh,' cried a woman's voice from the parking lot.

  He ignored her and carried on walking. Who the hell is Josh? he wondered. ^

  'Josh,' she shouted again.

  Is that me she's calling?

  Quiet, woman, he thought. Too much commotion and you're going to alert that spotter sitting at the back of the diner.

  'Hell, Josh, aren't you even going to say hello to me?'

  Suddenly the voice's owner was tugging at the sleeve of

  98

  his shirt. Up ahead, Josh could see Kate spinning around to see what was happening.

  Josh looked down. The woman was maybe twenty, twenty-one. She had long blonde hair tied up behind her head, and a thick chubby face. She could have been a size twelve, borderline fourteen. She was wearing tight blue jeans, and a yellow Madonna T-shirt that exposed a roll of tanned flesh around her midriff. A pair of studs pierced her belly button. Around her neck there was a gold cross, and a pair of silver earrings dangled from her lobes.

  'What did you call me?'

  Suddenly frightened, the woman backed away, letting go of Josh's sleeve. It was his turn to grab hold of her arm.

  'What did you call me?' said Josh, his voice angrier this time.

  'Josh.' She hesitated, her expression hurt and confused. 'Josh, I . . . I . . .'

  'Josh -- you called me Josh?'

  The woman pulled her arm away. 'Let go of me, you asshole.'

  She turned, walking quickly across the tarmac of the parking lot. Josh started to hurry after her. 'Stop,' he snapped.

  To his left, he could see one of the bikers stepping away from the Harley Touring bikes -- some of them bastardised, with different handlebars stuck onto the original frames. The man was wearing leather trousers, a white linen shirt, and a thick pair of studded leather gloves.

  'This guy bothering ypu, lady?' he asked the woman.

  'Get him away from me,' she said.

  A tear was already running down the side of her face.

  'I just need to--' But then Josh saw that the biker was stepping towards him and further back two more bikers were climbing down from their Harleys, watching closely.

  'The lady doesn't want to talk,' said the first one. 'Take a hike, bud.'

  99

  Josh knew that he was in no shape for a fight: certainly not for a brawl with three two-hundred-and-fifty-pound bikers.

  Now Kate was behind him and was tugging at his sleeve. 'Leave it,' she snapped.

  'Yeah, leave it, man,' said the biker, leering in the direction of Kate. 'You already got a girlfriend.'

  'We're going,' said Kate, taking Josh's arm and steering him towards the road. A truck went by, belching a thick cloud of dirty exhaust fumes into the air. Josh choked. Behind him, he could see the young woman going into the diner, talking to the biker who had come to her rescue. Sir Galahad, thought Josh to himself. In her dreams.

  'What are you doing, you idiot?' snapped Kate. 'You get into a fight, the police are going to come and arrest you.'

  'That woman,' said Josh. 'She knew my name.'

  'Your name?'

  'Josh. She called me Josh.'

  Kate smiled, her expression brightening.

  'Josh,' repeated Kate, rolling the sound on her tongue. 'I like it. Kind of suits you. I would have had you down as a Sam or an Ed. But Josh will do just fine.'

  'How did she know who I was?' said Josh.

  'Don't you have any memories?' asked Kate hopefully.

  Josh shook his head. 'I must have spent time here,' he said. 'Maybe before I was shot?'

  But why? he asked himself. What was I doing here?

  Josh looked back towards the dijjer. The spotter, the man he had seen earlier, had finished his coffee and folded away his newspaper. He was staring straight at them.

  Josh tugged Kate by the arm. 'Quick,' he said. 'I think he's moving in on us.'

  Kate glanced towards the restaurant window.

  'Don't look,' hissed Josh.

  He started walking along the street. From the corner of

  100

  his eye he could see the spotter walking out of the restaurant, then glancing up and down the street. Josh tried to assess him. My best guess is that he doesn't know who I am. I'm just someone who's acting suspiciously around town, and he wants to find out more.

  'The newspaper office,' said Josh.

  From the directions that Darren had given them, the office should only be a couple of hundred yards up this street.

  'You sure?' Kate asked nervously.

  'No,' snapped Josh. 'But it's the best option we have. And don't walk too fast or that guy's going to call down half the FBI on our trail.'

  Elaine Johnston cast a professional eye over Kate and Josh as they sat in the chairs opposite her. Advertisers or stories, thought Josh. We have to fall into one category or the other. Otherwise, she's not interested.

  'What do you want to know about?' she asked.

  'The Lippard murder,' answered Josh.

  The office of the Boisdale Ledger occupied two rooms, on the third floor of a modern concrete office building that also housed an accounting firm, a travel agency and a couple of farm-machinery distributors. Johnston's desk was a mass of paper. Five empty coffee cups perched on top of a few old files, and there were two packets of nicotine patches, both opened. Today she was the only person home.

  'Everyone wants to know about that,' she said.

  Johnston was a woman in her fifties, wearing grey slacks and a black sweater. He hair was greying, cut short, but her face was fresh and inquisitive. She was, Josh noted, possibly the only person in Arizona without any kind of a tan.

