Lacene Lords

by Fornataro, Nancy

  "Yes," he replied, "you will. Or I'll tell your mother you're seeing the Cowell kid. I read it in that diary of yours."

  She thought she'd put the thing in a great hiding place this time. "So. She won't care."

  "She will. I'll tell her you fucked him."

  "You wouldn't do that. Besides, I'd get Willie to talk to her. Or even his grandpa."

  "Old Jake? Mayor Jake? She wouldn't believe him anyway. She thinks all politicians are liars." He paused. "You know you're eighteen now. Should be learning about sex. We'll have us a little party, just you and me."

  She eyed him with loathing, his soiled shirt, his whiskey breath and his blood-shot eyes as they roved over her body. He'd caught her in the hallway and now he moved towards her.

  But then she sighed in relief as she heard her mother come in the back door, apparently home early from Red's Bar. "You leave me alone," she hissed, blowing past him and into her room. "Forever," she whispered, before she flopped on her bed.

  *****

  Monday morning at school, Willie walked by another group of girls, and had the same response as the first. Giggles and sly looks. He didn't know what was going on.

  He frowned. Aside from the school stuff, he was worried about his mother. She'd had another bad dream last night. And, he hadn't seen Susie today. The day was starting badly.

  "My man," Mike said, as he came up to Willie. "You aced it, dude. I'm proud of you." Mike slapped him on the arm.

  "Huh?" Willie opened his locker and wondered where Susie was. He stared blankly at his books sitting there in a big pile.

  "Hey, earth to Willie. Dude." Mike shook his arm.

  "Yeah."

  Mike sighed. "You are the most clueless guy. There are rumors going around about you and Susie. How you're a big stud and can do it better than anyone in the world."

  Willie stared at him. He started to say that he and Susie hadn't done the thing yet, but that was between the two of them, he thought. "Who started it? The rumor, I mean."

  "I would guess Susie. How else would anyone know?"

  Willie frowned. "That's private. Why would she tell all the girls?"

  Mike walked with him down the hallway to the sounds of slamming lockers and giggling girls. "Like I said, Will, you're clueless. Girls talk, and I mean about everything. Susie told them you're the tongue master. Let me see it, say ahhhh."

  Laughing, Willie punched his arm. But then he grew serious again. "She shouldn't have said anything."

  "You won't find a girl in this school who would keep quiet about a thing like...that." Mike said. "Just be sure to write me out a book of instructions. I need to know those things before I meet 'the one.'"

  "Yeah sure, Mike. In your dreams. You can go explore on your own. Book of instructions. My ass."

  Willie met Susie outside of their third period class. She looked good in fragment torn jeans shorts, a white shirt and sandals.

  "Hey," she said, walking up to him. She put an arm around his waist. A few girls strolled by and eyed him boldly.

  But he was still upset with her. "Heard you told what we did, which wasn't much." he said shortly, while his eyes wandered up and down the hallway.

  She looked hurt. "I just told Angela. She's my best friend, Willie. We always tell each other everything."

  "Yeah? Well she's got a goddamn big mouth and she exaggerates. You need a better set of friends. Now the whole school thinks we've had sex."

  "But Willie," she said wheedling now, "I didn't say anything bad. Besides, other kids make out. Although I don't know if they've done it exactly like we did."

  Remembering back, to the party, he grew hazy. Yeah, they had done it well. Looking down at her, he said softly, "You are so hot."

  She smiled. He kissed her and played her tongue with his own.

  A teacher went by, and said, "Kids, no PDA now."

  Susie pulled his head down, and whispered in his ear, "When can we get together again, Willie?"

  He whispered back, "I think I need a break. I need a break from 'honey' or it will drive me crazy. Don't know if I can control myself next time. I get hard just looking at you."

  "I'm on the pill. My mom put me on it last year. I told her I wasn't seeing anyone, but she said she didn't want to take the chance."

  "Still, it just wouldn't be right. My Grandpa says to wait until you're married."

  She laughed. "I like your Grandpa but he's pretty old fashioned."

