by C. Ruth Daly
It was 10:05 by the time Dan Green had organized his life in Burgenton and was ready to get to work. He left the apartment building’s musty interior and stepped outside into the clean, small town air. The temperature was pleasant now but the morning dew almost gone from the grass, and he knew it might be a hot day. Dan headed to the east and quickly found the public library just around the corner from his place. Crossing the street he noticed two churches lined the street, one on either side. Then he squinted to see that the end of town was not far ahead so he went north or left. The town was full of old, massive homes. These are full of history, he thought as he went one block and found Livingston Street. “That was easy,” he muttered to himself and checked out the house numbers, deciding to turn right and go further east and there it was. Too simple, he pondered. Now how to approach the McNally house. His heart beat faster in his chest as he stepped up on the porch of the two story house of Donna McNally. There wasn’t a doorbell so he knocked and then knocked again. Harder this time to make sure anyone upstairs or down would hear him.
The door opened a crack and an older woman’s face peered out, “What do you want?” she asked, and then, “You ain’t some kind of Moonie, are you?” The white-haired woman scowled at Dan when she noticed his long hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail. Her hand reached up to lock the screen door to protect herself from whatever apparent danger this stranger might bring. She spoke again through the mesh of the screen, “I give at church, you know, so I don’t have anything to give you.” She began to shut the wooden door that had a diamond of blue and yellow stained glass in the center.
“Wait, please…I’m here to see Donna McNally.”
“Donna?” Carol McNally said with surprise. “Does she know you from high school?”
“No, I am from Arizona and…and I want to meet with her for some research I am doing on the Ned Hollis murders. Uh, you see, I’m a freelance writer.” Between his nervousness and the humidity, Dan’s forehead and upper lip beaded with perspiration and he wiped his face with the back of his hand.
“Well, I don’t think she’s home now. She don’t live here, you know. She just got back from Arizona. Right now I think she’s out walking her friend’s dog. What’s your name and I’ll tell her you called?”
“No need. We’ve met before. Thank you for your time,” and Dan Green turned and walked down the street.
Carol McNally shut the door and locked it, then she shuffled to the backdoor and locked the deadbolt on it while muttering all the way that someone’s up to no good.
Donna had just dropped off Ralph at Glynda’s house and was walking to the corner toward her mother’s place when she ran into Dan Green.
“Wow, hi Donna. It’s nice to see you again.”
Her eyes narrowed on him and her jaw tightened, “Why are you following me? What do you need and why are you in Burgenton?”
Dan smiled at her and said nothing.
Donna stared at him and her anger grew, “What the hell do you want, man? What are you up to? You better tell me the truth and stop fucking with me you son-of-a-bitch.”
Dan was taken back. He thought he was a strong judge of character and this outburst from Donna was not what he had expected. Didn’t Lucero say she was nice and meek? He swallowed hard and cleared his throat to give him time to remember the lies he had told everyone and somehow tie them together to corroborate himself. “You see, Donna. May I call you Donna?”
She crossed her arms and glared at the man.
“Okay, anyway. I’m an English postgraduate student and I’m writing about the Hollis murders. It’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it? Uh, I’m sure you remember seeing me at the university then of course on I-40. Funny thing isn’t it? I mean that we’ve run into each other so many times?” He stopped and smiled, “It must mean something, don’t you think?” He spoke shyly and softly to her.
Donna’s arms remained crossed and she remained silent. Dan Green’s attempt at charm did not woe her but only sent her emotions into a spiraling frenzy of irritation. “Alright, Mr. Green—whatever your name really is. I have an idea why you are here and I suggest you stay away from me and the house over there—Glynda’s place.” In a huff, she walked around him in the direction of the Livingston Street house.
Dan Green watched Donna’s erect shoulders and long legs amble down the street and he smiled.
Chapter Ten
“Yes, I got the invitation, too,” Donna said to Glynda as she followed her around the Laundromat while Glynda gathered coins from the machines.
Glynda’s voice flowed over the sounds of the washers churning and dryers humming. “Well, I’m going but I don’t know what to wear. Did you see all the engraving on that paper? It sure seemed expensive. That makes me think we’ve gotta’ dress nice. Don’t you think?”
Donna didn’t even think about the dress. All she could think was that Trevor was having an open house before the vacation rentals opened and all the big-wigs of Burgenton will be there. “Hey, why don’t we head into Hamilton City this evening and shop, okay?” She thought the plan would put a salve on Glynda’s itching desire to dress for the event. All Donna really cared about was finding out about Trevor’s business acquaintances. She also wanted to get Lori alone and see how she really was doing because the only time Donna saw her was when the bride was drunk and it was just barely noon.
“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea—and Evan, too. He’s gotta’ dress for it. Can you think it? How’re we going to get him in a suit? Maybe we can fit him in a shirt with sleeves at least.”
Donna nodded in agreement. It had been two weeks since they had returned to Burgenton. June 1st was opening day for Trevor and the open house was scheduled for this Memorial Day weekend. It had also been a week since she ran into Dan Green on the corner and she thought maybe she had chased him away. Her confidence evaporated when he walked through the door with a paper grocery bag full of laundry.