  'We're researching a TV documentary for the BBC,' continued Josh. 'Looking at small-town murder cases. My name is Ben Webster, and this is my assistant Kate. We were hoping that you might be able to tell us a bit more about

  101

  the case.' He paused.'Perhaps you could be on the programme.'

  'On the BBC?'Johnston laughed.'Like the Queen, maybe.'

  'Maybe,' said Josh, with a smile. 'And there would be a fee, of course.'

  'What do you want to know?'

  Kate leaned forwards. 'Just whatever you know. Take it from the beginning.'

  Johnston shot Kate a look that suggested she didn't like her much, then glanced back at Josh. She played with her pencil as if it was a cigarette. 'Ben and Luke
were just a couple of computer nerds,' she said. 'We got lots of them around here. Nothing different about these two. They were fifteen, at the local high school They were friends with each other, but not with many other kids. The girls weren't interested. Too many spots and not enough money. Not a combination to get the cheerleaders hot.'Johnston laughed. 'Not even here in Boisdale.'

  'What kind of families?' asked Josh.

  Johnston shrugged. 'They weren't millionaires, that's for sure. Ben's father was a car mechanic. Ben lived with both parents, about six miles out of town. Nothing grand, but a nice home, with an acre of land and a small pool.'

  'And Luke? How about Luke?'

  'He lived with his mom, Emily, 'bout ten miles from town, off the Havertree Road. Ask around, people will tell you about Emily. She used to be the town drunk. Always falling out of bars at two in the morning. Town slut as well, from what people say. Nobody knows who Luke's daddy is. Maybe Emily doesn't even know herself. If she does, she never told anyone.'

  Josh looked across the room to the water cooler. 'Mind if I get a drink?' he asked.

  Johnston nodded. Josh stepped across the room, filled a paper cup and gulped down the cold water. His throat still felt bone dry. He held the bandage tight against his neck:

  102

  some air had seeped into the wound, irritating the raw skin underneath.

  'What happened to you?' asked Johnston.

  'Fell off my bike,' said Josh. 'Emily? She still drinking?'

  Johnston shook her head. 'No. Cleaned up her act about five, six years ago. Got religion, although I think that only lasted a couple of years. Anyway, it helped her straighten her head out. She lives outside of town, in what we locals call the empty country, in an old mining house. Just her and Luke. She's devoted to him.'

  'The boys into anything?'

  'As I said, computers,' said Johnston. 'They were both obsessed with their computers, the way young boys are these days. They both got into trouble at school for hacking into the school computer and changing everyone's grades. We wrote a story about it in the paper. I don't think they meant any harm. They were nice enough boys in their own way. It's a real shame about Ben.'

  'They do any drugs?' asked Kate.

  Johnston nodded. Her pencil was dangling from the side of her mouth now. 'Some, I reckon. Just some dope.' She laughed, and the pencil dropped to the floor. 'It's not the most exciting town in the world. Quite a few of the grownups do a bit of weed from time to time as well. It helps to pass the time, I believe. Emily grows some out on her land. That and some part-time waitressing are her only income.'

  'How about crime?' asked Josh. 'Were the boys mixed up in anything like that?'

  'Apart from hacking and dope?' replied Johnston. 'No, not as far as I know. They were okay boys. I spoke to the sheriff, Jim Kelly, yesterday. You spoken with him yet?'

  Josh shook his head.

  'Well, you'll need to.' She looked at Josh, giving him a smile that he found impossible to read. 'I could introduce you if you like.'

  103

  'Thanks,' answered Josh neutrally. 'Go on.'

  Johnston sat back in her chair. The window was open, and the mid-morning sunlight was starting to stream into the untidy room. 'Right now, they don't have any significant leads. The best theory they have is that the boys were bored at school and decided to take off for a couple of days. Maybe they ran short of money, and tried to rip off one of the local dealers. That's a good enough reason to get shot. They reckon Luke will turn up in a few days, scared out of his wits. He'll tell them what happened, and then this case will be closed.'

  Josh stood up, already glancing towards the door. 'Thanks,' he said. 'That was helpful.'

  'I haven't told you anything that you couldn't have figured out for yourself by reading tomorrow's paper.'

  Josh smiled. 'Still good to hear it in person,' he said. 'From someone who knows.'

  'You going to make that programme?'

  'We'll have to see.'

  'Because I'd be happy to take part.'

  Something about the smile with which Johnston delivered the offer told Josh that she didn't expect it to ever be taken up. 'We'll be in touch,' he said.

  Then he took Kate's arm and started guiding her towards the door.

  'So who are you really?' said Johnston.

  'Like I said, researchers,' said Josh. 'For British TV.'

  Johnston was following them tpwards the door. 'I'm a reporter,' she said. 'I have instincts, and I've learned to rely on them. I know when people are shilling me.' She reached across her desk, taking a card from a box perched next to her computer. 'You're involved,' she said, handing Josh the card. 'I don't know how. But when you feel like saying, call me. I'm sure it's going to make a good story.'