  The bell rang, and he pulled the back of her shirt as she went to walk into class. Spinning her around, he hugged her hard and whispered into her ear, "I'm going by what he says. But I can still make you happy."

  "Dang, Willie. Just when I was cooling off."

  *****

  Drawing a deep breath, Pap wondered if he'd even live six more months. In the living room, where he sat now, he was surrounded by what he called the 'keep me alive threesome.' Nebulizer, inhaler and oxygen tank.

  He'd just gotten up out of bed, so things were doubly hard for him. Reaching his easy chair, he finally sat down. The folder was right next to him, luckily within arms reach.

  Opening it, he thought the initial shock of looking at two of his friends butchered would never wear off. The startling colors, the pallor of the faces, the stains on the carpeting, all in vibrant red, burgundy, blue of the clothing and sickly grayish faces. And he remembered how hard it was staying impartial that horrible night, so long ago. Even these days, Spence's screams sometimes echoed in his mind.

  It just firmed up his determination to find what he was missing.

  Closing his eyes, he put himself in the victim's minds. He opens the door, and the perp walks in. He's invited into the living room. Maybe. Not sure whether he sits first or not. Gets behind June and slashes the neck. Might have gotten some blood on him. Where is Oscar? The perp might hide if Oscar is in the other room. Then, as Oscar finds June, he's slashed too.

  Dead-end. That's where Pap's mind ends up. But he knows there's lots of blood on the perp now. The man tracks it to the shed, and calmly changes clothes and shoes. Carries away the soiled items.

  Something about Oscar was so right in his face. What am I missing? Pap wondered.

  He called Davey.

  "Yeah?" his son barked into the cell phone.

  "Davey. Got a request."

  "Yeah, Pap. What's up?" He sounded exhausted.

  "How'd the rape case go?"

  "She's lying through her teeth. Just doesn't make sense to me Pap, why she'd even report it."

  "Yeah, the teens always seem to have an agenda. At any rate, can you take me to Simmons' place later on? Need to check something out."

  "Sure you're up to it Pap?"

  "Gotta show Simmons there's someone healthier than him."

  Davey laughed. "Right. Okay, I'll come home around lunch and then we can go after that."

  "Thanks son. I'll call the old fart in the meantime and let him know we're coming."

  *****

  "I've got this wonderful idea to get Spence," Tammy told her father over coffee in the PS25 break room.

  "Christ, you still on that kick? What's so good about him that would make you chase him like you do? Looks like a hood to me. Plus, if we can believe the police, he's a murdering son of a bitch."

  "He's not!" Tammy said heatedly.

  "So what's your plan now?"

  "Well, I'm going to pretend to be deep and filled with innocent thoughts."

  He really laughed at that. "You? I suppose it's not too far of a stretch."

  "Well, I think I've been coming on too strong with him. Maybe if I hold something back he'll get the chasing instinct."

  "A person always wants what they can't have. Guess it's pretty much of an instinct. Animals have it. Why shouldn't he?"

  He continued, "He still at the Cowell place?"

  She looked sulky. "Yes. She got him back there last night. But, mark my words, I'll win in the end father. And then you'll be happy for me."

  After school, Tammy drove by
the Cowells. Spence's Cadillac was there, but Meg's SUV was gone, along with the Cowell's Lincoln.

  Perfect time, she thought, as she pulled in the driveway.

  She took her hair down, shook it out, and hiked up her skirt a bit by the waist. Looking around the large yard, she finally saw him.

  It looked as if he was doing fence repair. His shirt was off, and his usual jeans replaced by shorts. He wore no shoes, and she smiled at that. How endearing. And his legs were fine, just fine. More muscles.

  She saw some other people working on the side yard, and wondered what they were doing.

  Walking up to Spence, she said, "Hi."

  He turned towards her, and she saw a sheen of sweat on his back and chest as he wiped his forehead with his arm. "Hey Tammy."

  He grabbed the fence post and lifted it out, with his arm and back muscles bulging with effort. What a sight, she thought. And she just couldn't wait to get her hands on him.