Dan didn’t even glance in the direction of Donna and Glynda but grabbed the first available machine closest to the door and loaded it, then he turned to the plastic seats lining the front window, sat down and opened up a folded paper and examined it.
Glynda went back to collecting coins and Donna, feeling uncomfortable, said, “I’ll see you later. I’m going out to my sister’s house to see if Gil can give Evan a job on their farm.” With her eyes focused on the door, Donna left and walked back down Livingston Street to her mother’s home.
While Donna McNally got ready to drive the six miles out to Irish’s house, Dan Green sat in the Laundromat, memorizing the terrain of the river area. Later today he would head to the library and see if they had old newspapers on file. He also had plans to locate Thelma Carson, but first he had to remember the lies he had told to Donna, Glynda and everyone else and concoct a plausible one with which to approach her. The scheming and lying was not part of his character—he was new to it, but he seized the opportunity to plot and scheme when it came to recovering his family’s entitlement.
The laundry matron, Glynda, did not give any attention to the longhaired man on the plastic chair and returned to her little office booth, content to add the coinage on the adding machine and daydream about a quiet retreat on the river.
In the meantime, Donna was zipping down the country road anticipating her visit with her sister Irish and hoping Gil would give Evan a job. The white farmhouse was busy with activity when she drove up the gravel lane. Matt was now a teenager and Irish’s two younger kids were riding bikes around the yard. The youngest girl Olivia was the spitting image of Irish and the middle child Chloe favored her father. They had only seen Donna about six times in their lives and two of the times had been during the past two weeks. The girls waved from the backyard and continued with their fun while Donna went up the steps to the front porch and knocked, waited for Irish, and stared out at the cornfield to see the horizon coated with a hint of green with the virgin crop popping through the soil. Despite Donna’s closeness with her sister, Iri
sh and Gil never knew of the gold, but Irish wrote to Donna several times over the years and sometimes laughed about how kids in the area considered the river a rich treasure-trove. No one had any idea that the gold had been hidden under that trailer and it had been distributed among the five of them; that the gold was real and it was not a fable. We’ll just keep it that way, I hope, Donna mused.
The door flew open and the two girls had found their mom and brought her to welcome their aunt into the house.
“Come on in, Donna,” Irish said giving her a hug. “I can’t believe you remembered your way out here.”
“It hasn’t been that long, Irish.” Donna answered, “I can’t stay long because Glynda and I are going to go shopping for something to wear to Trevor’s opening. I—I also wanted to see if Gil might have a job for Evan,” Donna smiled weakly.
They talked as they moved to the kitchen in the back of the house where Irish poured iced tea and set a bowl full of nuts between them at the round wooden table.
Irish seemed interested in Trevor’s party and Donna wondered if her sister felt confined out on the farm with the kids all day and doing domestic work. “I’m not sure who’s going to be there, Irish. I am sure some of the people from the county government and bankers etc. who helped finance the resort will show up. Have you had a chance to see it?” Donna asked. “It’s really quite spectacular”.
Her sister sighed, “No, I don’t get out much, Donna. I have my three good girlfriends from high school out for lunch every other week, but that’s about it.” Donna noticed Irish had bags under her eyes and her sister had put on about twenty pounds in the past three years. “But don’t get me wrong, Donna. I’m happy,” she smiled, “and I love being a mom. Gil is great and when he isn’t busy we go out to eat sometimes. The kids are involved in 4-H and I’m a brownie troop leader during the school year.”
“That’s great, Irish.” Donna smiled and thought how miserable she would be in Irish’s shoes. “I’m happy for you.” After an hour of conversation surrounding the usual sisterly gab, Donna again broached the subject on Evan and his need for a job.
“I can ask Gil, okay. Gil’s dad may know someone too. I’m sure they’ll have something.”
With a sigh of relief Donna gave her sister a hug and left; flying back down the road toward Burgenton. When she approached the downtown stoplight, Donna’s eyes darted to the courthouse where the three patrol cars—the entire Burgenton police force had parked along with a few county sheriffs. Lights were flashing on the cars, and the main entrance to the courthouse had been sealed with yellow tape.
“Uh oh,” Donna whispered as like everyone else, she slowed to see what may be going on. She turned east on Livingston to her house and headed toward home.
Her mother was inside the house, sitting at the kitchen table with an old transistor radio against her ear. When Donna saw her she sighed and asked, “What happened to the clock radio I sent you for Christmas?”
“Shh…” whispered Mrs. McNally, “I’m listening to the news.” Through the static and the crackle Donna could pick up what her mom was straining to hear: The Camden County assessor is missing. He was last seen earlier on Tuesday morning when he had breakfast at Sam’s Coffee Shop. The news continued with reports on the unmarried man’s mail had not been picked up since Monday afternoon. His secretary received a typed note from him in an envelope that said he was going to be gone for a few days with instructions on work to be completed and his whereabouts in the lake area where he would be fishing. The behavior was not too unusual the secretary reported for the assessor, Robert Mulligan, had left a phone message in October when he took a two day break to go hunting. The news continued with the assessor’s car that had been located on County Road 97 northwest of town. The car was not anywhere near Lake Road. Police are looking at possible foul play as they search for any sign of the official.
