He pulled on the door handle and Ben followed him to the shop. There were quite a few sugarless fruit pies. George chose cherry and Ben went for the sugarless apple.
George said, “You’re as skinny as a stork. Why are you buying a sugarless pie?”
Ben said nothing. He didn’t know why. Perhaps it was because “sugarless” was an apt description for the better portion of the last three years.
Chapter 5
“Whoa. Finally! I know where I’ve seen Kevin Barnes.” Ro stopped typing on her computer, looked up, and waited for Ben to continue. “The night of the equinox . . . while I waited for you to finish up at the Jackson . . .” He hit the image. “He bumped into my shoulder in the parking lot.”
Ro got up from Ben’s bed. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I even asked you about him. You were going to look him up the next day.” No response. “Do you remember this at all?”
“I do remember your asking.” A deep sigh. “I’m sorry, Ben, I forgot to do it.”
“’S’right.”
“No, it’s not all right. I could have gotten his room key when he turned it in and we could have tested it for DNA.”
“Dorothy, if he’s the one, I guarantee you he didn’t turn in his room key.” Ben continued to stare at the picture. “The guy was heavier . . . older.” He closed his eyes, trying to revive a memory. “He was smelly . . . no, not smelly. Sweaty . . . the kind of musty odor you get when you’re nervous or you’ve done physical labor.”
Ro was already going down the list of hotel guests on that date. “There’s no Kevin Barnes.”
“Can I see the list of patrons?”
“Of course.” She handed it to him.
Quickly, Ben’s eyes scanned down the names. “Nike B. Ravens is an anagram of Kevin Barnes.”
“Nike’s a girl’s name.”
“Did you say anything to him when you checked him in?”
“I didn’t check him in, Vicks, but I would have noticed the name.”
“Well, maybe your coworkers aren’t as astute. And if I were looking for a sexual psychopath, I wouldn’t be looking for a girl. It’s a good dodge.”
“Then why use an anagram of the name when he’s used his real name before?”
“Because if you’re using aliases, it’s good not to stray too far from your real name. Otherwise you forget who you are. As for using his true name, the guy is keeping it real once in a while. Probably to confuse the police if they were looking.” Immediately he fished out the names that were registered at the Jackson around the time of Ellen’s abduction. “Holy shit! Here it is! Karen Bevins.” He regarded Ro. “He’s using girls’ names. I’ve got to tell George Tafoya—”
“Ben, you’ve got to tell Shanks.”
“And say what, Ro? That you’ve been hacking the Jackson Lodge registration database?”
“I haven’t hacked into anything.”
“Not technically, but all this information was illegally obtained. You’ll get into trouble. It’ll ruin your life. We can’t tell Shanks unless we can come across it in some other way.”
“You bumped into him on the night of the equinox, right?”
“How would I know his name? He didn’t introduce himself.” Ben was frantic. “Let me think . . . I should talk to George Tafoya . . . wait. I can’t call him.”
“Why not?”
“Because his phones are bugged.”
“He told you that his phones are bugged?”
“Yes, and probably his house and his car. Maybe even his cell phone.”
“Is Lilly’s phone bugged?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea. But that’s a very good plan.” He called up Haley. “Hi, is Lilly with you? Do you know where she is? No, never mind, it’s not important.” He looked at Ro. “Lilly is at the library. Maybe I’ll go down there.”
“Can you at least wait until JD arrives here so you don’t abandon me since I’m helping you out? Unless you want me to leave.”
“No, no, no. You’re right. Let’s see what else I can find out about this dude or Karen Bevins or Nike B. Ravens.” Ben paused. “You try to figure out how we can get this name to Shanks without having you arrested.”
She said, “How about . . . I noticed him . . . that he was coming in very late on the equinox . . . and it got me thinking. So I looked him up—”
“No, you can’t look him up.” He thought a moment. “You would have to know who he is . . . his name. And like you said, you didn’t check him in. Furthermore, he was registered under a different name.”
She blew out air. “Fiction writing was never my forte. I’m a terrible liar.”
“I know that firsthand.”
She threw a pillow at him. That was her usual behavior when she became frustrated with him. When the doorbell rang, Ben checked his watch and Ro checked hers. She said, “JD isn’t due for another hour.”
“Be back in a moment.” Ben opened the front door. Lisa Holloway was wearing her usual black dress with an irregular hemline and combat boots. She had dyed a purple streak in her hair. Her nails were painted black. Her eyes were ringed with dark eyeliner and her lips were bright blue.
“Hey.” He stepped outside rather than invite her in. “What’s up?”
“Not much.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Her eyes furrowed. “Do I look not okay?”
“No, you look . . . like you always do. What’s up?”
“I was just wondering if you’d like . . . to get a cup of coffee or something.”
“Ro’s here. We’re working on some stuff together. Then I’m going down to Albuquerque. I have work tomorrow and classes at UNM.”
“Okay.” She dragged her toe across the porch. “Some other time.”
“Sure.”
“You wanna go to prom together?” she blurted out. When Ben didn’t answer right away, she crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t feel obligated. Josh Martin has already asked me but . . . I’d rather go with you.”