  "What's going on in the side yard?" she asked him. She didn't really care, but it was a good opener.

  "Indian artifacts," he said breathlessly. He threw down the post and looked at her.

  "How interesting."

  He looked at her questioningly. "What are you up to?"

  She smiled, knowing her teeth were white and even, and knowing what effect it had on him. "Just saw you from the road and thought I'd stop and say hi. You're working too hard, Spence."

  He laughed. "I suppose a brief interlude at Roadway Inn would fix me right up?"

  "Oh Spence," she said as sincerely as she could, "please don't hold that against me. I felt awful afterwards. I really did. Simon and I aren't an item or anything."

  He peered at her. "All right. Who are you and what have you done with Tammy?"

  But her smile just grew wider. "I only have eyes for you, Spence. You know that's the way it's always been. Ever since high school."

  She felt him soften. "Sorry, I never knew you felt like that. You never said two words to me back then."

  "Too shy. Plus you were always so wrapped up in Meg. Still all wrapped up with her?"

  "You could say that."

  "The Indian boy is staring at you."

  "Ask me if I give a shit."

  "That's the Spence I know. Fire down below." She could have said more, but stopped herself.

  Spence laughed. "That's what Meg tells me."

  "She's lucky. So, how is the hearing going? Wasn't it today?" She wasn't really interested in his hearing, but she supposed, to act deep, a person had to care about the other one. Besides, worse case scenario, she could intervene with the hearing. It would just take some effort on her part.

  "They postponed it until next week. They dug up my parents today. Hoping to find something I guess."

  She tried to make her voice sympathetic as she said, "I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?"

  "No. I don't think so. You might give Meg a call though. She could use all the friends she can handle right now. She doesn't have many girlfriends for some reason."

  "She's too pretty, I guess. I was always a bit intimidated by her."

  He leaned on his shovel now. "You? I don't believe it."

  Even though sweat was pouring off him and dirt streaked his face and chest, he was still the most beautiful hunk of man she'd ever seen. "Yes. Believe it." She paused. "Well, I'd better run, Spence. Just wanted to let you know I'm there for you all. One hundred percent."

  Walking quickly away from him, she felt his eyes on her. Also, the Indian boy watched her. Fuck him, she thought. As long as her exit had the intended effect on Spence, that's all she cared about.

  *****

  Davey parked his patrol car outside Simmons' place, the old Moorehouse place where the parents had been murdered.

  "You okay, Pap?" He looked over, but his father looked anything but okay. His face was ashen and the veins on his neck and hands bulged.

  "Yeah," he said weakly. "Just help me out a bit is all I need."

  Davey came around, helped him out, then up the steps to ring the bell. Old man Simmons came to the door. "Pap," he said.

  "Simmons," Pap said.

  "Thanks for letting us come over," Davey said quickly. "Sorry to be a trouble."

  Pap made his way inside the house, his rheumy old eyes taking in everything.

  Davey opened the folder with the pictures.

  "Back to that again?" Simmons asked. "Think I'll go in the den and sit with the missus. Let me know if you need anything Davey."

  Davey and Pap looked at the pictures. June in the living room, dead and Oscar in the kitchen, also dead.

  "Blood everywhere," Pap muttered. He walked slowly into the living room, to the approximate spot where June had lay. Then, he took the steps into the kitchen where he'd found Oscar. "Twelve steps. With a flowing artery."

  Then, he took another picture from Davey and a gasp escaped his lips. "Goddamn! Goddamn Davey!"

  Davey watched him. "What is it Pap?"

  "Look at the picture, son. What do you see?"

  Davey looked at the picture, then out the kitchen window. "Pap, if I didn't know better, I'd say he was pointing."

  They both looked out the kitchen window, then back at one another. It could be seen clearly in the distance. "Jake's house," they said in unison.

  *****

  Willie drove Susie home from school in his grandpa's truck. He knew he was talking too much, but she was a good listener too. He rambled on about school and cars and parties.

  Pretty soon, he noticed she wasn't saying too much.