  104

  EIGHT

  Sunday, June 1th. Evening/night.

  Josh scanned the street as he stepped out of the newspaper office. There was no sign of the spotter. Whether he was still looking for them or whether he had called in reinforcements or just moved on, Josh had no way of knowing.

  The bikes had disappeared too. The street was empty. 'I think it's okay,' he said to Kate, moving swiftly out onto the pavement.

  She followed him out of the building. Josh started walking, keeping alert. Anyone sitting in a car, or just hanging around on a corner, would trigger his suspicion. So far, he could see nothing. Maybe we're in the clear.

  'I don't think those kids were dopeheads,' said Josh.

  'That seems to be the local theory,' said Kate.

  Josh shook his head. 'Doesn't make any sense to me. There's something bigger than that happening in this town. A couple of runaway teenagers don't cause this much excitement.'

  'Look,' said Kate.

  She was nodding towards a car across the road.

  Josh looked up. Two men were sitting in the front seat of a car parked twenty yards down from the restaurant. One of them was drinking from a plastic bottle of water, the other was unwrapping a stick of gum. Josh recognised both of them. The two spotters he'd seen earlier.

  And if I recognise them, maybe they will recognise me.

  105

  'Stay cool,' he said. 'Just keep walking like nothing is happening.'

  Josh picked up his pace. The leg was hurting, and it was tough to move at more than a fast walking pace.

  Kate was steering him along. A hundred yards, then two hundred, then three hundred. Josh glanced back once. The two men were still sitting in their car. Neither of them had moved. It's okay, he decided. They aren't looking for us specifically. But they are looking for someone.

  'We need to get out of town,' said Kate.

  'Where?' said Josh.

  'Marshall knows people,' said Kate. 'Out in the wilderness. They'll know where to hide us.'

  They kept on walking. Up ahead, Josh could see the bright yellow sign of the Motel 6. He glanced towards Kate, but she seemed lost in her own thoughts. Up beyond the motel was a set of dusty hills rising high into the distance. We're walking right into them, he realised. Good hiding country.

  Josh tried to concentrate. A new memory was constantly fading in and out like a badly tuned radio signal. But there was no mistaking it. The girl he had seen earlier, the one who had spoken to him outside the restaurant. Her name was Madge. A big Madonna fan: her iPod had every Madonna track ever recorded stored on it, and was constantly plugged into her ear. She was naked. And she was lying in bed in the motel. With me.

  Christ, I'm not surprised she \jas angry. / slept with her and now I don't even remember her name.

  Josh stopped and turned to face Kate. 'I have to go back to the motel,' he said.

  They were almost a mile out of town now, on a dirt track that led away from the main road up into the hills. 'What?' snapped Kate.

  'That girl in the parking lot,' said Josh. 'She works at the

  106

  motel. The evening shift. She . . .' He paused. 'I've met her before.'

  Kate laughed angrily. 'Met
her?'

  'Right.'

  'You mean you fucked her.'

  Josh nodded. 'She knows who I am,' he said. 'I need to go and speak to her.'

  He could feel Kate gripping his wrist, holding tight onto it. 'No,' she said firmly.

  'She knows who I am,' repeated Josh. 'I have to speak to her.'

  He could feel Kate's hand squeezing his wrist tighter as she struggled to control her temper. 'Okay,' she said, releasing him. 'If you have to.'

  'I have to,'Josh said again. 'I'm going to find Marshall's friends,' said Kate. 'They'll be out looking for us. Keep going along this track for two miles. When you see an abandoned mine, take the track heading due north for one mile. You'll see a rock formation to the right. We'll be there for the night.'

  Josh turned around, and started walking back into town.

  Josh paused outside the motel, scanning the building. The town was crawling with policemen and agents, he reminded himself. There could easily be one here.

  As he stepped into the lobby of the Motel 6, Madge's expression changed from a pout to a scowl. She was by herself, dressed in the regulation yellow tunic of the chain: underneath the nylon of the shirt, Josh could make out the blue fabric of her bra. He noticed the plump swelling of her breasts inside it. 'What do you want?' she said.

  Josh stepped forward, leaning against the edge of the counter.

  'This motel is full,' she said, her face reddening with anger. 'Madge, I'm really sorry.'

  107

  'We're full,' she repeated.

  Josh held his position. 'You don't understand, Madge,' he continued. 'I was hurt. I've been shot twice, and it's affected my memory. I didn't know my own.name, who I was or where I came from. I just didn't realise who you were this morning.' He hesitated, making sure that she could detect the lump in his throat. 'Or how much you meant to me.'

  Madge's expression softened. She pushed away the hair that had fallen in front of her face. 'What happened?' she said.

  'I don't know,' Josh replied. 'Monday, I was involved in some kind of accident. Or worse.'

  Suddenly, Madge threw her arms around him and kissed his cheeks with her wet lips. 'I was lying,' she whispered in his ear. 'We've got lots of room. And I'm closing the desk five minutes early'

  Twenty minutes later, they were lying in bed together,-their bodies naked, stretched out on the crumpled white sheets.