“I’m taking Ro.”
Her face was confused. “So who’s JD taking?”
“He’s taking Ro too.”
“You’re both taking her?”
“Yeah, that was the deal when she started dating JD again, that we’d both take her to prom.”
She nodded. “Two dates . . .” She nodded again. “Sweet.” She shrugged and started to head to her car. “See you.”
Ben held up his hand. “Wait.” She turned and looked at him. Ben beckoned her with a crooked finger and she stepped back up onto the porch. He said, “Sure, let’s go to prom together. But I’m not going to any after party or any hotel or—”
“You don’t have to fuck me, okay?” Her eyes were hard and sad at the same time. “I know you’re not interested, okay? Especially after . . .” She averted her glance. “You know.”
“Yeah, that was kind of unfortunate.”
She faced him. “I’ll pay for the limo, your tux rental, and the corsage. Just show up, okay?”
“Don’t waste money on a limo. I’ll drive. And I’ll pay for my own tux rental and I’ll pay for the corsage. I was gonna do that anyway, so it’s fine. What kind of corsage do you want? Pin-on or wrist?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t bought my dress.” Her voice softened. “Any color you like?”
“Color? You mean you’re not wearing black?”
“I’m not going Goth, okay.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t want my kids looking at my prom picture and saying, ‘God, Mom, what were you thinking?’ I’ve already said that enough times to myself.”
“You and me both.” He smiled at her and she smiled back. “There’s nothing wrong with a signature look.”
“If you don’t care, I will probably wear black . . . but not Goth black. There you have it. Are you really going down to Albuquerque, Vicks, or are you trying to get rid of me?”
“No, I’m really going back to Albuquerque. High school is over for me and
I’ve got a major topology test—” He heard muffled footsteps and turned around.
Ro had come outside. “If this was going to take a while, the least you could have done was let me know.”
“I’m going.” Lisa waved. “Bye.”
“Bye.” Ben turned to Ro. “Sorry.” He walked back into the house and to his room.
She followed. “What was that all about?”
“She asked me to prom.”
“Lisa did?”
“Yep.”
“What’d you say?”
“I said okay.”
Ro glared at him. “Aren’t you taking me?”
“JD’s taking you.”
“I thought both of you were taking me.”
“That’s what I told her at first . . . that I was taking you and JD was taking you as well. And then I realized how stupid that sounded, so I said I’d take her.”
“Thank you very much.” She was angry.
“Ro, c’mon. Do you really need two dates? JD’s your boyfriend.”
“That wasn’t my choice.”
“Well, it wasn’t my choice either.”
“Well then, who the hell’s choice was it if it wasn’t yours?”
“No, no, no.” He turned to her. “Don’t lay that on me. You made the choice.”
“I told you I was drunk. I didn’t even want to do it.”
“But you did it anyway.”
“What do you want from me, Ben? I said I was sorry about a million times. Obviously, everything I did for you . . .” She took up a pile of paper and threw it at him. “All this shit . . . all my sleepless nights illegally poking into computers, wiggling my ass for disgusting businessmen, working myself to the bone just wasn’t enough to atone for my sin! I don’t know who’s stupider. You or me.”
She picked up her purse. Ben caught her by the arm. “Why are we fighting about this? It’s ancient history.”
“You’re an asshole, that’s why we’re fighting.”
“I’m an asshole? I’m an asshole?”
“Yes, you’re an asshole. You promised to take me to prom and now you’re taking Lisa.” She turned on him. “She fucked him too, you know.”
“I know, Ro, I was there.” But Lisa wasn’t his girlfriend at the time. He didn’t point that out. Ro was already too worked up. He let go of her arm. “What are you getting so upset about anyway? In a couple of months, you’ll be gone for good and I’ll just be a small footnote in your life.”
There were tears in her eyes. “Well, then excuse me for thinking that maybe as my first love and my first lover, you saw me as something more than a footnote.”
“No, no, no. You got it wrong. I said that I’d be the footnote in your life.”
“But what you really mean is I’m the footnote in your life.”
“No, I meant what I said. That I’m the footnote in your life.” He covered his face with his hands. “Can we stop fighting, please?”
“Why are you taking Lisa Holloway to prom? Everyone will just snicker behind your back.”
“As long as it’s behind my back, what do I care?”
She hit him. “She’s a slut.”
“She’s not a slut. She’s just . . . friendly.”
“I can’t believe you’re going with her.”
“I’m going with her because she asked me. And because I felt I owed her one from a long time ago. And because you have a real boyfriend and a legitimate date without me. And to tell you the truth, I’m tired of being second in line behind that idiot. I don’t enjoy being his straight man and I don’t enjoy sitting with you guys and I’m really not going to enjoy sharing you with him at prom. I’d rather go with Lisa, as . . . friendly as she is . . . because I’d rather have a whole date with someone I like than half a date with someone I love. I don’t want to hang out with your crowd, I don’t want to stand in the shadows while you dance with him, and I don’t want to be someone I’m not! What I want to do is find the monster that killed my sister so he doesn’t do it again. And if it’s Kevin Barnes, I’m going to find him and rip him to shreds. And if it is him, you’ve helped me out like nobody else. I love you dearly. You know that. Can we please just stop fighting!”