  He pulled to the side of the road. "What's up?"

  She didn't say anything, just looked at her hands which she held tightly together in her lap.

  "Susie?"

  Sighing, she said quietly, "Thursday is my party. Like a birthday party belated or something."

  "Wow, how cool. I'll tell my Mom and we can have a cake."

  "Oh, Willie, you're just so innocent. You think birthdays mean cakes and candles."

  "So, don't they?"

  She glanced up at him with a bitter look on her face. "Not for me. My step-father has this great party planned for me."

  "Oh, okay. Maybe I can see you on Friday then. You guys having a cake?"

  "Willie," her voice rose now to a hysterical level, "you just aren't getting it." One of her hands came up against her mouth, before she blurted, "He's fucking me. 'Popping my cherry' he calls it. If I don't do it, he'll hurt my Mom again."

  Willie was shocked into a worried silence by her words. When tears ran down her face, he pulled her close. "That won't happen," he whispered, stroking her hair. "That won't ever happen, you hear me?"

  *****

  Orenda and Woya drove to the site in the late afternoon. Professor Tim waved to them excitedly.

  And, as they walked closer, he said, "We've found a comal, over here, but this is the best find so far, the effigy vessel." He pointed to a fabric lined box with the bird-shaped effigy inside. They both gasped, as neither had seen the likes of it before. The thing looked like a fat little beige bird, with a large painted eye, square painted on wings and front decor. This find, combined with the find of the Salado vase, was incredible.

  "That's not all, look at the jewelry!" Tim said elatedly. They looked in another lined box to see a necklace with shell inlays.

  "Professor Tim," Woya began, "how can we ever thank you?"

  "Don't thank me, thank the people who own this place. The Cowells. Here comes Willie now."

  They watched as a young blond boy jumped down from a truck. And they looked at each other then. It was too much to be a coincidence. The boy was just like Tim.

  After introductions were made, Willie exclaimed over the finds. "Wow, prof. Look at all this great stuff. Where does it go from here?"

  "To our tribe," Orenda said quickly, "to send to a museum would be out of the question. We must protect the beautiful artwork of our people."

  "Could I come and see your tribe sometime?" Willie asked.
/>   "Yes. We will let Chetan show you our culture. It is very different on the reservation. You will be surprised."

  "Wow. Tim, have you shown Mom yet?"

  "No, Willie. Why don't you tell her?"

  He ran into the house. And Orenda brought up the obvious. "He is your son?" he asked Tim.

  Tim took his hat off. "Say what?"

  Orenda and Woya looked at each other, and she said to him, "Notice Timothy. How the boy Willie resembles you. Do you not notice it?"

  His brows drew together. "No. Never did."

  They changed the subject, then looked at the artifacts again, packed them up and drove away.

  Tim looked towards the house. Could it be? But the mother was blonde. That might be it. Then, he remembered. One night, so long ago. He must ask her right now.

  But, his heart began to hurt. He clutched his chest, as he staggered towards the house. He heard the Indian workers shouting around him. The dig. They would finish it up. And his son would help them. The ground came up and hit his side. Someone turned him on his back. He watched the sky fade.

  He was happy. The dig would be fine. Just fine.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Spence was the first one to see him fall. "Meg!" he cried. "Lila!" He ran to the professor, and pushed back the Indian workers who had gathered around him.

  Lila ran out of the house with Willie on her heels, after he drove in with his truck.

  "Call 9-1-1!" he yelled at Lila, while he started CPR. But he knew it was futile, as she called in the emergency. The professor's eyes stared blankly up at the sky.

  He heard Lila's voice say firmly, "Willie go back in the house."

  "No Grandma. I'm staying here."

  Meg pulled up in her SUV. "What's going on?" she asked.

  Spence looked quickly at her, but didn't stop the CPR. He heard a sob.

  After the ambulance came, followed by Lee Cobb from the sheriff's department, they sat on the porch, stunned.

  "Willie won't come away from the site," Meg said, with a frantic edge to her voice as she paced up and back.

  "I'll talk to him," Spence said.