“My Lord, Donna,” her mother shook her head and laid down the radio and turned it off. “Can you believe it? What is going on here? I wonder what your dad would think about this world.” She clicked her tongue.
Thoughts raced through Donna’s mind as she tried to imagine what had happened to the assessor. Dan Green came to mind and she wondered if he could be connected. Then remembering her suspicious attitudes as a kid and how they got her into trouble, Donna quickly dismissed the idea. “I’m sure the police will figure it out. When I drove back from Irish’s, the courthouse was sealed with that yellow crime tape, and the police force and county sheriffs were parked around the town square. How long has he been assessor, Mom? I don’t remember him when I lived here.”
“Oh, he was elected during the last election. I don’t believe he was born here or in Gardenville. I think he came from one of the counties close by but I can’t remember which one.”
“Mom, I do want to let you know that Glynda and I are headed to Hamilton City to buy outfits for Trevor Morrelli’s open house. It’s this weekend, you know. Should be interesting,” Donna remarked.
“How is Lori Bell, Donna? I don’t see much of her. Glynda is so sweet and you know, she checks in on me just being around the corner. Sometimes she sends one of her boys over here to help me out if I can’t get something down from the shelf or reach under the bed to get my money.”
“What? Why are you keeping money under the bed, Mom? That’s not safe.”
“Donna, I don’t keep much—just a couple hundred. It’s too far to go to the bank. Irish comes in and helps out, too, and brings the kids since your other sisters and brothers aren’t in town. We’re going to get together before the end of the summer. Sure wish your oldest sister in California could make it.”
“I saw Margaret a few times over the last few years. We’d meet in Vegas and once I took the train to LA.”
Donna sat at the other end of the table and she and Carol McNally talked about family, events in the community, who Carol has seen at church, and Donna’s life in Arizona. After an hour her mother was ready for a nap and headed to her bedroom while her daughter gathered a few things from the house, locked the backdoor, made sure the items needed for her mother’s evening meal were laid out on the counter, and then went out the front door, locking it behind her.
Even though Glynda was right around the corner, she got in her truck and drove because they would leave for shopping right after Glynda got the boys’ dinner. Donna wondered if Glynda had heard more news on the assessor’s disappearance since gossip ran amuck around the Laundromat. Evan was sitting outside on the sidewalk smoking a cigarette, petting Ralph, and staring at the treetops.
Donna hopped out of the cab, “Hi Evan, what’s going on? Did you hear the news in town—that the county assessor has gone missing?”
“Yeah, Rodney went up to get candy at Glynda’s work and came back and told me.” He spoke with sadness in his voice.
Donna wanted to cheer him up and said, “Hey, I talked to my sister Irish and she’s going to ask her husband Gil and Gil’s dad if either of them have a job for you. It sounds promising. Isn’t that great, Evan?”
“Yea, thanks, Donna. Ya know. I sure do miss that clear blue sky back in Arizona. When we first got there, Donna. I was so homesick for Burgenton but now I’m homesick for the desert. That’s all. Funny thing, huh?” He squinted at her, “Yeah, maybe me workin’ on a farm again will do me good. I’m sick of workin’ here and there, though. Ya know? I’d like to find me a trade and stick with it and have a little house with a place for Ralph.” Evan reached over and scratched the mutt’s ears. “You’ve been to school a lot, Donna. Those university degrees you have mean a lot. Me? I don’t got nothin’. Just me and my dog. Naa, I don’t want to sound ungrateful for you takin me away from Trevor and not letting him use me or whatever. That’s not what I mean. I just—I just don’t know—whatever. Say, you and Glynda are going to go get clothes for Trevor’s party? Can you all pick up a clean shirt for me? I wear an X-large.”
“Would you wear a polo shirt, Evan? Most men’s shirts that are dress
y are buttoned and you would need to know your neck size.”
“Polo shirt?” Evan asked in surprise. “I meant a nice t-shirt with arms.”
Donna smiled, “Okay. I’ll see what we can do.”
Chapter Eleven
The three of them lingered by the road, closest to the entrance while the other attendees mingled near The Oasis and the cabins, checking out the finery and intently listening to Trevor’s well prepared recital on the features of the vacation establishment.
“Check them out, guys. I don’t know if we dressed well enough,” Donna said as she stared down at her solid skirt and paisley blouse, her feet decked in strapped sandals. Glynda wore her Sunday best with a floral print and scarf wrapped around her midsection accentuating her full figure. Evan was clean. He donned his navy blue long sleeve t-shirt, clean denim jeans, and shined his work boots. He even trimmed his beard for the occasion. The apparel for the event was evening attire and women were dressed in sequined dresses, flowing skirts, and strapped high heels while men were garbed in suits with ties and shiny dark shoes.
“Don’t worry about it, Donna. No one’s lookin’ at us anyways.” Evan was right. Lori and Trevor were busy entertaining and the catering staff did not even glance in their direction.
“Maybe we should go up there and act like the rest of them?” Glynda’s wisdom shined, and against their inclinations, Donna and Evan joined her.