She looked at him. “I love you too.”
Ben smiled. “You know we broke up at the perfect time: before our love could turn into contempt. How good is that?” She didn’t answer. He tried out a weak smile. “I’d still love to dance with you.”
She remained silent.
“Please, let’s get along. It’s like two months before you leave River Remez for good.” He looked at her and then looked down. “Ro, if it isn’t Kevin Barnes, I need your help. You know all the codes and the abbreviations and everything. And if it is Kevin Barnes, you’re my eyes and ears at the Jackson. I know that’s being selfish, but I can’t do this without you, Dorothy.”
He had expected her to take his head off. Instead she said, “Even if I hated you—which I do sometimes—I would continue to help you, Vicks. I realize we’re dealing with a greater issue than stupid teenage love.”
“I knew there was a reason I loved you so much.”
“Don’t sweet-talk me. I am so . . . pissed at you.” She hit his chest. “You threw me over.”
“Do you really want me to call Lisa up and tell her I changed my mind?”
“Yes.”
“Well . . . I’m not going to do it.” She hit him again. “I’d still love to dance with you.” No response. “Please?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I want a prom picture with both you and JD, one on either arm.”
“Fine.”
“Two pictures with both of you. Then I want one alone with you and one alone with JD.”
“Whatever you want.”
“And I want two corsages, Vicks, one from you and one from JD.”
“Done.”
“And the one you get me better be bigger and more expensive than Lisa’s.”
“You are ruthless.”
“Yes or no.”
“Yes.”
“Go with Lisa.” Ro waved him away. “I give you my permission.”
“Thank you very much, Your Grace.”
She looked at the mess in his room. “I can’t concentrate anymore.” She thought a moment. “I don’t have all the registers from the Lodge in Albuquerque—just for some selected days. Let me hunt around a little more.”
“No way, no way!” Ben shook his head. “George knows that I obtained the names illegally, but he doesn’t know how. We’ve gotten out of this alive. If you get caught, it’ll ruin your life. Please promise me you’ll stop.”
“Why should I? You don’t promise me anything. And even when you do, you renege.”
Ben took her in his arms. “It’s bad enough that you’re still working at the Jackson. You really shouldn’t press your luck. You should quit.”
“Vicks, if he’s onto us—and just maybe he is—he knows what I’m doing there, so . . . maybe it’s better that I’m there.” She pulled away but kept her arms around his waist. “You know what that crime show says: keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
“Actually, I think Sun Tzu said it in The Art of War.” Ro was silent. He said, “I looked it up.”
This time she broke away. “I’m hungry. To make up for your sins with Lisa, you may take me out for dinner. You can clean all this up later.”
“I should clean it up now. I have to get back to Albuquerque. I’ve got a big test tomorrow and . . .” Her look made him wilt. “I thought you were going out to the movies with JD.”
“We’ll catch a later show. And if he gets pissed, I don’t care.” She was glaring at him, daring Ben to contravene her orders.
Pick your battles, Vicks.
He said, “Where would you like to go eat?”
She picked up her purse, flipped her hair, and tossed him a look over her shoulder. “Kiki’s is just fine. Although if you should opt for something better, I wouldn’t say no.”
Chapter 6
Weapons weren’t his thing. If it couldn’t be done with the hands and the brain, it was a cop-out. Still, there was something thrilling about holding a killing machine in one’s hands. Something so powerful, so strong, yet so compact. Weapons were the ultimate combination of art and mechanics.
He knew he was taking chances. It wasn’t that he wanted to be caught—that would be disastrous—but it seemed that over the years he’d needed more and more to keep up the thrill. It was like sex. The act was fine, but sometimes the foreplay was even finer. And as he got older, it seemed he needed more and more foreplay, hence the weapon. It produced a thrill, holding something potentially lethal. It gave him power.
And that’s what it was all about really.
Power.
“Stop squirming.” Laura Vicksburg put down her phone and adjusted the camera attachment. “If you stop moving, I can finish quicker.”
“I’m not moving on purpose. The tux doesn’t fit.” Ben was annoyed. “Why are you even doing this? There’s a photographer at the prom. I promise I’ll order extra photos.”
“He or she will not have a mother’s love. And stop glaring at me. It wrinkles your forehead.”
His father, hiding behind a newspaper, was laughing. Haley put up her hand. “Wait.” She straightened his clip-on bow tie. “I can’t wait for my prom.”
“Want to go instead of me?”
She ignored him. “We have morp in two weeks, but it’s not the real thing. It’s, like, homemade decorations and weak punch. And we’re not allowed to wear strapless or minidresses or gowns. That doesn’t leave too much in the fashion department.”
“You’ve hit on something,” Ben told her. “Prom is really all about chick fashion.”
“You just realized this?” Haley patted his cheek. “You really do look handsome, Ben. You clean up very nicely.” She backed away and his mother took another picture.
“Can I go now?”
“Where are your six friends, Grumpy?” Laura waved her hand. “Yes, you can go now!”
Killing Season Page 43